Washington Park (or “Wash Park” as it’s referred to by locals) is an in-demand neighborhood southeast of downtown. Reinhard Schuetze laid out the park in 1889, and in 1897 Mayor Thomas McMurray viewed Smith’s Lake as an ideal location for a new park and began purchasing land and condemning properties. With a total of 160 acres, the park design and transplanting of trees and shrubs from the mountains began on what was previously bare land. When streetcar lines with access to downtown were extended south on Franklin and South Gaylord, the improved accessibility sparked interest in residential development and Denver’s first suburb was born. Construction began in the early 1900s and came to include duplexes, bungalows, small apartments and pop-tops. The original Smith’s Lake and the newer Grasmere Lake provided for additional water – and swimming holes — that allowed the park to bloom and the neighborhood to flourish. Now one of the most beloved and frequented parks in the city, Washington Park is the key draw for living in this neighborhood. Additional features include the quaint shops and cafes in Old South Gaylord, South Pearl St, and in Bonnie Brae. Today, Washington Park has great access to downtown, Cherry Creek, Denver Tech center and easy access to I-25 and light rail.