Historic Sundial Restored In Denver Park

DENVER, CO – Here comes the sundial. Denver's Cranmer Park neighbors, politicians and staffers from Denver Parks and Recreation celebrated Wednesday as the $2 million restoration of the park's red sandstone terrace and six-foot sundial in the park was officially complete. The plaza has been closed since November, 2017.

With the help of Denver's The Park People, the neighborhood Save Our Sundial campaign raised $830,000 toward the refurbishment the sundial, originally installed in 1941.

Wednesday, families and community members were joined by Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman and parks representatives.

“The sundial and plaza are integral parts of the character and culture of the Cranmer Park community, and it’s wonderful that Denver Parks and Recreation could join together with the neighborhood and The Park People to revitalize this important piece of Denver’s history,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “I’m very proud of the effort that went into the restoration, these park treasures are the legacies we want to preserve and protect for generations to come.”

Built in the 1930s, the then-MountainView Park terrace was crafted out of Colorado flagstone and includes a terrazzo mosaic panorama depicting the Front Range mountains visible from the park. Over the years, Denver's freeze-thaw cycles damaged the terrace flagstone, mortar and mosaic panorama.

The original sundial was blown up by vandals in 1965 with dynamite. In 1992, a community effort raised funds to replace the sundial with a slightly larger, six-foot replacement, using the piece’s original drawings.

But decades of "freeze-thaw weather cycles" cracked the flagstones on the plaza and the sundial and plaza were placed on the Colorado Preservation 2013 list of Most Endangered Places.

“We are so proud of the way the Denver community rallied to protect this community treasure – to save the sundial,” said Kim Yuan-Farrell, executive director of The Park People. “It’s special places like the sundial plaza that enrich our lives and make Denver a great place to live, work, and play. We need to invest in our parks and open spaces – they’re the places that will keep Denver livable as our city grows.”

Cranmer Park, located in Denver's Hilltop neighborhood, was first named Inspiration Park, later renamed Mountain View Park, and then renamed again in 1959 to honor George Cranmer, Denver’s then-Manager of Parks and Improvements.

Related: Sundial Repair In Denver's Cranmer Park To Begin

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