The $50 million Sloan’s Lake restoration will dredge the lake, rebuild its shoreline and filter stormwater, with construction set to start in 2028. For West Highland, the lake sits about three blocks south, so the main effects are a healthier park next door and a multi-year construction period at its edge.
Sloan’s Lake is the backyard for a lot of Northwest Denver. The park’s north shore runs along West 26th Avenue, and West Highland’s southern edge is West 29th Avenue, so for many West Highland blocks the lake is a short walk or bike ride away. When the city announced on September 2, 2026 that it plans to spend $50 million to fix the lake, it was one of the bigger public investments this part of town has seen in years.
The announcement also raised practical questions. Owners want to know whether the park will close, how long construction will last, and whether any of it shows up in their taxes. Buyers looking at homes north of the lake want to know what the park will look like when the work is done, and what the years in between will be like.
Jason Sirois, a Denver Realtor with FORM at Compass whose office is at 1900 W 32nd Ave in Northwest Denver, pulled together what the city and local reporters have published so far, and what is still unknown.
What is the $50 million Sloan’s Lake restoration?
The project is a long-term repair of the lake itself, not a new park design. According to The Colorado Sun, decades of stormwater runoff have filled the lake with sediment. It now averages about 2.5 to 3 feet deep, compared with 8 to 12 feet historically. Shallow water warms quickly in summer, which feeds toxic algae blooms. The Sun reported that about 2,000 fish died in July 2024, after a larger die-off in 2020.
The plan, as reported by Axios Denver, includes:
- Dredging sludge from the lake bottom to restore depth
- Rebuilding eroding shorelines
- Green infrastructure that filters stormwater before it reaches the lake
- Deeper habitat for fish
Mayor Mike Johnston described the goal as making the lake “fall-in-able, if not swimmable.” Separately, Denverite reported a $7 million renovation of the historic boathouse at the north end of the park, which CBS Colorado described as a future community and event space.
Where does the money come from, and will it raise taxes?
The city says the project needs no new taxes and no general fund money. Most of it comes from tax increment financing tied to the redevelopment of the former St. Anthony hospital site just south of the park. The city asked the Denver Urban Renewal Authority to add the lake to that existing urban renewal area so it can share in the new property tax revenue the redevelopment already generates.
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| St. Anthony Urban Redevelopment Area (Denver Urban Renewal Authority) | Up to $40 million |
| City wastewater fund | $5 million |
| Vibrant Denver bond (approved by voters in November 2025) | $5 million |
| Total | $50 million |
Source: Axios Denver and The Colorado Sun, September 2, 2026.
For a West Highland homeowner, the short answer is that nothing in the announced plan adds a new line to a property tax bill. The money is either already approved, as with the bond, or comes from growth in the urban renewal area south of the lake.
When will construction start, and will Sloan’s Lake Park close?
Not soon. The city’s announced schedule runs in stages, and approvals come first.
| Step | Timing as announced |
|---|---|
| Denver Urban Renewal Authority board vote | September 2026 |
| Denver City Council approval | After the authority’s vote |
| Contracting and federal permitting | 2027 |
| Construction begins | 2028 |
| Construction length | About 30 months once work starts |
Sources: Axios Denver, The Colorado Sun and Denverite, September 2, 2026.
As of early October 2026, we had not seen a final City Council vote reported, so treat the dates above as the plan rather than a contract. Parks Director Jolon Clark told Denverite that some approvals still had to happen before anything moves forward.
On closures, Axios reported that parts of the lake may close temporarily during construction, while officials intend to keep the park largely open. No detailed staging plan has been published, so it is not yet known which sections of the path, parking or shoreline would be affected, or when.
What does the Sloan’s Lake project mean for West Highland?
West Highland runs from Sheridan Boulevard to Federal Boulevard between West 29th and West 38th avenues. The lake is not inside the neighborhood, but it is the closest large park for its southern blocks, and Sloan’s Lake Park is the second-largest park in Denver at about 290 acres. The Colorado Sun put annual visits at about 2 million.
Here is how the project touches the neighborhood, based on what has been published:
- The park itself. A deeper, cooler lake with rebuilt banks is meant to cut the algae blooms and fish kills of recent summers. Denverite noted the shallow water has also affected events such as the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
- Construction years. If the schedule holds, 2028 through roughly 2030 will bring heavy equipment and work zones along the shore. Haul routes and staging areas have not been announced.
- Stormwater. The Denver Post reported that the sediment comes from storm runoff draining from neighborhoods in Denver, Edgewater, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge. The new filtering is aimed at what flows into the lake, not at drainage on West Highland streets.
- Property taxes. No new tax is attached to the plan, as covered above.
On home values, we have not seen any data that measures the effect of this project, and we are not going to guess. What we can say is that park access is one of the features people ask about most when they look at homes in the blocks between 29th Avenue and the lake. A healthier lake is a better version of that feature, and a long construction period is a temporary cost of getting there. If you are deciding whether to list or buy during those years, it is worth talking through timing with an agent who knows the area. Our West Highland community page and our post on what a West Highland home is worth are good starting points.
What is still unknown about the Sloan’s Lake restoration?
A few things will shape the day-to-day experience for nearby owners, and none of them are public yet:
- The final City Council vote and any changes to the funding package
- Which parts of the lake and trail close, and for how long
- How dredged material leaves the site, and on which streets
- Whether the 30-month estimate holds once a contractor is hired
We will update this post as the city publishes more. If you want to talk through how the project could affect a specific home or street, Jason Sirois and the FORM Team at Compass Denver are glad to walk through it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the Sloan’s Lake restoration cost?
The city announced a $50 million plan on September 2, 2026: up to $40 million from the St. Anthony urban redevelopment area, $5 million from the city wastewater fund and $5 million from the Vibrant Denver bond.
When will the Sloan’s Lake dredging start?
Construction is planned to begin in 2028, after contracting and federal permitting in 2027. Denverite reported the work would take about 30 months once it starts. The dates depend on approvals that were still pending at the announcement.
Will Sloan’s Lake Park close during construction?
Officials said they intend to keep the park largely open, though parts of the lake may close temporarily. A detailed closure plan has not been published.
Will the Sloan’s Lake project raise my property taxes in West Highland?
No new tax is part of the plan. The money comes from an existing urban renewal area, a city wastewater fund and a bond voters already approved in 2025.
How deep is Sloan’s Lake now?
The Colorado Sun reported an average depth of about 2.5 to 3 feet, down from 8 to 12 feet historically, because of sediment carried in by stormwater.
How far is Sloan’s Lake from West Highland?
West Highland’s southern edge is West 29th Avenue, and the lake’s north shore runs along West 26th Avenue, about three blocks south.
This post is general information based on the city’s announcement and local news reports as of October 2026. Project scope, funding and timing can change through city approvals and construction. It is not legal, tax or financial advice.
