Neighborhood Profile: University Park
University Park History:
University Park owes much of its history to it’s proximity to the University of Denver. The school was originally founded as Colorado Seminary by John Evans in 1864. However, in 1880 the school added the name the University of Denver. Just a few years later the school outgrew its original site at Fourteenth and Arapahoe Street. Consequently, the board of trustees accepted an offer of 150 acres southeast in which to move the university and expand.
There were conditions to this offer however, most notably that no alcohol could be made or sold in the area. Gifts of land and cash helped the University holdings increase to almost 500 acres. The University of Denver trustees then platted 399 acres in University Park and sold those lots to benefit the university. University Park was part of the incorporated town of South Denver and by the mid 1890’s South Denver had several hundred residents. Only about a dozen residents were actually living in University Park and ten years later the silver crash of 1893 would contribute to causing citizens of University Park to approve annexation into the City and County of Denver.
University Park experienced a population boom after WW II when veterans stationed in Colorado decided to make Denver their permanent home. Using GI Bills many attended Denver University and the school received the nickname, “GI Tech.” In the following ten years many of the current homes were built resulting in an average build date of 1955.
University Park Today:
University park is still a strongly desirable place to live because of the beautiful homes on large lots, big established trees, low crime, and gorgeous parks. All of these features add to the charm of this Denver neighborhood.
Where:
University Park is bounded by University Boulevard to the west, South Colorado Boulevard to the east, Interstate 25 to the north, and East Yale Way to the south.
Who Lives There:
Singles make up almost half the population, married couples are 37% with 19% of the households having children. Annual Residential Turnover is 27%.
Retail Areas:
Colorado Boulevard
University Boulevard
Median Sales Price:
$597,500 ( 2017). Average home prices range between $382,000 (for a condo) to a $825,000 for a single-family home.
Main Attractions:
Properties are kept up well by owners, the neighborhood is very pedestrian and bicycle friendly
Common Complaints:
Restaurants and retail close early (including weekends), recent construction is hindering parking and driving in areas
Schools:
Most Precious Blood Catholic School
Accelerated Schools (Private)
Parzival Shield (Preschool)
Buchtel Bungalow University
Local Parks:
Robert H. McWilliams Park,
Observatory Park, and
Prairie Park
Public Transportation and Bike Lanes:
The E,H, and F RTD Light Rail Lines run through University Park. The stops to get on however, are over the boundry lines in the University and Virginia Village neighborhoods.
Bus lines servicing the neighborhood include the 21, 24, 27, 40, and the 46
University Park has four regional shared bike routes: D11, D13, D18, and D20. The East Harvard Gulch Trail is a multi- use trail. Designated bike lanes run most of E. Buchtel Blvd. and part of E. Yale Avenue
Popular Events:
Neighborhood Garage Sale (June)
Forth of July Parade
Band in the Park followed by stargazing
Sing & Sleigh-bells
Fisher, Steve. Images of America: University Park and South Denver.
Published by Arcadia Publishing. Charleston, South Carolina, 2009. Print.
Statistical data collected from Metrolist, Inc. RE Colorado – powered by Matrix.
