Parks and green spaces are essential components of a healthy and vibrant city and offer numerous benefits to individuals and the community, including opportunities for improved physical and mental health. These benefits became explicitly apparent during the pandemic, but did you know parks also play a significant role in helping to shape a community? Think about it. Our parks are reflective of us- our community identity, our values, and our priorities. Denton Parks are Denton. Don’t believe me, consider this…
Dentonites love events and we love music. From Twilight Tunes to Blues Fest, Denton is home to some of the largest and greatest festivals and events in North Texas. And where do those events live? In Parks. Arts and Jazz, for example, attracts more than 225,000 attendees to Quakertown Park each year with its seven stages, 3,000 artists, 2,500 performances, and over 250 arts and crafts boots. Located in the heart of Denton, Quakertown Park with its beautiful mature trees, expansive grass areas, and proximity to the downtown square has been the host location for this iconic and signature Denton event since 1981. Parks create spaces for community and gathering and what can be more Denton than sitting on a picnic blanket in Quakertown Park listening to Brave Combo playing on the Arts and Jazz main stage?
Parks are also reflective of the priorities and values of its community. According to the community needs assessment conducted in 2019 by Parks and Recreation, CONNECTIVITY and TRAILS were found to be among the highest priority for residents. To that end, the Parks and Recreation Department actively works to acquire land for future park or green space development and opportunities to provide connectivity within the park system with a goal of every resident being within a 10-minute walk to a park or green space. On January 24, City Council adopted the Pecan Creek Trail Master Plan which outlines an 8-mile, 10’ wide concrete rail that would connect numerous parks and neighborhoods to the DCTA Rail Trail and provide connectivity for residents to travel to downtown Denton. This is just one of the many ways the Parks Department is working to meet Residents’ desire for Denton to be a well-connected community with a robust trails system.
Parks create community. Denton prides itself on being a community for everyone and valuing each unique individual. Denton’s Parks are no different, everyone should have the ability to PLAY. That’s why the Parks and Recreation Department will be kicking off the Lilly Cantu Inclusive Playground Master Plan this summer. With a focus on accessibility and inclusivity, the new playground design will be ‘barrier-free’ and feature areas of play with universal design offering a safe and engaging space for the entire community to enjoy.
There is no doubt about it. Denton Parks are Denton. What we build, how we play, and what we do in our parks, trails, and facilities is uniquely Denton and uniquely YOU. Find out more about these projects and all our projects, parks, and programs by visiting our website at www.dentonparks.com.