8.2 out of 10

City Park West

Ranked 8th best neighborhood in Denver
39.7451425019262 -104.967615380052
Great for
  • Eating Out
  • Nightlife
  • Public Transport
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Cost of Living
Not great for
  • Childcare
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Schools
  • Pest Free
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"A really fun, quaint part of Denver"

City Park West has a lot to offer it's residents. There are many charming homes which were built in the 1920s to 1940s. They are all unique and attractive, and many are made of brick which has stood the test of time. Many of these homes are going for just under a half million dollars, but if you can afford to live here it may be well worth it. It is a very short commute to downtown Denver by car or bus and there are a ton of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars within walking distance. For those who are exercise buffs, City Park is just across York Street to the east, and you will also find City Park Golf Course. If you're looking for a great way to spend the afternoon, both the Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature and Science are there too. Just west of the museum is the Gates Planetarium as well. The park is large and you can always see people running or jogging around. In the summertime at Ferril Lake you can rent paddle boats and spend an afternoon on the lake or feeding the geese. This is a great big park with lots of paths to follow.

In addition to the numerous things to do within walking distance there is the Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital here, and St. Joseph's Hospital is just a few blocks west of the neighborhood. Both of these are big hospitals in Denver. While there isn't a lot of shopping in the neighborhood, there are liquor stores, gas stations and banks. If you're farther into the neighborhood going north, you won't find these a detraction to the charm of City Park West.

In my opinion, the only drawback to this neighborhood is that it borders Colfax Avenue. Colfax always looks dirty and unkept to me, not to mention the incredible amount of traffic that is here at any given time of day. It's almost strange how much the feeling changes when you're inside the neighborhood. It's quiet and peaceful, yet has a fun, upbeat vibe to it.
Pros
  • Very close to downtown
  • Excellent hospitals for health care and jobs
  • Lively and eclectic
  • Some great dining/nightlife options
Cons
  • borders Colfax Avenue
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
2yrs+

"Lively lifestyle and great location"

This area is in the thick of city activity, but has a different vibe than Cheesman Park and Capitol Hill to the north. The stretch of Colfax and particularly of 17th Ave running through this neighborhood has great restaurants and bars, and of course the proximity to City Park is a huge plus. This area lies right around Presbyterian St. Luke's hospital, where my niece and nephew were born, and St. Joseph's medical center. These are major area hospitals, and there is a lot of activity here because of that.
Investments have been made in the apartment housing in this neighborhood. There are some great apartments here at reasonable rents. I believe that a lot of work has been done here. This is both the result of the general revitalization efforts in Denver over recent decades, and the relocation of Childrens' Hospital. Childrens' used to be near St. Luke's, but moved east to the new Aurora medical campus. This move relieved some of the congestion and provided some new development opportunities.
The northern end of this neighborhood used to be a very dangerous place. It has improved, but there are still some spots to look out for. Parking is tough and crowded. Overall, though, this area is a great place to live, work, dine out, and party.
Pros
  • Excellent hospitals for health care and jobs
  • great local businesses
  • very handy to downtown
Cons
  • crowded
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"Cheap Urban Fun and Some Great Dining"

Although technically a separate neighborhood, City Park West is often, along with North Capitol Hill, lumped together under the blanket designation “Uptown.” Perhaps this is because of the restaurants along 17th Avenue, which connects the two neighborhoods in a blaze of delicious glory. Foodies know City Park West well and find a variety of decadent-yet-affordable dining options there. Bars such as Vine Street Pub and The Thin Man, as well as the quirky, always-hopping St. Mark’s Coffee, give this area a cozy, neighborly feel. Housing options are varied (some lovely old single-family homes as well as relatively affordable apartment buildings), as are the residents.

Colfax Avenue bounds the neighborhood’s southern stretch, and houses more dining, drinking, and shopping options, mostly of the type that cater to either the young and hip, or to blue-collar workers, or both. Once called “the longest, wickedest street in America” by Playboy magazine, Colfax has a reputation as the favored hangout of prostitutes, drug dealers, and people who are generally up to no good. Decades ago, this reputation was earned, and to some extent it still is, but revitalization of Colfax is underway. If you spend time on the stretch of Colfax along the southern edge of City Park West, you will be rubbing shoulders with much of Denver’s homeless or transient population that uses Colfax as a main route and hangout, but the area is good for some cheap fun and is safe if you practice urban common sense.

For commuters, it’s easy to get to and from downtown via a 10-15 minute drive, a couple of buses that run frequently during business hours, or the bike lanes on 16th Avenue. Those attempting to go carless, however, should be forewarned: although there are some convenience stores, there is no proper grocery store in the neighborhood.
Pros
  • Lively and eclectic
  • Some great dining/nightlife options
Cons
  • On-street parking is tight
  • Need to car or bus to grocery store
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Trendy & Stylish

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Unranked Streets in City Park West

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39.7469350010821 -104.960392249997

Franklin St

2.5/5
"Drive to Work"
39.7463359295799 -104.968434028352

Marion St

2.5/5
"Too crowded for me"
39.7458459526863 -104.972331664165

Race St

3.5/5
"A charming piece of Old Denver"
39.7458762583144 -104.963461391715

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