...It's very pretty here. I don't know how the city of Glendale managed to cobble together the funds to put together a beautiful, architecturally interesting multi-million dollar park in one of the lower-middle-class sections of metro Denver, but it's a boat anchor. A beautiful, green boat anchor that keeps this area from miring down in the quicksand and sinking into complete ghettosville.
The trail around the "park" area is in the shape, if I recall, of a very long peanut -- maybe one with 3 nuts in it, with 1 or 2 curving paths down the middle. It encloses 1 of 2 soccer/football/rugby fields, and the only one open to the public. There are picnic tables and covered shelter. Waste receptacles and baggies for dog owners. Sometimes, or maybe often, this area is lit up with full-tilt stadium lights late at night -- how they can afford the electric bill, I don't know -- but I'd wager it keeps crime down in the area, as well.
And then, of course, there's the "big stadium". Seats up to 4000-5000 fans (official website says 4000), primarily used for watching national/international rugby matches...but also has frequent "movie nights" during the summertime for free. They could charge...but it's *free*. Not like Movies On The Rocks -- I know, 2 entirely different venues, different vibes, types of movies, etc...but it's still nice Glendale manages to do it for free. The men's team here were the 2011 DI national champions. The women's team were the 2011 national runners-up. Glendale Sports Center proudly displays a banner on the side proclaiming Glendale as "Rugbytown USA". Never mind that it was a blip on the local news; people here are proud of the team and it shows; gives this area enough backbone to stand a bit taller and shine more confidently than it would without the team and the stadium, for sure. On top of the previously mentioned activities, I watched (and mingled with) some high-society social event here last summer, where the men wore seersucker and other summer fabriced suits and the ladies vintage dresses and really amazing hats, as they all danced and drank in the summer sun, listening to various bands play. Was it a benefit? Was it a celebration? I don't know. But everyone was dressed to the nines (except me; I was there in shorts and a t-shirt and pretended I was there as a staff photographer for a local paper. :) Epic. ;) ). The facility is truly multifunctional and a great place to visit; no matter what the occasion is. I'm with Angela A on this one: the place, literally and figuratively, shines forth in the dark to hold off the seediness, and radiates openness and friendliness during the day -- you may even get smiled at here, if you aren't careful. read more