DEN reactivates its public plaza: Mini golf coming soon!

One of the healthiest airport amenities has returned just in time for summer travel.

Denver International Airport (DEN) has reactivated the open-air public plaza that sits between the tent-topped main Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Denver International Airport hotel.

The 82,000-square-foot plaza has been transformed into DEN's Park on the Plaza from now through Oct. 2, offering travelers a charming place to relax and get some fresh air before departure or between flights. The plaza park is also a convenient and green spot for meeters and greeters to hang out while waiting for travelers to arrive.

Head out to the south end of the terminal (towards the transit center) and you will find a lovely canopy-covered park filled with lots of lounge seating, Colorado-native plants and trees, grass-like turf and games of cornhole.

DEN had the park set up last summer, but due to COVID-19 concerns there have been no organized activities in that space since 2019.

This summer the outdoor entertainment is back. There will be live jazz performances in the park on a half-dozen Friday afternoons (3-6 p.m.) throughout the summer, starting June 3 and running through Aug. 26.

Better yet, DEN's Park on the Plaza will soon sprout a free nine-hole outdoor miniature golf course. The complimentary putt-putt hours will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, from June 17 through July 17. Clubs and balls will be available. Pastel-colored clothing is optional.

(Note to mini-golf fans: South Florida's Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) has a small, year-round putt-putt course inside the terminal).

Beyond the live jazz concerts and the free miniature golf course, DEN officials do not yet have a schedule to share of any other activities that will pop up in the park beyond mid-July. But we are confident there will plenty of reasons to consider showing up early for a flight at DEN or making your way out to the park on a layover.

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In addition to miniature golf, in past years DEN has used the plaza space to show outdoor movies, including "Top Gun" – with free mirrored aviator glasses for all – and "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial" – leaning into the rumors of lizard people and beings from other planets living in the airport's underground baggage tunnels.

The plaza has also played host to a beer garden, a winter skating rink, sports demonstrations and a celebration of Colorado heritage with music, stuntmen, gold mining for kids and a mechanical bull.

More Ways To Get Fresh Air at DEN

To access DEN's Park on the Plaza between flights you will need a good, long layover and be willing to go back through the security checkpoint. (TSA Pre-Check or CLEAR will help).

But going out to the plaza is not the only way to get some fresh air at Denver International Airport.

As part of a $1.5 billion Gate Expansion Program, DEN opened the first of three planned outdoor patios in Fall 2020.

The first deck is located on Concourse B (in B-West), at the far western end of the concourse. In addition to outdoor seating, the deck has fire pits, a pet relief area, and beautiful mountain views.

Another outdoor patio, with similar amenities, is part of the new 16-gate expansion on Concourse C, which will serve Southwest Airlines. When DEN's Gate Expansion project is complete, Concourse A will have an outdoor deck too.