More than one hundred years ago, John Brisben Walker, our great grandfather, proposed the Denver Mountain Parks system. He and the other founders of the park system understood that access to the wild and open land in the mountains was vital to the quality of life in Denver. Because of their vision and commitment, they protected 14,000 acres, giving us the gift of the Denver Mountain Parks.
The need to protect the mountain parks has never been greater than it is today. As the population grows and the pace of life increases, more than ever, people need to enjoy time in the mountains.
The mountain parks are not a luxury, but a necessity. In addition to enhancing the quality of life in Denver, they are vital to Denver’s economic well being. When people think of Denver, they think of mountains. Imagine living in Denver and not being able to drive a short distance to the mountains. If people cannot enjoy the mountains or be inspired by them, why would they want to live in Denver or even vacation here?
Our great grandfather loved Colorado and promoted it through many private ventures: Red Rocks Park, a hotel and funicular railway in Morrison, and River Front Park in Denver. Yet he also knew how important it is to preserve open land. Today we face the same challenge he did: we must preserve and protect Colorado’s natural beauty and, at the same time, manage economic growth. The master planning process gives us the opportunity to find new and sustaining ways to fund this important resource.
Margaret Walker, Aurora
Erika Walker, Minneapolis
This letter was not edited.