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.
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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.
Related: Orlando International Airport's has new dining options coming
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.
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- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees