Project Information

Bid Title

Skyline Park and Sloan's Lake Park Concession Services

Issuing Agency

City of Denver

Location

Colorado

Published Date

May 26, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 22, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Project Description

Skyline Park and Sloan's Lake Park Concession Services

Closing date June 22, 2026, 12:00 PM

• Reference number 20260519
• Status Open
• Summary DPR seeks responses from companies with the capability, financial backing, and vision alignment to operate concession services at either or both Skyline Park and Sloan's Lake Park. Vendors should be focused on providing concession experiences that celebrate Denver’s diverse history, cultures, and traditions, integrating into and complementing the specific sites within each park.

The City and County of Denver (“City”) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (“DPR”) are seeking responses from companies with the interest, capability, financial backing, and vision alignment to operate concession services at one or both of these urban park locations:

Skyline Park (Block 2) Kiosk:

Located on Arapahoe Street between 16th and 17th Streets, Denver, CO 80202 (“Concession Site”)

Anticipated Operations Commencement: Summer 2027

• Beverage focused concession service with option to provide prepackaged prepared foods
• Optional site adjacent food truck operation [Two (2) designated spaces]
• Free cultural programming (if applicable)

Sloan’s Lake Park Boathouse:

Located on the north side of Sloan’s Lake marina near 4700 W Byron Place, Denver CO 80212 (“Concession Site”)

Anticipated Operations Commencement: Spring 2028

• Beverage focused concession service with option to provide prepackaged prepared foods
• Event space rentals management
• Optional site adjacent food truck operation [One (1) designated space]
• Free cultural programming (if applicable)

DPR seeks Statements of Interest from vendors focused on providing concession experiences that celebrate Denver’s diverse history, cultures, traditions, and values and that are designed to integrate into and complement the specific sites within each park. We want to hear from Denver’s most creative, community-minded food and beverage visionaries who are ready to help us make our parks even more special than they already are.

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. The City will use responses to this RFI to inform next steps for the anticipated formal Requests for Proposal (RFP) for both location opportunities that will be issued in 2026. Contracts with anticipated terms of five (5) years will be awarded to one (1) or two (2) successful companies (“Concessionaire(s)”) later in the year.
Interested parties are invited to submit Statements of Interest for one or both of the Concession Sites.

Companies who are interested in submitting proposals for the upcoming formal RFPs are highly encouraged to respond to this RFI.

• VIEW THE FULL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (PDF, 2MB)
• PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Monday June 22, 2026 at 12:00pm
  Proposals will ONLY be accepted electronically via BidNet at www.rockymountainbidsystem.com (search for solicitation number 20260519)

Contact details

Jennifer Simmons

DPR.Proposals@denvergov.org

Important Dates

RFI Issued & Advertised: May 19, 2026

Informational Meeting: June 3, 2026 @ 1:30 p.m. MT

Deadline to Submit Questions: June 10, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m. MT

Questions & Answers Uploaded to BidNet: June 15, 2026

RFI Responses Due: June 22, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m. MT

RFP Issuance & Full Proposals Submissions: Summer 2026

Contract Execution: Winter 2026

Anticipated Operations Commencement (Skyline Park): Summer 2027

Anticipated Operations Commencement (Sloan’s Lake Park): Spring 2028

Attachment Preview

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Skyline Park & Sloan’s Lake Park

Concession Services

Department of Parks and Recreation

Solicitation 20260519

May 19, 2026

Contents

1. Introduction........................................................................................................................1

2. Designated Contact ...........................................................................................................2

3. Informational Meeting........................................................................................................2

4. Key Dates ...........................................................................................................................2

5. Concessions Overview......................................................................................................2

A. Skyline Park ...................................................................................................................3

B. Sloan’s Lake Park..........................................................................................................7

6. RFI Response Requirements ..........................................................................................11

7. Questions & Answers ......................................................................................................12

8. Site Maps and Pictures....................................................................................................13

1. Introduction

The City and County of Denver (“City”) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (“DPR”) are seeking

responses from companies with the interest, capability, financial backing, and vision alignment to operate

concession services at one or both of these urban park locations:

• Skyline Park (Block 2) Kiosk facility located on Arapahoe Street between 16th and 17th Streets,

Denver, CO 80202 (“Concession Site”)

Anticipated Operations Commencement: Summer 2027

➢ Beverage focused concession service with option to provide prepackaged prepared foods

➢ Optional site adjacent food truck operation [Two (2) designated spaces]

➢ Free cultural programming (if applicable)

• Sloan’s Lake Park Boathouse facility located on the north side of Sloan’s Lake marina near

4700 W Byron Place, Denver CO 80212 (“Concession Site”)

Anticipated Operations Commencement: Spring 2028

➢ Beverage focused concession service with option to provide prepackaged prepared foods

➢ Event space rentals management

➢ Optional site adjacent food truck operation [One (1) designated space]

➢ Free cultural programming (if applicable)

RFI 2026: Skyline Park & Sloan’s Lake Park Concession Services

Page 1 of 23

DPR seeks Statements of Interest from vendors focused on providing concession experiences that

celebrate Denver’s diverse history, cultures, traditions, and values and that are designed to integrate into

and complement the specific sites within each park. We want to hear from Denver’s most creative,

community-minded food and beverage visionaries who are ready to help us make our parks even more

special.

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. The City will use responses to this RFI to inform next steps

for the anticipated formal Requests for Proposal (RFP) for both location opportunities that will be issued in

2026. Contracts with anticipated terms of five (5) years will be awarded to one (1) or two (2) successful

companies (“Concessionaire(s)”) later in the year.

Interested parties are invited to submit Statements of Interest for one or both of the Concession Sites.

Companies who are interested in submitting proposals for the upcoming formal RFPs are highly

encouraged to respond to this RFI (see Section 6: RFI Response Requirements below for details).

2. Designated Contact

Jennifer Simmons, Department of Parks and Recreation Contract Administrator, is the Designated

Contact for this Request for Information (RFI). All inquiries and questions regarding the RFI should be

submitted in writing to dpr.proposals@denvergov.org.

Respondents that send communications regarding any aspect of the RFI or subsequent process outside

of the Designated Contact risk disqualification from the RFI and subsequent RFPs or other procurement.

3. Informational Meeting

Interested parties are encouraged to attend the informational meeting which will take place

virtually/online on Wednesday June 3rd, 2026 at 1:30 PM MT via Microsoft Teams

https://tinyurl.com/mfcwz4ty. You may also attend by calling 720-388-6219, ID 960 054 015#.

4. Key Dates

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

RFI Issued & Advertised

Informational Meeting

Deadline to Submit Questions

Questions & Answers Uploaded to BidNet

RFI Responses Due

RFPs Issuance & Full Proposals Submissions

Contracts Execution

Anticipated Operations Commencement:

Skyline Park

Anticipated Operations Commencement:

Sloan’s Lake Park

May 19, 2026

1:30 PM MT June 3, 2026

12:00 PM MT June 10, 2026

June 15, 2026

12:00 PM MT June 22, 2026

Summer 2026

Winter 2026

Summer 2027

Spring 2028

5. Concessions Overview

Denver's park system is more than an amenity; it's the soul of our City, providing residents and visitors

with some of their most enjoyable experiences and lasting memories. From our dynamic urban parks to

our vast network of trails to the expansive mountain parks, DPR’s 20,000+ acres of parkland represent

one of the most diverse and celebrated park systems in the country.

RFI 2026: Skyline Park & Sloan’s Lake Park Concession Services

Page 2 of 23

Denver Urban Parks is currently envisioning what the long-term future of park-integrated food and

beverage experiences across the City could look like, with Skyline Park and Sloan’s Lake Park, two of our

most iconic and frequently visited public spaces, slated to be the first two opportunities to launch this new

chapter that will enhance how Denverites get to experience their parks. This vision is rooted

in DPR’s strategic plans, including our comprehensive plan, Game Plan for a Healthy City, and our

downtown plan, The Outdoor Downtown. These plans encourage a spectrum of concession

opportunities in parks that can contribute to the vibrancy of our urban spaces. Community engagement

for The Outdoor Downtown identified “diversifying food and beverage options” as one of the top 10

requested programs by the public for Denver’s downtown parks. We’re envisioning destinations that

people can’t find anywhere else but in a Denver park, places that are enhanced by the natural beauty and

community activation that will surround them and that speak to the unique characteristics that make

Denver the incredible City we all know and love.

DPR is seeking purveyors who understand that vital park concessions offer more than convenience; they

provide connection and community activation.

We're seeking partners who are:

➢ Visionaries with roots: Whether you're an established Denver concessionaire or an emerging

entrepreneur with a bold idea, you understand this City and you're ready to create something that

captures its essence and diverse cultures;

➢ Community builders: You see your establishment as a gathering place that strengthens

neighborhood bonds, welcomes everyone, and supports vibrancy in our parks;

➢ Experience creators: You know that people will remember not just what they ate or drank, but

how they felt and what they experienced. You’re interested in providing creative programming,

events, and partnerships that draw people to your destination throughout park operational hours;

➢ Sustainability-minded: You recognize that operating in these treasured, highly visible public

spaces comes with environmental stewardship responsibility.

A. Skyline Park

Background Information

Located off of 16th Street, which saw more than 3 million visits in 2025, Skyline Park is a linear 3-block

public space spanning Arapahoe Street between 15th and 18th Streets at the heart of Denver’s downtown

in the Central Business District. The Skyline Park Improvements Project is currently underway,

reimagining all three blocks of

the park into an inviting and

inclusive space that will be an

authentic and contemporary

expression of Denver’s urban

outdoor lifestyle.

The first phase of construction

has broken ground on Block 2,

between 16th and 17th streets,

with an anticipated completion in

summer 2027. The middle of the

overall 3-block Skyline Park,

Block 2 is designed to energize

downtown with state-of-the-art

amenities that will improve

experiences for residents, tourists, workers, students, and regional visitors, while also infusing life into

downtown Denver.

The Block 2 design includes a winter ice-skating rink and loop that converts to an interactive water play

area and flexible summer event plaza. The block will also house a small outdoor performance stage

RFI 2026: Skyline Park & Sloan’s Lake Park Concession Services

Page 3 of 23

featuring a shade canopy and basic public address and speaker system designed to support a variety of

live programming. The stage will be activated by a rotating roster of partners and permit holders, offering

flexible opportunities for music, performance, and community events. Additionally, Block 2 will also feature

a year-round food and beverage pavilion, more shady trees and green infrastructure, and an enhanced

bike lane connecting to key downtown destinations. The existing Halprin sculpture will remain, reimagined

as a vibrant educational garden using best practices for urban ecology.

The year-round food and beverage pavilion will be housed in an approximately 1,229 square foot

building, featuring an open design that includes ample patio space and an open-air bar with

approximately 200 seats. The design, led by the LA-based collective RIOS, draws inspiration from

Denver’s rich architectural history with fluted masonry panels and wood accents framing the area.

The establishment is intended to be a beverage-focused concession that offers both alcoholic and family-

friendly beverage options, complemented by a selection of pre-packaged foods and diverse food truck

offerings. The thoughtful layout of the space will allow guests to enjoy panoramic views of the garden,

water plaza, and stage from various vantage points, and will easily facilitate a diverse range of related

programming sited in the surrounding areas of the park. The pavilion will also include new public

restrooms that are being constructed adjacent to the concession space.

Visit denvergov.org/theoutdoordowntown for more information about the project, community engagement

activities, and a link to sign up for project updates.

Tentative Construction Timeline

General Contractor mobilization

Ongoing

Construction duration

Present – Summer 2027

Fixtures & Equipment set up and Concessionaire Approximately July 2027

access

Concession Services

The City seeks a Skyline Park Concessionaire with a mission aligned with DPR’s objectives to provide a

welcoming recreational and cultural hub that contributes to a thriving, vibrant downtown.

The City will consider contracting with a single vendor to provide all services or with a primary vendor who

has subcontractor partners to fulfill partial services. The Concessionaire will be responsible for ensuring

that their agreements with any subcontractors comply with City requirements.

➢ Proposed organizational structures including any subcontractors will be requested for

submissions to the upcoming formal RFP.

• Food and Beverage Services: The Concessionaire will provide food and beverage services that

reflect Denver’s unique characteristics and augment the amenities in the surrounding Skyline

Park. The concession will be beverage focused with light pre-prepared and pre-packaged food

items also made available as the size of back of house infrastructure and storage allow.

The site will have hookups to accommodate 2 food trucks. The Concessionaire will have the

ability to operate one or both food trucks to supplement food offerings, to subcontract with food

truck partners, and/or to manage the schedule of food truck operations subject to City approval.

The Concessionaire may apply for a liquor license to serve beer, wine, and spirits. See additional

information about Licensed Premises for alcohol sales below.

➢ Proposed menus and pricing will be requested for submissions to the upcoming

formal RFP.

• Public Programming and Downtown Activation: The Concessionaire is encouraged to offer a

diverse range of free cultural and community-based programming that draws people to the

concession and larger park, such as trivia nights, acoustic music performances, sports viewing

RFI 2026: Skyline Park & Sloan’s Lake Park Concession Services

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parties, board game competitions, or other proposed events or programs approved by DPR that

serve a public benefit and activate downtown.

DPR and other non-profit and community partners may also schedule and promote programming

on site independently or in coordination with the Concessionaire; however, the Concessionaire

will be responsible for managing and promoting their own event programming.

➢ Proposed programming general examples are requested for submissions to this

RFI; additional programming details will be requested for submissions to the

upcoming formal RFP.

Operational Requirements

Space available to the Concessionaire will include the food and beverage pavilion (approximately 1,229

square feet), the outdoor patio (approximately 1,990 square feet), and a storage room (approximately 83

square feet) located in the adjacent building that also houses two public restrooms (approximately 67

square feet each).

The City will have exclusive use of the office area located within the concession pavilion (approximately

65 square feet).

See Section 8: Site Maps and Renderings below for additional details.

The concession must operate seven (7) days per week year-round. Operational hours are to be mutually

agreed upon by the Concessionaire and DPR and must meet the needs of Skyline Park visitors, nearby

residents, and businesses throughout the area. The Concessionaire may customize their operating

schedule based on volume and demand and to align with special events within the park and nearby areas

subject to City approval.

The Concessionaire will be responsible for managing a Licensed Premises for alcohol consumption at the

Concession Site. DPR is exploring the establishment of a Common Consumption Area across Skyline

Park Block 2 that would allow for patrons of the Concessionaire to consume alcohol, including takeout

beverages, anywhere across the block, while also ensuring that park visitors can still bring their own

alcohol to enjoy in Skyline Park. The Concession Site’s Licensed Premises would lie within the boundary

of the Common Consumption Area. DPR is requesting feedback from potential Concessionaires to inform

the boundaries of their areas and to better understand any potential operational impacts for concessions

management. Proposed Common Consumption Area and Licensed Premises boundaries are included in

Section 8A below in the Design Site Plan on page 17 for reference.

➢ Feedback on the proposed Licensed Premises and Common Consumption Area

boundaries is requested for submissions to this RFI; additional details about the Common

Consumption Area designation and Licensed Premises requirements will be available in

the upcoming RFP.

The Concessionaire will be responsible for supplying, installing, and maintaining all equipment necessary

for concession operations, such as kitchen equipment, Point-of-Sale system, telephone/data systems, ice

machines, dishwasher, food preparation units, as well as all minor equipment, small wares, and related

accessories or utensils needed.

The City will provide a walk-in cooler (approximately 77 square feet), a wall mounted draft beer tap, a

water filtration system, outdoor heat lamps, fire pits, and outdoor tables and chairs. Final fixed equipment

list to be determined prior to construction completion.

The Concessionaire will be responsible for general daily maintenance, repair services, and securing site

access and furnishings for their assigned areas of the facility and the public restrooms located in Block 2,

including all food and kitchen equipment inspections, regular cleaning and stocking of materials, safe

storage of supplies, minor repairs under $2,500.00, rodent and pest control, and snow removal for the

Concession Site. Concessionaire is responsible for daily collection and proper disposal of litter and trash

resulting from Concessionaire’s operations, including trash that may have blown outside of the

RFI 2026: Skyline Park & Sloan’s Lake Park Concession Services

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 561720Janitorial Services
• NAICS 713990All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
• NAICS 721211RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds

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