Congress Park Is In Session

By Chris Arneson

Directly south of Colfax between York and Colorado Boulevard lies Congress Park. Springing up in the late 1800s, the area was originally home to Mount Prospect Cemetery. Because of air pollution, wealthy residents began moving toward the outskirts of town, expanding into what they called Capitol Heights, now Congress Park.

Tree-lined, cozy, and quiet streets make the neighborhood a great place to settle a family. If you’re looking to buy in the neighborhood, a house with 2–3 bedrooms is around $500k, but larger ones can surpass $1 million. Currently, a standard one- bedroom apartment is right around a thousand per month, but you can still find studios for a couple hundred less.

The demographic is mostly white, but the population is quickly diversifying. The crime rate has even decreased in the past year. The neighborhood includes an elementary school, several churches, and National Jewish Health. You’re also not too far from Rose Medical Center. Just to the south is a plethora of shopping in Cherry Creek.

Denver’s Botanic Gardens borders the neighborhood to the west alongside Cheesman Park, and City Park is just a few blocks north of Colfax. In the heart of the neighborhood is its namesake, Congress Park. Featuring one of the best public pools in Denver, the park also houses a soccer field, a baseball field, and several tennis courts.

For a bite to eat, popular breakfast spots are Denver Biscuit Company, Annie’s, and Snooze, which border the outskirts. At lunch, check out Uber Sausage or Tommy’s Thai. Dinner is better when you venture deeper into the neighborhood, like TAG Burger Bar or Shells and Sauce. After a night out, grab cheap tacos at Mezcal or a slice of Fat Sully’s pizza, which is open until at least 2am.

Planning to make dinner? Grab groceries at Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, or the quirky 12th Ave Market, which is right next door to a handy Ace Hardware.

The bar scene boasts an enviable drinking culture within a couple blocks’ radius. The Atomic Cowboy is big and hip with a pool table, and Goosetown Tavern is always bustling with trendy folks. For a retro vibe, the P.S. Lounge is a dive bar that feels like it hasn’t been touched in decades. Visit them for a free house shot (and a flower, if you’re pretty).

Congress Park is home to the Bluebird Theater, where you can usually catch an indie band everyone but you knows. For a quieter night, just down the street is the Tattered Cover bookstore and Twist and Shout Records.

For a quick escape downtown, the bus runs on 8th and 12th Aves as well as Colfax. The trek is around 15 mins by car and less than 30 by bike. Make sure to hop on the bike line on 12th Ave, which takes you through Cheesman Park.

Average monthly rent for a 2/2 place: ~$2300