Civic Center Conservancy
Our Mission
Formed in 2004 by a group of private citizens passionate about revitalizing Civic Center Park, the Civic Center Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with the City and County of Denver to restore, enhance and activate Denver’s historic Civic Center Park - elevating and sustaining this historic urban oasis as a vibrant and iconic cultural and community hub. The Conservancy's efforts focus around the following four areas: advocacy for park needs and infrastructure improvements; events and programming to activate Civic Center; public awareness and engagement; and fundraising for capital improvements, activities and initiatives to support and revitalize the park. The Conservancy has a formal cooperative agreement with the City and County of Denver designating it as the official fundraising vehicle for Civic Center Park.
What is a park conservancy?
Park conservancies are an outgrowth of private citizens wanting to do more for public spaces than government can do on its own. Gaining steam across the U.S. over the past three decades, conservancies of varying sizes and models have been established out of concern for parks that government entities had neither the capacity nor the resources to maintain, program or enhance adequately. Conservancies are private, non-profit, park-benefit organizations that partner with government but raise money independently to invest in parks under action plans mutually agreed upon with their government partners. Key examples include the Central Park Conservancy, the Battery Park Conservancy and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
Our Small But Mighty Team
Eric Lazzari
Executive Director
Eric Lazzari joined the Civic Center Conservancy in November 2011, bringing extensive event operations and program management experience to his initial role as Director of Programs and Events. Eric was promoted to Director of Strategic Operations in May of 2018 and Executive Director in November of 2019.
He was a member of the Downtown Denver Leadership Program's 2014 class, where he was selected as the winner of the John Parr Leadership Award and elected by his peers as the class trustee.
Prior to joining the Conservancy, Eric served as the Program Operations Manager for USA Swimming in Colorado Springs, developing and managing various programs, clinics and series. He previously served as Director of Special Projects for the Metro Denver Sports Commission, leading event production for the 2008 Frozen Four and coordinating sponsorship development and activation for the CU vs. CSU Rocky Mountain Showdown. He received his bachelor’s degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and his MBA from the University of Denver.
Amanda Johnson
Communications & Marketing Manager
Amanda Johnson joined the Civic Center Conservancy in August 2016, bringing a passion for and experience in nonprofit work. Amanda’s interest in nonprofits began in college working with organizations focused on the needs of children and the homeless. Her interest led her to serve as the Executive Director of Fillmore County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in her home state of Nebraska. At CASA, Amanda doubled the number of volunteers in the program while working one-on-one with children and families in cases of her own. Since moving to Denver, Amanda has worked as a tutor and paraprofessional for the local nonprofit, Scholars Unlimited, and as a co-teacher in the 4-year-old classroom at John Amesse Elementary.
Amanda received her BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was named Broadcast Graduate of the Year for her work as an anchor and reporter for the school’s television news program. She received her MA in Communication Studies with a Strategic Communication Certificate from the University of Colorado, Denver, where she was inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society.
Donate
While the Civic Center Conservancy is focused on revitalizing a vital public asset, we receive no public funding. Our efforts to restore, enhance, and activate Civic Center Park would not be possible without the support and partnership of generous individuals, companies and foundations.
The Conservancy is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization registered with the IRS; your gift is deductible as a charitable contribution to the full extent of the law.
Our Communications & Marketing Manager Amanda Johnson can help you with any gifting
questions at 303.861.4633.
Donate By Mail
You can print and complete the Donation Form and mail it to us with your check payable to:
Civic Center Conservancy
1410 Grant Street, Suite C205Denver, CO 80203
