⛲ How would you improve your Denver park?

⛲ How Would You Improve Denver’s Parks?

The city’s parks and rec department is soliciting feedback on what Denver’s public greenspaces should look like in five years. Officials are offering a survey online (in Spanish and English) where Denverites can share their thoughts on things like funding priorities, safety improvements, and equity. In addition to the survey, the city will also host three public meetings on the topic. [Denverite]

📊 CO Officials Hear From Latino Voters

The annual Colorado Latino Policy Agenda Survey polls 1,600 Latino voters across the state to inform elected officials about the issues that matter most to the demographic that makes up nearly a quarter of the state’s population. According to this year’s survey, the things on most Latino voters’ minds are cost of living, homelessness, and gun violence. [Westword]

• Who else is Colorado polling? A new nonprofit group called the Colorado Polling Institute promises to regularly poll residents on DIA, transit, housing, and everything else that matters to us. This week on the City Cast Denver podcast, Westword editor Patty Calhoun joined us to take a good, hard look at the org’s first batch of surveys.

🏫 DPS Seeks Alternatives to School Closures

As Denver’s public schools continue to see a decline in enrollment, more and more are facing the possibility of closure or consolidation. District officials are considering a pair of policies that would cap enrollment and adjust attendance boundaries, among other ideas, to avoid mass closures. The board is inviting the public to share its input on the proposals at a scheduled meeting on Monday. [Chalkbeat]

⭐⭐⭐ = The official City Cast Denver ‘Maybe’ of the weekend, as in maybe you’ll see us there! Listen to Thursday’s podcast for more deets.

💃 Hispanic Heritage Celebration | Friday | 5-9 p.m.

Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at Stanley Marketplace with lucha libre, mariachi, ballet folklorico, lowriders, and so much more. [Aurora; Free]

✡️ Rosh Hashanah | Friday + Saturday | Times Vary

Celebrate the High Holiday at Denver Botanic Gardens with music, poetry, yoga, and meditation. [Cheesman Park / Virtual; Free]

😱 Colorado Festival of Horror | Friday-Sunday | Times Vary

This showcase of all things horror will spotlight artists, writers, filmmakers, fandom, and cosplay of a creepy, freaky, and downright terrifying nature. [Lone Tree; $10+]

⭐⭐⭐ Sand Creek Mural Festival | Saturday | 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

You can help paint a mural along the newly paved Sand Creek Greenway Trail. Not artistic? No worries — it’s a community friendly color-by-number experience. [Central Park; Free]

🥕 HarvestSHARE | Saturday | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Community gardeners can bring their overflow produce to this neighborhood event aiming to bring healthy, fresh foods to every Denver family. [Whittier; Free]

🍹 Michelada Fest | Saturday | 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Enjoy all the greatness that is the Mile High Flea Market — hundreds of vendors, live entertainment, a ferris wheel! — and top it off with a delicious, refreshing michelada. [Henderson; $3]

🇲🇽 ¡Viva México! | Saturday | 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Raíces Brewing will honor the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with a celebration of Mexican culture complete with live mariachi, folklorico dancers, and Mexican food and drinks. [La Alma Lincoln Park; Free to attend]

🎨 Colfax Canvas | Saturday | Noon-5 p.m.

Explore world-class art on the buildings and structures along our beloved Colfax Avenue, all of which will be celebrated at this community block party. [Aurora; Free]

🦆 Jamming on the Jetty | Saturday | 1-8 p.m.

The community will gather for a full day of fun on shores of Sloan’s Lake at this 8th annual music festival featuring local performers, vendors, and food trucks. [Sloan’s Lake; Free]

🎶 Hunger Free 303 | Saturday | 1-10 p.m.

Help raise money to fight childhood hunger in Denver at this music festival along Historic South Gaylord. The event is free, but food and drink tickets are available for purchase. [Wash Park; Free]

🪕 Viva Southwest Mariachi | Saturday | 6-10 p.m.

Immerse yourself in the captivating culture of mariachi music at this festival spotlighting local and national mariachi groups. [Ruby Hill; Free, VIP $65]

Last week’s answer: Denver International Airport

• This behemoth beauty hangs in the center of concourse B at the airport. Thanks to reader (and regular Friday photo guesser!) Tom G. for snapping this pic and sharing. Have a photo you’d like to submit? Send it my way!

Hats off to our quickest correct guessers:

• 🎩 Dan K. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• 👏 But Lucy F., Luke V., Rian E., Amy S., and Rhonda H. weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ This wall mural is somewhere with tasty treats aplenty. Do YOU know where it is? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

Boebert's Big Night Out, Paying Legislators, and a Trash-Eating Bear

The local media is abuzz over surveillance footage of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert getting kicked out of a show at DCPA last weekend. So today on the City Cast Denver podcast, producer Paul Karolyi invites our state politics correspondent Justine Sandoval and newly elected State Rep. Tim Hernández to share some inside perspective.