On February 7, Josh Catron stood in the Washington Park boathouse surrounded by bicycles, surreys and paddleboats that his company had stored there for years. Catron owns the local Wheel Fun Rentals franchise, which had rented boats and bikes in Washington Park and City Park for more than 20 years. Denver Parks and Recreation had just declined to renew his contract. He had until mid-February to clear the building and find somewhere else to keep 42 swan boats.
Eight months later, the city is close to finishing its first season of running Smith Lake's rentals on its own. The last boats go out on November 1. A good share of the neighborhood's outdoor calendar wraps up in the same two weeks. If you live near the park, it's a short window to see what changed this year, what it costs now, and which of the city's fall promises are still pending.
How the rental booth changed hands
The city didn't put the concession out to bid again. A Parks and Recreation spokesperson told Denverite the department "did not issue a new RFP as it now has the capacity and internal expertise to offer a suite of services to engage Denver visitors and residents in outdoor activities." Speaking to the Denver Post later, spokesperson Stephanie Figueroa said running rentals in-house was more cost-effective and gave the city more control over the experience. She tied the move to Denver's Outdoor Adventure and Alternative Sports Strategic Plan.
Catron saw it differently. He told Denverite the business brought in less than $500,000 a year. He estimated it had paid about $700,000 in rent and $500,000 in sales taxes over the years. The city's budget doesn't break out what the takeover costs.
The city opened its rentals under the name Adventure Hub, starting with Washington Park in early June. City Park's hub opened weeks later because the bandshell fire there forced an electrical replacement. Through the summer, the Wash Park booth was open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the longest hours of any season on the city's schedule.
What a ride on Smith Lake costs now
In January, Denverite reported that the swan boats had long rented for $12 an hour at both lakes. When the swans came back this year, the city added a yellow duck and a purple dragon. Denverite described the dragon's eyes as looking "like Sauron's." Here's the city's current rate card:
| Rental | Capacity | Posted hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Swan, duck or dragon pedal boat | Up to 4 | $35 |
| Flamingo pedal boat | 2 | $25 |
| Stand-up paddleboard or single kayak | 1 | $15 |
| Beach cruiser bike | 1 | $15 |
| Surrey "stretch limousine" | Up to 6 | $45 |
Figueroa said the rate is a flat fee per boat or bike, not per person. "For families, as long as you fit, you can go," she told the Post. For a full swan, that comes to under $9 a rider for the hour. For two people, $35 is almost three times what the old swan rate was, and the two-person flamingo costs $25.
Fall hours are much shorter than summer's. From August 24 through November 1, the booth is open 3:30 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. The last rental goes out an hour before close. If nobody has rented in the final hour, the booth may close 45 minutes early. On a weekday, that means getting to the boathouse by 7 p.m., and it's getting dark earlier every week. After November 1, the hub closes for winter.
No visitor counts, revenue figures or end-of-season review of the city-run hubs have been published yet. For now, there's no scorecard on how the first year went.
The park work scheduled to finish this fall
The boats aren't the only thing the city has on a fall 2026 deadline. Parks and Recreation has a $3.04 million Washington Park Improvements project. It covers path work on the Meadow Loop, where the city says parts of the aging asphalt will be replaced with concrete to meet department and ADA standards, plus upgrades to Picnic Areas 1 and 4, including the fireplace and gazebo, and work on the tennis courts near the playground. The project sheet targets completion in fall 2026 and calls that schedule an estimate. The department's project page says late 2026. As of early October, the city hasn't posted a dated progress report or closure notice. Treat both dates as targets, not confirmation that the work is done.
You can already see one effect of the repaving on the east side. In mid-September, the outdoor pull-up bars there disappeared behind orange fencing. Brenton Scott, a fitness content creator, told Denverite he rides or runs to the park about four times a week to use those bars. He found them gone when he showed up early for a workout with a friend. Parks and Recreation told Denverite the old bars were outdated and out of compliance, that the nearby path was being repaved, and that new bars would go in "later this fall." The department didn't give a date.
The trees are also on a different schedule this year. In August, the Denver Post reported that drought was expected to bring earlier, duller fall color across Colorado, with Denver's trees changing faster than usual. The Post didn't report on Washington Park specifically. Still, if the forecast holds, the best foliage around the lakes may come earlier than residents expect.
The calendar between now and mid-November
Most of what's left of the season falls in about a month:
- Monday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to noon. Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park hosts a free Cycling Without Age event. Trishaw rides leave the boathouse and go around the park loop. The Washington Park Recreation Center is closed that day for Indigenous Peoples' Day.
- Friday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m. to sundown. South Pearl's Final Friday art walk covers the 1400 to 1600 blocks.
- Saturday, Oct. 31, 3 to 6 p.m. Trick or Treat Street on Old South Gaylord, with neighborhood businesses handing out treats.
- Sunday, Nov. 1. The last day of Adventure Hub rentals on Smith Lake.
- Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. Online requests for 2027 boathouse events open. If you're planning a wedding, reunion or milestone party at the boathouse next year, this is the date that matters.
- Sunday, Nov. 8. The last South Pearl farmers market of the year runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 1400 and 1500 blocks. The district lists more than 170 vendors. The FANS Wash Park Book Club meets in the park that same morning from 10:30 to 11:30.
- Sunday, Nov. 15. The Wash Park Circuit starts with a kids' quarter-mile at 8:45 a.m. The community race follows at 9 a.m., then the competitive women's race at 9:30 and the competitive men's race at 10, all on a 2.25-mile course that starts by the diagonal parking lot.
In practice, the season ends in a set order. The boats stop on November 1, the boathouse books 2027 the next morning, the market packs up a week later, and the Circuit runs the loop the week after that.
Three newer places to end up afterward
This year also brought several changes to the commercial strips on either side of the park. Each of these opened in spring:
- Dry Dock Pub, 1101 S. Pearl St. It took over the former Pub on Pearl on May 27. It serves a full pub menu, cocktails and wine. Live music and a game area with pool, darts, pinball and video games are in the plans. Its website lists an event on October 9 at 7 p.m.
- Reunion Bakery, 1240 S. Pearl St. The larger café opened in early May in the former Source Market Hall bakery space. It added brunch, more pastries and fresh bread. Its ordering page lists hours Tuesday through Sunday, with Mondays closed. That makes it an easy first stop on a market Sunday.
- Wash Park Social, 1096 S. Gaylord St. This new concept replaced Wash Park Grille, with an opening planned for the end of April. Its site now says "Now Open." It's a short walk from Trick or Treat Street.
Farther up Pearl, the former Hanson's Grill site at 1301 S. Pearl St. is in city concept review for a three-story building called Top of Pearl. The plans show retail or restaurant space, offices and about a dozen homes. Hoodline reported in June that the plan had grown by nearly 8,000 square feet and that the design could still change.
Most of the neighborhood will look different next spring. The city will be heading into its second rental season, the Meadow Loop path work should be done, and the east-side pull-up bars should be back. If you're thinking about how changes like these show up in what nearby homes are worth, The Hoffman Group is glad to walk you through it with no pressure. Get Your Free Home Valuation, and we'll put together a clear, local read on your home before the 2027 season starts.
