Denver, Land of Extremes
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2/5/2007
The previous poster indicated that Denver has more park acreage than any other city. Actually, Phoenix rules in that regard, though most wouldn't know it since they don't consider the desert a 'park'. Phoenix has a city park larger than the island of Manhattan and, in another park, I once walked 9 miles without seeing another person.
I disagree that Denver has hot summers free of humidity. The humid Gulf air doesn't really reach Denver all that often, but it can be humid and uncomfortable. Living in Phoenix, I know hot and dry and, Denver, you're summer humidity bothered me. Summer nights are ideal, though.
My time in Denver showed me that it is quite dirty in places and the streets are rather complicated, especially central Denver with its diagonal downtown grid. I can't imagine driving when it snows or hails! Most of Denver seemed dated (old) and very midwestern in style. That's not a crime, but it's not what I expected for a city in the West. What Denver needs is a sense of style all to itself, not a conglomeration of everything else.
I noticed people do have more energy than in other cities and that's a good thing. Denver isn't sleepy. How can you sleep knowing that tomorrow could be either 80 degrees or -10 degrees? "Mild climate" is misleading considering the extreme swings in weather conditions Denver experiences in all seasons but summer. The biggest snowstorms have come in September and March.
The reason I don't live in Denver is that there is now a huge metropolis forming along the Front Range running from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. And, it's not growing well at all. Can you say traffic hell? Bad drivers, too long of a commute, too many rules and regulations trying to protect what's left. Better planning is essential for Denver's/Colorado's future.
Abhd | Phoenix, AZ