Most of the $50 million Denver wants to spend on Sloan's Lake would come from the blocks around it. The city's proposal puts up to $40 million from the St. Anthony Urban Redevelopment Area toward dredging the lake. The district was set up in 2013 to revitalize the area around the lake. Another $5 million would come from the voter-approved Vibrant Denver Bond and about $5 million from the city's Wastewater Enterprise Fund. Mayor Mike Johnston told Denverite that the redevelopment had done "so successful ahead of schedule that we have additional dollars we can allocate."
So the edges are paying for the middle. On the city's own schedule, though, the middle won't change before 2028. That leaves the edges to carry the season. This winter, the changes to a lap around the lake come from one fenced corner at Sheridan and 17th, a few addresses on Raleigh and Perry, the Edgewater side of Sheridan and the stretch of West Colfax to the south.
The Water Runs on a 2028 Clock
The problem the money targets is depth. Sediment has built up for decades, and the city says many parts of the lake now average 2.5 to 3 feet deep, down from historical depths of 8 to 12 feet. The plan is to dredge that sediment out, take steps to stop it from building up again, and restore the shoreline.
The city's September 2 announcement called the project proposed and said it needs approval from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority Board and Denver City Council. If both approve, the city expects to award a contract and finish permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2027, and start work in 2028. On September 14, DURA's board held a special meeting with a resolution on its agenda to commit funds for a project in the St. Anthony Urban Redevelopment Area. Once work begins, Denverite reported that the dredging and shoreline work is expected to take 30 months.
Parks director Jolon Clark described the near term plainly in that same Denverite story:
"There are still some approvals that need to happen before anything starts to move forward. So in the very short term, not a lot of changes, but the focus throughout the project will be to keep as much of the park open and usable as possible, doing work in the lake."
The boathouse on the north shore runs on a similar clock. The city plans to turn the building near Wolff Street and West Byron Place into a community and event space. Its January 2026 project boards schedule construction from spring 2027 to early winter 2028, with an opening in spring 2028.
For the 177-acre lake and its roughly 2 million visitors a year, this winter's water is last winter's water. The changes on the loop are in other places.
The Southwest Corner Is the One Edge That Closed
The one piece of the park that has changed shape this season is the corner where Sheridan Boulevard meets West 17th Avenue. Denver Parks and Recreation is turning the building there into a maintenance yard and shop for northwest Denver parks. Since September, that means:
- The parking lot near Sheridan and 17th is closed.
- The basketball court beside it is closed.
- A section of the trail is set to close later in construction, with signed detours.
- Closures are expected to last through early 2027.
The north side is next. Funded by DPR capital funds and the RISE Denver Bond, the project replaces the north tennis and basketball courts. Construction is scheduled to start in winter 2026 and finish in fall 2027. Anyone who drives in from Sheridan to start a lap, or plays pickup on either court, will spend this winter and most of next year working around fencing on two sides of the park.
The south shore has no new fencing, and it's where most of the season's plans are.
Raleigh and Perry Hold the Season's Biggest Day
The Sloan's Lake Holiday BAZAAR is on Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1611 N. Raleigh St. The organizer describes it as a free outdoor market with up to 80 Colorado makers, food and drink, and room for leashed dogs. Details are on the Denver BAZAAR event page.
Two blocks of neighbors frame that day. ChoLon Sloan's Lake, at 1691 N. Raleigh St., serves dinner daily and was taking reservations into November. Around the corner, Odell Brewing's Sloan's Lake Brewhouse at 1625 Perry St. is open daily, serves scratch-made pizza and has a dog-friendly rooftop patio that looks over the lake.
In a short walk, this corner has a full winter afternoon: the makers' market, a pint or pizza on Perry Street, and a dinner reservation on Raleigh.
The Weekly Rhythm Runs Through Two Breweries
Beyond the one-off dates, the lake's week has a schedule anchored by two breweries that run laps and games:
| Day | Where | What's on |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Odell Sloan's Lake Brewhouse, 1625 Perry St. | Run club starting at the brewery, $5 pints after |
| Monday | Joyride Brewing | Euchre |
| Tuesday | Joyride Brewing | Trivia |
| Wednesday | Joyride Brewing | Lake-lap run club |
Odell's run club calendar was posting Sunday dates through November 8. Joyride lists its nights as weekly events on its events calendar, which is the place to check before a holiday week. With two run clubs, Wednesday and Sunday, a lake lap with company is never more than a few days away. Between them, Joyride's euchre and trivia fill the early-week evenings.
The Edgewater Side Depends on the Park
Edgewater sits across Sheridan from the park, and its mayor said as much the day the restoration was announced. Edgewater Mayor Steve Conklin told Denverite that the town relies heavily on park visitors to patronize its nearby commercial areas, calling the lake "such a regional asset."
Edgewater Public Market, at 5505 W. 20th Ave., is the indoor stop on that side. Its calendar features vendors such as Roger's Liquid Oasis, Edgewater Books, Bibamba Chocolate and Barquentine Brewing. When a lap ends cold and early, the market has a bookstore, chocolate and a brewery under one roof. Upcoming classes and markets are on the market's events page.
Colfax Holds the Indoor Plans and One Address to Watch
The south edge along West Colfax Avenue covers the indoor end of the calendar. Alamo Drafthouse Sloan's Lake, at 4255 W. Colfax Ave., has an Elf Sing-Along Movie Party on November 29, along with other holiday bookings into December on its theater page.
Farther east, 2600 W. Colfax Ave. is the address to watch. Westword reported on October 5 that Jordy's BBQ, which started as a food truck, plans a permanent restaurant in the former Raíces Brewing space. Permitting and the kitchen build-out were underway at the time, and the owner expected two or three months of work. A WhatNow report from October 18 put the hoped-for opening at late 2026 or early 2027.
The Last Lap of the Year
The season's final lake event goes back into the park itself. Santa's Dash for Ca$h is listed for Saturday, December 19, 2026, with a 10 a.m. 5K start at Sloan's Lake Park. Registration and start details are on the race listing. Last year's race ran on December 20, 2025, so the week before Christmas has become its regular slot.
Putting the season in order, from the corner that's closed to the last race:
- Now through early 2027: The parking lot and basketball court at Sheridan and 17th stay closed, and a trail detour comes later.
- November 29: Elf Sing-Along at Alamo Drafthouse Sloan's Lake, 4255 W. Colfax Ave.
- December 5: Sloan's Lake Holiday BAZAAR, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1611 N. Raleigh St.
- Every week: Sunday run club at Odell's; Monday euchre, Tuesday trivia and Wednesday lake laps at Joyride.
- December 19: Santa's Dash for Ca$h 5K, 10 a.m., Sloan's Lake Park.
- This winter: Construction is scheduled to begin on the north tennis and basketball courts.
The Sloan's Lake Park Foundation turns 10 this year. Its executive director, Kurt Weaver, called the restoration proposal "an amazing gift" in the city's announcement. He told Denverite the foundation could then become a "Friends of the Park" group that looks for smaller fixes every week, like more trees, more benches and well-kept soccer fields. Those are the same edges people use all winter.
If you're tracking the restoration approvals or the boathouse schedule and want to talk through what they could mean for your corner of the lake, Dillon at Campfire Real Estate follows these projects block by block. Grab a pint after Sunday's run club and let's connect.
