Mr. Jolon Clark

Jolon Clark is the Executive Director of Denver Parks and Recreation, a role deeply rooted in his lifelong connection to the city. Born and raised in Denver, Jolon grew up with the city's parks and recreation centers as the backdrop to his childhood. A proud graduate of Denver Public Schools, he later earned a degree in Natural Resources from Colorado State University, where he trained as an environmental educator. Jolon’s passion for the outdoors and commitment to public spaces led him to The Greenway Foundation, where he spent several years guiding elementary school students on educational field trips to parks along the South Platte River. In 2015, Jolon was elected to the Denver City Council, representing District 7 in south central Denver. He was elected to serve as President Pro Tem in 2016 and as Council President from 2018 to 2020. During his time on Council, Jolon championed initiatives that advanced parks, environmental sustainability, and multimodal transportation infrastructure. He authored key legislation to establish the $40 million Parks Legacy Fund, the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency, and the $40 million Climate Action Fund. His legislative work also included efforts to: Eliminate the city sales tax on menstrual hygiene products Require gender-neutral signage on all single-stall restrooms Support proactive tree treatment and planting to combat Emerald Ash Borer Secure a permanent funding source for Denver Public Libraries Jolon continues to bring his vision, experience, and dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all Denver residents through equitable access to parks, recreation, and green spaces.