Stapletopia

Friends ask me if I like Stapleton and I tell them a story about how I once vowed I would never live there. I wanted to be in a ski town or a loft downtown, never in a lame, boring, family type neighborhood.

Like most things in my life, every few years I look back and realize what an idiot I was just a short time ago. Obviously, I have changed my tune about Stapleton and couldn’t be happier calling the neighborhood my home. With two little kids, my priorities and lifestyle have also significantly changed.

Stapleton is easy livin’. Walking to the pool, cruising around on bikes, going for runs and hikes on trails, bike commuting to downtown….it goes on.

If you’re interested in the neighboorhood or showing your friends around, this map is my recommendation for experiencing Stapleton. Definitely use Zillow to checkout house prices, etc and remember that April and May are when a lot of houses come on to the market in Stapleton. I’m no realtor (talk to Pam Rios for that), so this knowledge is based on anecdotal observations.

The Stapleton Tour

1. Stop at Starbucks at fuel up. Yes, Starbucks. I know it’s not hip but everyone is super nice and it’s easy. If you’ve never been to a Starbucks because you are so incredibly hip, order a Clove, it’s like a pour-over.

2. Cruise down 29th ave to get a sense of the mixed architecture styles. You’ll see super modern, townhouses, regular houses, apartments, etc all on the same block. Turn right on Central Park then left on 26th. Checkout the rock climbing park, one of a zillion playgrounds for the kids all around the neighborhood.

3. Continue on 26th and wind around Westerley Creek Elementary. Yes, Stapleton schools are good. The PTA and parent support is super strong for the several middle schools in the neighborhood.

4. Wrap around back to 26th again and cross the Westerley Creek open space. This is a great place to run and ride bikes with the kids.

5. Turn left on Fulton street, you’re now in the East Bridge neighborhood and my stomping ground. Turn right on 28th and drive another block to see a park with a playground and pool. There are several of these around Stapleton.

6. Continue East on 28th and turn left on Iola St then right on 29th. Drive a minute and you’ll see the Bluff Lake Nature Center on your left. Turn into the parking lot, get out of the car and walk around for a few minutes. This is a great place for running or hiking with the kids.

7. Get back in the car, turn right out of the parking lot and wind around, you’re now on MLK blvd again. Drive a minute and look to your right to see the Central Park Rec Center. This is a great gym with yoga classes, lap pool, kid pool, etc.

8. Keep going on MLK another few minutes and look to the right again to see Central Park. This is a great running, sledding, bouldering and kite flying park with a huge playground. You’ll see road races on the weekends and an occasional cyclo-cross race in the fall.

9. Turn left on Unita then right on 29th to see the Bistro and Wine Cellers at Stapleton. This is your amazing lunch or light apps and glass of wine conclusion to time well spent touring Stapleton. In the summer, cruiser bikes and craft beer dot the Stapleton landscape. If it’s Fri or Sat between 4p-7p stop in the Wine Cellers for a free tasting.

10. Turn right on to MLK then left on Central Park Blvd to head towards I-70. You’ll see the old Stapleton tower and a new neighborhood called Central Park North. On the left you’ll see the RTD bus stop and the new light rail station, it’s super easy to get to DIA from Stapleton. Cross the bridge and you’ll see a gigantic outdoor mall called Northfield. That’s where Target, Bass Pro Shop and stuff like that is. (see “Last minute xmas shopping”).

Good Luck in your Stapletopia journey and feel free to reach out with questions.