Denver Botanic Gardens - What, How, Why
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I recently got access to a delightful amenity, based on where I live. I’ve been sharing it with others as quickly as possible, because they too have access to it.
From here on out, when I reference “botanic gardens” or “the gardens”, I’m referencing the Denver Botanic Gardens, next to Cheesman park.
The purchases are for a year, so it works out to $100/year. Botanic gardens as a thing have colonialist origins, so there’s some total downsides to these particular gardens and what they represent. Also, they were built on a mass grave, and have generally been reserved as a privilege for economic elites. If you end up getting a key fob let me know and we’ll go on a walk and I’ll rant more about it then. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m happy to get this great tool/amenity into the hands of the everyperson in Denver. I’ve shared this info with others I live near, but manually cutting/pasting links via SMS isn’t super efficient. Now this page serves as a reference for all.
Here’s where the gate is, some spots to sit when the weather is nice/not as nice:
The lines are where I’ve ridden my scooter/walked while running Strava. Long story, here’s a starting point: https://joshs-mobility-data-54dab943ebba.herokuapp.com/?zoom=18&latlng=39.740677,%20-104.968804
How I use them #
I can take about 3 minutes on my scooter to ride from where I live to where I park my scooter right next to the gate into the gardens from Cheesman. I can easily walk and often do, or bring Eden - it’s far enough that a stroller or jogger is best for everyone, too far for her to walk unaided, and lots of the walking is crossing dangerous streets, unfortunately.
but once you’re close enough to the gardens, it’s lovely
In the winter, there’s a ‘conservatory’ that stays warm and humid. In the summer, there’s cool spaces.
Lots of people walk to them, or ride their bike. It’s not super accessible via car, so I reserve my strongest endorsement for this plan only if you don’t plan on ever driving.
I go here by my self, with friends, with my daughter, all the time. Sometimes I bring a frisbee and toss for a few minutes outside the gardens, if I’m there with friends. I might bring a kindle and laptop and pack a lunch and buy a $1.80 espresso at a cafe and work for a bit.
I’m writing and publishing this post from the gardens, before my laptop battery dies.
Steps to get “Key Fob” Access via the gate to Cheesman Park #
It’s a two-step process to get the full experience. An online purchase, then an in-person purchase.
Step 1: Become ‘digital member’ of the gardens #
If you ‘become a member’ of the Denver Botanic Gardens:
Go to https://www.botanicgardens.org/join-give/membership, and select/pay for the $75 Individual Plus membership.
Buy online and it’s $10 less, so really $65. Renewals are less.
Step 2: In person, purchase the key fob membership upgrade #
There’s a service counter near the front of the gardens, tucked sort of ‘behind’ the Copper Door coffee shop. Go there, ask for the key fob, pay $35 for the fob, it’s supposedly $15 to renew subsequent years.
Information about this on the website wasn’t hard to find, once I knew what I was looking for:
https://www.botanicgardens.org/membership-faq#fob-faq
You’ll get a little plastic key fob. For me and my friends, it’s active and working as soon as they hand it to you, even though they say it might take a day to activate.
Congratulations, have a wonderful time. Most days the gardens are open 8a to 8p, and that key fob seems to open the door from Cheesman even as late as 7:45p, which was later than I expected.
Questions? Let me know. I’ll update this post as makes sense.
Additional Beta #
- I hear the key fob doesn’t work on days/times there are concerts in the gardens, but your membership gets you some sort of discount on a ticket at the main entrance, if you still want to go inside.
- there’s not great bike parking besides locking it to a bench or the fence. As usual, because my scooter is heavy enough it’s considered “locked” just with the handlebar lock, I can park it right next to the main entrance, on a little dedicated piece of asphalt, in a very convenient manner. I’ll add a photo soon.
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