Whitman Park Design Project
September 2025 Update:
Following the closure of Whitman Park, the City began developing a plan to renovate, re-activate, and eventually re-open the park. In 2024, significant public engagement shaped a schematic-level design, complete with cost estimates for renovation. Funding for the final design was approved in the 2025 budget, and after a competitive RFP process, a contract was awarded to a team of architects and engineers led by DTJ Design. The schematic design—developed with strong community input—was presented to City Council on August 19, 2024.
At this time, the final design contract has not been signed and is on hold pending further discussion with City Council. This pause provides an opportunity for additional study and engagement to ensure the project maximizes its potential benefit to the community. Whitman Park has significant promise as a public asset, but additional refinement is needed to determine the best path forward.
Currently, the City is in the process of updating its Strategic Plan and preparing the proposed 2026 budget. While the Whitman Park project remains identified in the budget, a decision has not yet been made on whether to carry forward design funding into 2026. Construction of the park is not included in the proposed 2026 budget.
The 2024 schematic design for Whitman Park (see links section in the right toolbar) was created through almost a 1000 survey responses, numerous public meetings, and outreach. This plan envisions a re-activated park with a permanent food truck court area, an event stage, a climbing wall, iconic art including a destination ‘welcome to downtown GJ’ feature, a dog play area with synthetic turf, pollinator gardens, a playground, a multi-purpose athletic court for basketball and pickleball that would double as a seasonal synthetic ice rink, and an event space connected with the Holiday lights on Main St. and Colorado Ave. to expand the popular annual tree lighting ceremony.
The potential renovation of Whitman Park is yet another project to implement the 2021 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan (PROS Master Plan). The PROS Master Plan envisions reactivating existing parks, especially mature downtown parks with extensive tree canopies like Emerson and Whitman. Other PROS Master Plan priorities include the Community Recreation Center, the Lincoln Park Pickleball Complex, the Canyon View Tennis Complex, the Emerson Skate Park, Monument Connect Trail Phase II, and Dos Rios Park. There were significant public safety issues present in Whitman that precipitated closure, including assaults on Police Officers. The amount of violent crime, drug use, and vandalism rose to an unacceptable and untenable level, leading to the closure.
Whitman has also historically been a gathering place for unhoused members of the community. The consistently large number of people experiencing homelessness residing in Whitman was such that the broader community did not feel comfortable or safe visiting Whitman. Furthermore, Whitman was not a safe space for those experiencing houselessness.
