The park grew out of the social and cultural atmosphere of the late 19th century as Denver residents, business-owners, garden clubs and politicians rallied for the improvement of the dry and dusty Queen City of the Plains.

Construction of the park began in 1886 with “a sinuous tangle of winding carriageways, walks and promenades” put into place.

The arrangement of roads and walks gave the park its pastoral feel, many of which are still in place today.

During the first half of the twentieth century a series of designers influenced and enhanced the park, including Reinhard Schuetze, S.R.

DeBoer is recognized as the most influential, as his tenure as city landscape architect spanned almost fifty years, influencing that Park through 1960.

The City & County of Denver Parks & Recreation Department hosted numerous community meetings, and along with the efforts of a stakeholder group, created the 2001 City Park Master Plan, titled “Revitalizing the Legacy of City Park.” The Master Plan included a Historic Site Assessment, in which the park's contributing and non-contributing features were carefully researched and evaluated.

By the start of the 20th century, Ferril Lake, the Denver Zoo, and the landmark boat pavilion, with a Spanish-style design by architects John Humphreys and William Fisher were all developed in the park.

Reinhard Schuetze, a German immigrant who was the head landscaper for Denver, formalized the design of the park by planting of formal gardens, laying down graceful carriage ways, and creating the East High School Esplanade into the park.

The neighborhood developed around the park, starting with farmers and squatters who used the city ditch to irrigate their crops.

It wasn't until the start of the 20th century with better trolley connections that housing development occurred in force.

Colfax in the City Park neighborhood in particular, has become a popular area with many trendy restaurants, stores, and other businesses.

The neighborhood has also seen new residential and commercial developments, including the twin towers of the Pinnacle at the former site of Mercy Hospital.

The park holds a free summer concert series, and has boat rentals, both standard paddle-boats and some shaped like various water creatures like pelicans and ducks.