The neighborhood in Colorado Springs known as Divine Redeemer is thriving. It has a major city park, an expanding general hospital, and an international sports organization.

Divine Redeemer also has an ample supply of well-kept and well-landscaped family homes dating from both before and after World War II.

The park is Boulder Park, the hospital is UC Health Memorial Hospital Central, and the sports organization is the Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. All three are located on E. Boulder Street near its intersection with N. Hancock Avenue.

Historically, the neighborhood was known as the East End Addition and was annexed to the city in 1890. Today, real estate agents still use the name East End Addition for that part of the city.

Judith Rice-Jones, a resident of the Divine Redeemer neighborhood on E. Dale Street, has recently been studying and recording the history of the neighborhood.

Back in 1890, the site of what is now Boulder Park was a city water reservoir. The city government drained the reservoir and constructed Boulder Park in its place.

In 1917, a group of “public-spirited women” raised the money to purchase a slide and a “horizontal ladder” for Boulder Park. By 1936, lilacs, evergreen trees, and Norway maple trees were thriving in the park.

Today Boulder Park is a fully developed Colorado Springs city park with tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, and a children’s playground.

East of Boulder Park, Beth-El General Hospital opened in 1911 on land donated by city founder General William Jackson Palmer. Part of the hospital was a sanatorium built for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Beth-El General Hospital became Memorial Hospital when it was sold to the city of Colorado Springs in 1943. Today it is part of the statewide UC Health System operated by the University of Colorado.

Next to the hospital was the four-story National Methodist Sanatorium. It was converted into a building for the U.S. Army Air Force. By 1943, it was known as the Colorado Springs Tent Camp.

After a period of inactivity following World War II, the military installation was reestablished in 1951 and renamed ENT Air Force Base.

The facility was tasked with the continental air defense of the United States and Canada. It closed in 1976 as part of a service-wide post-Vietnam War reduction in force.

The Colorado Springs City Council was about to zone the site for a major shopping center, but a high turnout of neighborhood residents at the City Council meeting opposed the rezoning and convinced City Council to turn the shopping center down.

The site is now the Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Athletes come to Colorado Springs from all over the United States to train for the Olympic Games.

The Divine Redeemer neighborhood is named for both the Divine Redeemer Catholic Church and the adjoining Divine Redeemer Catholic School. The church and the school are located together north of E. Cache la Poudre Street.

Both the church and the school have undergone major changes recently.

Due to declining membership, the church has joined with a nearby congregation and, in August, changed its name to “the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer.”

The Divine Redeemer Catholic School closed in May of 2025, and its future is uncertain.

In addition to Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, a Jewish synagogue, Temple Shalom, is in the neighborhood. There are several protestant churches as well.

Also, the residents take pride in two excellent, non-chain eating and coffee-drinking establishments, Stellina Pizza and Switchback Coffee.

The homes in the Divine Redeemer neighborhood are mainly single-family and located on generous lots. There are plenty of craftsman bungalows dating from before World War II. There is also a supply of small ranch houses built after World War II.

Judith Rice-Jones notes the merits of the neighborhood:

“Characterized by a rich variety of housing styles, Divine Redeemer is also known for exceptional landscaping and the large canopy of shade trees enhancing walking and cycling. Driving west on many of our streets, one has exceptional views of Pike’s Peak and the mountains.”

Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy are news columnists who write about United States and Colorado politics.