Central Park Redevelopment (formerly Stapleton Redevelopment)

Transforming a Former Airport into One of the Nation's Most Successful Urban Infill Communities

Since 2000, Mortenson has partnered with Brookfield Properties and the Park Creek Metropolitan District to transform Denver's former Stapleton International Airport into the Central Park redevelopment, a 4,600-acre mixed-use community recognized as one of the nation's leading examples of urban infill redevelopment and New Urbanism. Through more than 120 contracts totaling over $863 million in construction, Mortenson has helped deliver the infrastructure, parks, utilities, recreation facilities, transportation networks, and public spaces that support Denver's largest urban redevelopment project.

Coordinating Growth Across Three Municipalities and 31 Stakeholder Groups

Central Park's success depended on more than construction. It required alignment among public agencies, private developers, utilities, regulators, businesses, neighborhood organizations, and future residents over more than two decades of development.

Mortenson served as a central coordinating partner, working with 31 stakeholder groups that included ownership organizations, federal agencies, state agencies, City and County of Denver departments, neighborhood groups, operating businesses, utility providers, schools, and homeowners associations. The redevelopment also spanned three municipalities, multiple funding mechanisms, and dozens of regulatory agencies, requiring constant collaboration as the community continued to grow. Communication, transparency, and responsiveness became critical tools for managing changing priorities while maintaining momentum across multiple development phases.

Building the Infrastructure That Enabled Community Development

Long before homes, schools, parks, and businesses could be built, the site required extensive environmental remediation, grading, utility installation, and transportation infrastructure.

Mortenson managed more than 21 million cubic yards of earthwork and site preparation, including remediation of contaminated soils associated with the former airport. The team also delivered:

• 487 Miles of Utility Infrastructure
• 182 miles of water infrastructure
• 76 miles of storm sewer
• 229 miles of sanitary sewer
• 112 miles of paved roadways
• 77 signalized and roundabout intersections
• A 96-inch microtunnel beneath Interstate 270
• Water quality facilities, detention ponds, and new outfalls to Sand Creek and Westerly Creek

This infrastructure created the foundation necessary to support residential, commercial, retail, institutional, and recreational development across the site.

Turning Parks and Open Space into Community Assets

Central Park demonstrates that parks and open space are essential infrastructure for creating thriving communities.

Across the redevelopment, Mortenson helped deliver nearly 1,400 acres of parks and open space, including more than 60 parks, two dog parks, a skate park, five multi-use athletic fields, seven community pools, and more than 62 miles of trails and pathways connected to Denver's regional trail system. Over 17,500 trees were planted throughout the development, helping establish a network of community gathering spaces and recreational destinations.

The signature 80-acre Central Park exemplifies this vision. Developed through extensive community input, the park integrates active and passive recreation, water features, trails, native landscapes, and connections to surrounding neighborhoods while creating one of the region's defining public spaces.

Delivering Long-Term Value Through Partnership

Unlike traditional projects with a defined start and finish, Central Park has been delivered through decades of continuous growth. Infrastructure, parks, utilities, neighborhoods, schools, and commercial development were constructed in phases while the community was actively expanding around them.

Mortenson's partnership with Brookfield Properties and the Park Creek Metropolitan District has extended beyond construction management to include program budgeting, Title 32 district services, construction observation, maintenance support, procurement coordination, and long-range development planning. This integrated approach enabled the project team to balance evolving community needs, stakeholder expectations, and construction activities while maintaining alignment with the redevelopment's long-term vision.

Results That Continue to Shape Denver's Future

Today, Central Park stands as Denver's largest urban infill redevelopment and a nationally recognized example of transforming previously developed land into a vibrant mixed-use community. The project demonstrates Mortenson's ability to manage complex stakeholder environments, deliver large-scale civil infrastructure, navigate environmental challenges, and create public spaces that generate lasting economic, environmental, and community value.