W. H. Ferguson Park is popular with neighborhood kids.
BOUNDARIES: 23rd Ave., Forest St., Montview Blvd., Dexter St.
DISTANCE: 1 mile
DIFFICULTY: Easy
PARKING: Free on-street parking
PUBLIC TRANSIT: RTD 20 bus makes stops on Montview Blvd.
In the late 1800s Denver’s downtown was a place of saloons, brothels, and crowded, filthy streets. Those who could afford it seemed always on the lookout for the next best neighborhood that put distance between them and downtown. According to Denver: Mining Camp to Metropolis, by authors Stephen J. Leonard and Thomas J. Noel, “Park Hill, a haven for the upper crust on the high ground east of City Park, was platted in 1887.” The original plan was for a racetrack surrounded by “a posh residential subdivision,” but that didn’t come to fruition. Next it was sold as “Denver’s Largest Restricted Residence District” with a brochure that “declared that Capitol Hill has been spoiled as a residential area by the intrusion of apartments and commercial buildings.” Today the neighborhood seems much like those early planners had hoped (minus one racetrack).
Park Hill is indeed one of Denver’s most desirable places to live in the city, thanks to its proximity just east of City Park and some of Denver’s most popular attractions, the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Wide tree-lined streets with big to grand homes fill the neighborhood that is also anchored by some small business districts that make it that much more pedestrian friendly. It’s also home to a few large and distinctive churches that are another aspect of the strong community bonds here. Stroll among the houses, past families playing in the park, and stop in and have a bite to eat and a cup of coffee as you get to know Park Hill.
Walk Description
Begin this walk at the corner of Montview Boulevard and Dexter Street at the Park Hill Branch Library. Montview Boulevard westbound ends at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on the northern edge of City Park (see Walk 15).
The Park Hill Branch Library is another Carnegie-funded library, this time with hints of Spanish design. Inside there are comfortable chairs near the original fireplace, and big arched windows let in plenty of natural light.
Walk north on Dexter Street. At the corner of 22nd Avenue and Dexter is 
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, which looks like it belongs somewhere in California with its Spanish Colonial design. The church was started in 1908, then the first building was erected here in 1916, and because of their growing parish, it was expanded in 1930. Inside is a handmade tile floor.
Continue walking north on Dexter Street to 23rd Avenue. So many elements combine to bring Park Hill residents together at this intersection. 
W. H. Ferguson Park—locally referred to as “Turtle Park” because of the very popular turtle sculpture kids climb on—on one corner always has kids swinging or just running around.
Spinelli’s Bakery & Café has locally made Sweet Action Ice Cream, sandwiches, coffee, just so much to keep walking off later!
Park Hill Community Bookstore is a volunteer-run nonprofit bookstore, likely the only one in Denver. They have both new and used books for members and nonmembers with a good selection of all kinds of books for any age.
Across the street is 
Spinelli’s Market, where the owners greet every customer who comes in—usually by name like on Cheers. Spinelli’s is like the old-fashioned markets that used to be in every neighborhood, with your basic staples for the pantry or fridge, but with the added bonus of a really good deli and some gourmet foods too. In addition, they have their own line of Italian sauces for sale here.
Spinelli’s is in the same building as 
The Cherry Tomato, an Italian restaurant, that is—you guessed it—a neighborhood favorite for dinner. Formerly a church and then a drugstore, this building anchors the block, and there are always people coming and going from these popular businesses.
Turn right and walk east one block on 23rd Avenue.
Turn right and walk south on Dahlia Street.
Turn left on 22nd Avenue and walk to Forest Street. As you wander along looking at the houses in Park Hill, keep in mind that the Greater Park Hill Community Inc. (greaterparkhill.org) hosts an annual home tour in September and garden tour in June.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Backstory: But Wait, There’s More
One mile east on 23rd Avenue from the Spinelli’s Bakery & Café is another very popular Park Hill bakery, Cake Crumbs (2216 Kearney St., 303-861-4912, cake-crumbs.com), in a one-block commercial district that gives people who live at that end of the neighborhood some places to walk to also. Known for their sweets, Cake Crumbs also has a savory menu for lunch. When it’s time for dinner, Tables (2267 Kearney St., 303-388-0299, tablesonkearney.com) draws people from beyond the neighborhood for its seasonally changing menu. Or, if you just want fast and casual, Oblio’s Pizzeria (6115 E. 22nd Ave., 303-321-1511, obliospizza.com).
Turn right and walk to Montview Boulevard. At the corner of Forest Street and Montview Boulevard is 
Park Hill United Methodist Church. It is another example of the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, yet very different—and a lot bigger—than St. Thomas Episcopal Church earlier on the walk. This church was built in 1924 and was added onto in 1956 to accommodate a growing parish. Part of this space is shared with Temple Micah, “a Reform synagogue.”
You can extend the walk and enjoy the grand homes in this neighborhood by walking south on Forest Street as it becomes Forest Parkway. These large grassy islands are like parks for each block, where I’ve seen families having picnics and tossing the football around. The luxury of open space! Do a loop and come back after you reach 17th Avenue to resume this walk on Montview Boulevard going left.
If you didn’t do the detour, turn right to walk west on Montview Boulevard from the Park Hill United Methodist Church. On the south side or opposite side of the street you will see the 
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, built in 1912.
Just before the Park Hill Library but on the south side of Montview Boulevard is 
Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, perhaps the landmark church of the neighborhood. The first stone chapel was built on this site in 1910 (they had previously been in a wood-frame schoolhouse at this location), with three additions since then. The church is known as much for its political and community actions as for its worship services. In the 1960s, during racial integration in Denver, Montview’s pastor took a stand and asked parishioners to “sign a non-discriminatory pledge when buying and selling real estate,” according to Michelle Pearson in Historic Sacred Places of Denver. They also opened a racially integrated preschool during that time, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Montview in 1964.
End the walk back at or near Park Hill Library. This walk can be combined with Walk 15 by walking several blocks west on Montview Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard.
Park Hill
Points of Interest
Park Hill Branch Library 4705 Montview Blvd., 720-865-0250, denverlibrary.org
St. Thomas Episcopal Church 2201 Dexter St., 303-388-4395, saintthomasdenver.org
W. H. Ferguson Park 4716 E. 23rd Ave.
Spinelli’s Bakery & Café 4628 E. 23rd Ave., 720-424-6048
Park Hill Community Bookstore 4620 E. 23rd Ave., 303-355-8508
Spinelli’s Market 4631 E. 23rd Ave., 303-329-8143, spinellismarket.com
The Cherry Tomato 4645 E. 23rd Ave., 303-377-1914, cherrytomatodenver.com
Park Hill United Methodist Church 5209 Montview Blvd., 303-322-1867, phumc.org
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church 4900 Montview Blvd., 303-355-7361, blessedsacrament.net
Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church 1980 Dahlia St., 303-355-1651, montview.org