‘Nature Play’ at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science opens this fall

City Park is building a new natural play experience near the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. (Brought to you by: Denver Museum of Nature and Science)

DENVER (KDVR) — After breaking ground on a 10-acre multi-sensory natural play experience in City Park in January 2023, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science has announced when the area will open for exploration.

The design team first received feedback on the project, called “Nature Play,” in the spring of 2021. After years of work, the project is coming to completion.

The 10-acre play area is designed to accommodate multiple generations in multiple seasons and is also self-managing. The project is also a partnership between the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Denver Parks and Recreation.

The project is also a waterway restoration: crews are adding hundreds of native plants and trees to the play park, and combining local art with accessible trails and play equipment. It’s the restoration of a historic waterway in the southeast corner of the park.

The overall goal is to have a space for learning, respite and multigenerational engagement. To do this, Nature Play will introduce visitors to Colorado’s water story, celebrating the state’s diverse ecosystems from alpine tundra to prairie grasslands, the museum said.

There’s also not much longer to wait before the area is open to explore. In comments on Facebook, the museum said the playground would open on September 10. The museum said more updates will come as the opening date approaches.