Exploring The Arkins Promenade

Photo Credit: RiNo Arts District

Transforming an Industrial River Corridor Into a Public Destination

What is the Arkins Promenade?

It's a beautiful new, linear riverfront park and pedestrian corridor along the South Platte River in Denver’s RiNo Arts District. Built along Arkins Court, it transforms a former industrial service road into a multi-acre public landscape connecting trails, parks, gathering spaces, and cultural venues, while anchoring the larger RiNo ArtPark development.

How do I access it?

Arkins Promenade is easy to reach from multiple points along Arkins Court, as well as from Arkins Park and RiNo ArtPark. It also connects directly to the South Platte River Trail, linking downtown, nearby parks, and other riverfront destinations.

The signature elevated walkway is roughly 400 feet long. The broader promenade and park corridor extends several blocks along Arkins Court — about a quarter mile in total, connecting multiple gathering spaces, trail links, and riverfront areas.

Google Maps: 3601 Arkins Ct, Denver, CO 80216

What's the vision behind it?

For years, this stretch of riverfront was defined by rail lines and service roads that limited public access. Arkins Promenade reworks that industrial framework instead of erasing it. Steel structures, reclaimed materials, and exposed structural elements nod to the area’s working past while supporting new public uses.
Instead of just building a "park", the project set out to reconnect people to the river, expand pedestrian and bike access, and create a flexible outdoor space that fits RiNo’s creative and industrial character.

What's the experience & design like?

It's series of connected outdoor spaces rather than one open lawn. Plazas, seating areas, play features, river overlooks, and public art create a corridor that encourages both movement and gathering.

The standout feature is a roughly 400-foot elevated steel walkway that zigzags above planted landscape areas and portions of the riverbank. The structure creates layered viewpoints of the river, skyline, and surrounding neighborhood while protecting restoration areas below. Its angular steel frame gives the promenade a sculptural presence that reflects RiNo’s industrial design language.

The promenade supports daily walking and cycling, but the open spaces also accommodate small events, performances, and informal neighborhood use. The adjacent RiNo ArtPark includes the Truss House, a performing arts venue designed for community events and local artists, helping blend outdoor recreation with creative programming.

Landscaped stormwater systems use native grasses and bioswales to filter runoff before it reaches the South Platte River, helping improve water quality while softening the river’s previously hardened edges.

A New Model for Riverfront Redevelopment

Arkins Promenade was developed through collaboration between the City of Denver, RiNo Arts District partners, landscape architects Wenk Associates, and architecture firm Tres Birds. Funding included public bond initiatives alongside city park investment.

More than a neighborhood park, the project shows how industrial corridors can be adapted into public landscapes that serve recreation, ecology, and cultural uses at the same time. As development continues along the South Platte River, Arkins Promenade offers a working example of how cities can reuse existing infrastructure while expanding access to urban waterfronts.