Washington Park Boathouse

The Washington Park Boathouse in Denver is a city-owned event space for wedding receptions and parties of up to 150 guests. It covers 3,145 square feet at 701 South Franklin Street and is rented through the City and County of Denver. The rental season runs from April 15 to October 15, and bookings are made through an online portal.

Weddings and receptions The city lists the boathouse for wedding receptions and parties and celebrations. The facility has a changing room, which gives a wedding party or host a private place to prepare, and a staging kitchen with a refrigerator, sink and counter space. An on-site event facilitator is part of the rental. An adjacent grass area can be reserved in addition, once the building itself is booked, and all setup must stay within the marked boundaries.

Seminars and company events The official page does not mention corporate events or meeting equipment, so the boathouse is best read as a social venue. An organizer planning a company party or a summer reception can ask the Parks Permit Office whether the format fits the rental rules.

Rooms and capacities The boathouse is rented as a single facility with a stated capacity of 150 guests and 3,145 square feet. The city page does not describe separate rooms, a deck or room layouts, so treat any plan beyond the building and the adjacent lawn as something to confirm with the permit office.

Rental hours and booking rules From Monday to Saturday, a booking is any consecutive nine hours between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. On Sunday, the rental window runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays are not available for events. Each booking is capped at nine hours, and setup, cleanup and rehearsal count toward that time. The season is limited to April 15 through October 15, so winter events are not possible here.

Booking starts in the city's online portal, where you must sign in to see availability. All permit requirements must be met no later than 21 calendar days before the event: fees paid, proof of insurance provided and an in-person walkthrough completed with an event facilitator. The city suggests scheduling that walkthrough 30 to 45 days before the event. If most of a public event will take place outdoors in the park, the portal is not used and a separate park permit application applies.

Catering and alcohol The page gives no general catering rules beyond the staging kitchen. Beer, wine, champagne and hard liquor may be served or sold. Alcohol service requires a licensed bartender who is not a guest of the event, and liquor liability or host liquor liability insurance. Selling alcohol also requires a Special Event Liquor License.

Getting there The boathouse is at 701 S. Franklin Street, Denver, CO 80209, in Washington Park. For questions, contact the Parks Permit Office at 6820 E. 12th Ave., Denver, CO 80220, by phone at 720-913-0700 or at Park.Permits@denvergov.org.