Denver has released an updated project list for Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed Vibrant Denver General Obligation Bond package, along with a $935 million price tag.

The new version now includes additional input from members of the Denver City Council, Johnston’s office said in a news release, but further discussions will continue in coming weeks.

“We’re continuing to work on perfecting this bond package and making sure that what we refer to voters matches what residents have told us is most important,” City Council Pro Tem Diana Romero Campbell said. “This week, we’ve added several important projects across the city, including a future recreation hub and skate park in Southeast Denver.”

If approved by the council before Aug. 25, registered voters will see questions about the bond on their Nov. 4, 2025 ballot.

The lion’s share of funding – about 46% or $427 million – would be earmarked for transportation and mobility, meaning streets and bridges, as well as traffic and pedestrian safety improvements.

“This is a nuts-and-bolts bond to fix aging and dangerous infrastructure. If approved by voters, it will deliver significant improvements citywide and in District 9, including a major project in Globeville as well as a long-overdue renovation of the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library that honors the legacy of Five Points,” said Councilman Darrell Watson.

Approximately 25% or $237 million would fund improvements at city facilities like libraries, community centers, the animal shelter, and more, as well as places “that help make Denver an enjoyable place to live and visit,” such as Red Rocks, the Botanic Gardens, and the Denver Art Museum, city officials said.

The Red Rocks project, for $39.1 million, would provide a backstage expansion using the existing staff parking lot and a remodel of the existing backstage spaces, as well as address accessibility concerns.

Should voters approve the bond initiative, parks and recreation infrastructure will see 19% or $175 million in improvements and expansions, including city parks, pools, trails, and children’s play areas.

One of the bigger-ticket items on the list, coming in at $70 million, is the proposed buildout of the former 155-acre Park Hill Golf Club property into a robust regional park.

Approximately 7% or $64 million would be targeted toward ADA improvements to housing and shelter facilities, as well as the addition of new affordable housing. An additional $30 million, or 3%, would expand a family health clinic and build a children’s advocacy center.

“Every few years, we come together as a city to set our shared priorities — like making neighborhoods safer, more connected, and more vibrant,” Johnston said in a statement. “This package delivers on those goals by repairing the roads we drive on, fixing the bridges we cross, improving the parks and rec centers our families use, and investing in libraries that serve as community hubs.”

Johnston has faced criticism from both residents and councilmembers over not only the projects selected, but of the overall process, at one time calling it “rushed.”

District 5 Councilmember Amanda Sawyer told members of the city’s Vibrant Denver Bond working group in mid-May that she was “not OK” with the process.

Denver will be part of the larger Colorado General Election in 2026, and Sawyer suggested the bond measure could benefit by waiting.

“There is another ballot in November of 2026 that will, in fact, have a bigger turnout than this ballot,” she said. “We could go in November of 2026 and have plenty of time to have all of the right conversations.”

Johnston’s office disagreed, stating that most of the projects are “shovel-ready” and the city is “ready to put people to work.”

Rather than a traditional 10-year cycle, Johnston’s new bond program would be an accelerated six-year bond cycle.

Denver voters can authorize general obligation bonds every four to 10 years, which are repaid through property taxes. Denver’s current bond programs are nearly complete, creating “capacity” for new projects, officials said.

“The Vibrant Denver Bond is more than a list of projects, it’s a promise to our residents,” City Council President Amanda P. Sandoval said. “It’s a commitment to safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, and a future where Denver can thrive. Every compromise was driven by one belief: Denver deserves our very best.”