The real differences between Curtis Park and Washington Park

What great weather today! I rang the first sign of spring in with a bike ride over to Washington Park and back. Every time I choose to ride down Cherry Creek Path, and at Wash Park, on a spring day like this, I wonder what the heck I was thinking? Simply too much traffic on that narrow path, it is just bedlam sometimes. Groups of cyclists riding two-across pacelines on the bike path? Pure douchery. As are people walking three-across with absolutely no attention to other trail users. And don't get me started about the Jeep Wrangler I saw sitting in the middle of Cherry Creek near 13th today. Oh, the shenanigans! But during a couple of white-knuckled laps around Wash Park, I began to think about how it is like two different worlds when I ride from the 'hood to Wash Park and back. I often think that I can't wait until City Park and Curtis Park becomes more like Wash Park... but it won't be all puppy dogs and ice cream when that happens. There are plenty of things I hope don't make the move over to our parks as the neighborhood changes. So, here, in my mind, are the differences between Curtis Park and Washington Park.

1. At Curtis Park, you're frequently approached for money. At Wash Park, you're frequently approached to sign some petition that is so important the future of the free world depends on your signature. 
2. At Curtis Park, people are pulling aluminum cans out of dumpsters. At Wash Park, they're just putting them in.
3. At Curtis Park, people walk out in front of cars and bikes because they're high as a kite. At Wash Park, people walk out in front of cars and bikes because they are narcissistic and/or on a cell phone.
4. At Curtis Park, you risk getting taken out by an off-leash Chihuahua running free. At Wash Park, you risk getting taken out by a puggle on a poorly-managed retractable dog leash.
5. At Curtis Park, you see dogs where a desirable breed was accidentally crossed with a less desirable one. At Wash Park, you see dogs where a desirable breed was intentionally crossed with a less desirable one.
6. At Curtis Park, you can get some of Denver's best Mexican food at the Creamery. At Wash Park, you are approximately 10 miles by the crow flies from any respectable Mexican food.
7. At Curtis Park, people will consume anything they can get their hands on. At Wash Park, people will eat anything, as long as it is organic, free-range, cage-, gluten-, and high-fructose corn syrup-free, or is called "Fat Tire".
8. At Curtis Park, people smoke because the cops have more important issues to deal with. At Wash Park, people smoke because their wife won't allow them to smoke in their half-mill bungalow.
9. At Curtis Park, people sleep outside because they're homeless. At Wash Park, people sleep outside to protest Wall Street.
10. At Curtis Park, you deal with annoying lines of geese that act like they own the park. At Wash Park, you deal with annoying paceline of cyclists that act the same.
11. At Curtis Park, if the police show up, you know someone got shot or shanked. At Wash Park, if the police show up, you know a game of cornhole must have gone terribly wrong. 
12. At Curtis Park, if you see an ambulance, again you know someone got shot or shanked. At Wash Park, if you see an ambulance, you know someone overindulged on vodka and Red Bull.
13. At Curtis Park, the people are incredibly naive about government and politics because they don't know any better. At Wash Park, the people are incredibly naive about government and politics because they are entitled. 

Personally, I still hope our parks (Curtis AND City) continue to evolve and improve. However, I'm the first to admit that their destinies potentially carry some pitfalls. Don't believe me? Spend a sunny Sunday afternoon at Wash Park.
Thanks for reading.