11.17.25 PRAB Packet - Revised 2AGENDA
All agenda times are approximate
I.APPROVAL OF AGENDA (2 minutes)
II.FUTURE BOARD ITEMS AND TOURS (2 minutes), Page 2
III.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (15-30 minutes)
A.This portion of the meeting is for members of the public to communicate ideas or concerns to the
Board regarding parks and recreation issues for which a public hearing is not scheduled later in
the meeting (this includes consent agenda). The public is encouraged to comment on the need
for parks and recreation programs and facilities as they perceive them. All speakers are limited
to three minutes. Depending on the nature of your matter, you may or may not receive a
response from the Board after you deliver your comments. The Board is always listening to and
appreciative of community feedback.
IV.CONSENT AGENDA (5 minutes), Page 3
A.Approval of Minutes from October 27, 2025, Page 4
B.Updates from the Director of Parks and Recreation, Page 7
C.Parks and Recreation Operations Updates, Page 9
D.Parks and Recreation Planning, Design and Construction Updates, Page 11
V.ACTION ITEMS
A.None
VI.MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION/INFORMATION
A.None
VII.MATTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT, Page 15
A.Launching Nature Everywhere for the City of Boulder (20 mins)
B.North Boulder Park Renovation (30 mins)
C.Barker Park Renovation (30 mins)
VIII.MATTERS FROM THE BOARD
A.Boards and Commissions Winter Pre-Retreat Letter to City Council, Page 36
B.PRAB Matters (verbal), Page 35
IX.NEXT BOARD MEETING:
A.January 26, 2025
X.ADJOURN
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
Fully Hybrid Meeting
6:00 p.m., November 17, 2025
Boulder Parks & Recreation
Advisory Board Members
2025-2026
Andrew Bernstein
Yvonne Castillo
Caroline Gecker
Robert Kaplan
Jennifer Robins
Michael Schreiner
Kyra Siegel
Mission Statement
BPRD will promote the health and
well- being of the entire Boulder
community by collaboratively
providing high-quality parks, facilities
and programs.
Vision Statement
We envision a community where
every member’s health and well-
being is founded on unparalleled
parks, facilities and programs.
Goals of the Master Plan
1.Community Health and Wellness
2.Taking Care of What We Have
3.Financial Sustainability
4.Building Community
5.Youth Engagement
6.Organizational Readiness
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PRAB Future Board Items Agenda
January February March
Fully hybrid for members, staff,
and community.
Fully hybrid for members, staff, and
community.
Fully hybrid for members, staff, and
community.
Regular Mtg
(c)
1) Bill Bower Park: Interpretive
Area Construction
2) Civic Area Renaming Process
3) Eurasian Water Milfoil Update
1) Board Recruitment Process Update 1) Board Recruitment Update
2) Summer Staff Recruitment Campaign
3) Annual Staff Training and EBCC
Maintenance Closure
Regular Mtg
(a)
Regular Mtg
(d/i)
Regular Mtg
(md)
1) 2025 Progress Report, 2026
Action Plan and Board Liaison
Opportunities
1) Future of Parks
2) Pearl St Mall Refresh
3) Bill Bower Interpretive Area
1) Boulder Valley Comp Plan
2) Barker Park Renovation Design and
Boulder
3) North Boulder Park
Regular Mtg
(mb)
1) Confirm PRAB meeting dates
and known holidays
1)Prepare for April Onboarding Study
Session
1) PRAB Recruitment / Orientation /
Departing Members
2) Chair & Vice Chair selection process
Other Mtgs
or Topics
City Council Study Session - B&C
Review & Updates
Dept Events
& Items of
Interest
Board Recruitment:
•Begin outreach for staff and
Council Members on
availability for virtual
interviews
•Board member application
deadline, midnight
Feb 16: COB President's Day closure
Board Recruitment:
•Process remaining qualified
applications, prepare application
packet and send applicants
interview dates for signup.
•Applications sent to council
members. Application packet
published to external website.
Forwarded to board secretaries to
distribute to board members and
staff liaisons.
•PRAB Interviews
City Council B&C appointments
March 14-22: EBCC Annual
Maintenance Shutdown
AGENDA SETTING
The PRAB Chair, PRAB Vice Chair and BPR staff set the agenda for the next month on Thursday directly following the regular PRAB
meeting. PRAB members can submit agenda requests to the Chair and Vice Chair by Wednesday following the PRAB regular meeting
for consideration. If time-sensitive matters arise, PRAB Chair and Vice Chair may amend the agenda as needed.
LEGEND
Action Item (a): A public hearing item to be voted on by the Board (public comment period provided).
Procedural Item: (p): An item requiring procedural attention.
Consent Item (c): An item provided in written form for consent, not discussion by the Board; any consent item may be called up by any
Board member for discussion following the consent agenda.
Discussion/Information Item(d/i): An item likely to be a future action item (or council item) and/or that benefits from an in-depth
discussion.
Matters from the Department (md): Items that will be reviewed and discussed during the meeting but not requiring as much in-depth
analysis.
Matters from the Board (mb): Items initiated by the Board that will be reviewed and discussed during the meeting but not requiring as
much in-depth analysis.
City Council Item (cc)
Other Boards and Commissions (obc)
Community Engagement and/or Events (e)
Holiday/Closure (h/c)
Italics indicate a tentative date or plan.
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TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
FROM: Alison Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation
Bryan Beary, Senior Manager, Community Building and Partnerships
Mark Davison, Senior Manager, Planning
Denise Dawson, Senior Manager, Urban Parks
Jackson Hite, Senior Manager, Business Services
Megann Lohman, Senior Manager, Recreation
Scott Schuttenberg, Deputy Director
Erynn Simone, Senior Manager, Regional Facilities
SUBJECT: Consent Agenda
DATE: November 17, 2025
A.Approval of October 27, 2025, Minutes
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CITY OF BOULDER
BOULDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
To listen to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meetings in their entirety, please go to the
following link: www.boulderparks-rec.org
Name of Board/Commission: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Date of Meeting: October 27, 2025
Contact Information Preparing Summary: Clarisa Collins; 720-564-2147
Board Members Present: Bernie Bernstein, Yvonne Castillo, Robert Kaplan, Jennifer Robins,
Michael Schreiner, Kyra Siegel, Caroline Gecker
Board Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Bryan Beary, Clarisa Collins, Mark Davison, Kate Hernandez, Jackson Hite, Stacie
Hoffmann, Shihomi Kuriyagawa, Megann Lohman, Charlotte O’Donnell, Ali Rhodes, Scott
Schuttenberg, Kristin Sealey, Erynn Simone, Abby Stone, Emily Urquhart, Aleks Webster
Guests Present: None
Type of Meeting: Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. A quorum was present for the conduct of business.
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Kaplan and seconded by Castillo. The motion passed
7-0.
Agenda Item 2: Future Board Items and Tours
Schuttenberg, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, reviewed upcoming items including the
Nature Everywhere launch, North Boulder Park and Barker Park schematic designs, the 2026 fee
schedule, City Council's study session on November 13 regarding the Civic Area concept, and a
reminder that the December Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) meeting has been
canceled. PRAB had no follow-up questions or comments.
Agenda Item 3: Public Participation
•Lynn Segal appreciated attending the Capital Improvement Program field trip on October 24
and expressed concerns about budget priorities and project costs.
•Margot Smit opposed covering the ditch in Central Park, emphasizing its educational value,
and urged keeping it open with safety features and interpretive signage.
•Caren Paul expressed concerns about changes to court reservations and court fees being
equal for pickleball and tennis.
•Judy Emery, BOCO Pickleball Club Board Member, suggested pickleball reservations cost $5
versus $10 for tennis, that senior and low-income discounts extend to court reservations, and
requested additional open play times at North and South Boulder Recreation Centers.
•Grace Thomson, co-founder of the BOCO Pickleball Club, expressed concern about court
reservation fees doubling from $5 to $10 and the new $10 charge for SilverSneakers and
Active Renew members, who previously reserved courts at no cost.
•Ryan Bennett, co-leader of the Reimagine South Boulder Rec Center (SBRC) advocacy group,
thanked staff for recent maintenance investments and emphasized that the building is at the
end of its life and urged that full rebuild plans move forward, noting SBRC’s importance to the
South Boulder community.
•Beth White O’Connor echoed the other public commenters’ concerns about changes to court
reservation fees.
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Agenda Item 4: Consent Agenda
A.Approval of Minutes from September 29, 2025
•A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Castillo and seconded by Siegel.
The motion passed 7-0.
B, C. Parks and Recreation Operations, Planning, Design and Construction Updates
•Robins thanked staff for the Chautauqua Courts presentation and signed up for wreath
distribution on December 13. She requested notification for the Bill Bower Park dedication
ceremony and inquired about success metrics for Ironwood Bar and Grille at the golf
course.
•Bernstein requested more information about post-construction status of the Flatirons Golf
Course clubhouse.
Agenda Item 5: Action Items
A.None
Agenda Item 6: Matters for Discussion/Information
A.Introduce 2026 Fee Schedule and Communications Plan for Fee Changes
Hite presented this item.
•Board members requested details regarding the decision-making process of raising fees
and their impact on funding, inquired about the increase to golf course fees, asked
questions on the membership structure and confirmed where and when the fees will be
posted.
Agenda Item 7: Matters from the Department
A.Civic Area Concept Plan
Kuriyagawa and Davison presented this item.
•Board members requested details about the Arboretum Path location, bike access,
engagement methodology, Community, Culture, Resilience, & Safety (CCRS) Tax funding
structure, parking relocation and construction timing relative to the Sundance Festival in
2027.
•Board members discussed the recommendation to cover the ditch through Central Park
and clarified that it is not included with the current landmark boundary. A board member
reminded the board that it did not support the landmark boundary extension considered in
2024. Board members expressed both support for improved circulation via the land bridge
and concern about bridging over the ditch feature.
B.Recreation Center Needs Assessment
Lohman, O’Donnell, Davison, Webster and Sealy presented this item.
•Board members discussed community prioritization of amenities, funding allocated for
EBCC and the need to identify funding for SBRC.
•The board asked questions to understand the cost of the full energy retrofit of the EBCC.
Agenda Item 8: Matters from the Board
A.Boards and Commissions Winter Pre-Retreat Letter to City Council
•The board discussed priorities they want included in the pre-retreat letter to City Council.
Topics included broader recreation center needs and aligning with findings of the 2022
BPR Plan.
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•Chair Robins volunteered to draft the letter using the 2022 Parks and Recreation Plan as a
guide.
•Board members were asked to submit additional suggestions to the board secretary by
November 10.
•The draft will be available for review by November 12 for the November 17 board meeting.
B.PRAB Matters (verbal)
•Board members thanked staff for the Capital Improvement Program field trip on October
24. Castillo found it fun, Kaplan wished it had lasted an hour longer and Siegel
appreciated the opportunity to see sites in person.
Agenda Item 9: Next Board Meeting
Next Board meeting: Monday, November 17, 2025, hybrid
Agenda Item 10: Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Approved by: Attested:
________________________ ________________________
Jennifer Robins Clarisa Collins
Board Member BPR Staff
Date: ___________________ Date: ___________________
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B.Updates from the Director of Parks and Recreation
Public Participation Process Update
Staff conducted a review of public participation procedures across the city's 19 boards
and commissions to evaluate the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s (PRAB)
current practices and identify opportunities for consistency and clarity.
The city's website currently states that most boards and commissions do not require
advance sign-up. Among the city's boards and commissions, 7 require advance sign-up
for public comment, with 3 of these (including PRAB) also allowing sign-up during the
meeting.
OneMeeting, the city’s new agenda management system that replaced NovusAGENDA
in 2025, is currently used for City Council agendas, meeting materials and minutes. The
system is scheduled to roll out to the city’s boards and commissions in 2026. The city
had planned to use OneMeeting to streamline public participation sign-ups; however, the
City Clerk's Office recently learned that this feature was not included in the current
OneMeeting contract. As a result, the implementation timeline is now uncertain and
unlikely to occur in 2026.
To improve clarity for the public, staff will update PRAB webpages with the following
language: "The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board requests advance registration for
public comment. Advance registration allows staff to plan the agenda and manage
speaking time effectively, ensuring those who register in advance are guaranteed an
opportunity to speak. All PRAB meetings are hybrid, and registering in advance also
allows staff to best support both in-person and virtual attendees. Members of the public
may also register to speak at the meeting. Speakers who register at the meeting will be
called after those who registered in advance. Staff will accommodate all participants
when possible; however, speaking time cannot be guaranteed for those who register at
the meeting."
SmartRec System and 2026 Fee Updates
The SmartRec system officially went live on November 14, 2025, marking a major
milestone in improving customer experience and operational efficiency across Boulder
Parks and Recreation. As of November 3, 2025, a total of 26,594 individual accounts
were successfully imported into the new system.
The system’s soft launch generated strong early engagement, with customers favoriting
upcoming Winter 2026 courses, registering for financial aid, booking court reservations
and purchasing memberships.
During the first week of implementation, on-site support was available at all recreation
centers to assist both staff and customers with account setup, troubleshooting and
training. The rollout was supported by a comprehensive communications plan, which
included direct customer emails, front desk signage, website updates and social media
announcements.
Staff will be able to respond to any questions or provide a verbal update at the
November 17, 2025 meeting related to the SmartRec system and transition process.
The membership structure changes became effective November 14, approved through
the City Manager’s Rule process outlined in Boulder Revised Code Section 8-3-8. These
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updates align monthly and annual membership passes and court fees with the
implementation of SmartRec.
No written public comments were received during the rule change official review period,
which concluded on November 13, 2025. While staff has received informal feedback
regarding court fee adjustments, patrons have also expressed understanding for the
updates, recognizing the need to align with the recommendations of the Court System
Plan and to sustain court operations through appropriate cost recovery.
At the September 29, 2025 PRAB meeting, staff introduced the Community Access
Framework (CAF). As part of the October 27, 2025 Matter for Discussion/Information on
the 2026 Fee Schedule, proposed fee updates were included in the memo attachment
but were inadvertently omitted from the overview of changes. Staff want to highlight the
final recommendation below for updating the Commercial Use program which serves
approximately 10-15 user groups each year which charge fees to participants for
activities in public parks.
As detailed in the 2026 Fee Schedule, these Commercial Use groups will be required to
pay a $50 application fee (waived in 2026), along with 5% of gross receipts from their
business activities occurring in City of Boulder park spaces. These payments will be
remitted on a quarterly or seasonal basis, depending on activity type, and are not due on
top of space-specific rental fees like those for sports fields.
Commercial Use
User groups and other entities rent space from the department and provide
programming outside the scope of BPR services. Commercial Users are required to
submit an Annual Customer Application.
Administrative fee for Annual Customer Application: $50.00, to be waived in 2026.
Commercial use fees (see b. below) may apply in place of the standard rental fee
listed elsewhere in this schedule at staff discretion.
Rentable Properties
For all 1+ year leases such as Boulder Reservoir Main Building Restaurant Space,
Flatirons Golf Course Food and Beverage Space, Harbeck House, etc., staff issue a
formal Request for Proposal with lease terms agreed upon by the Department and
confirmed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (leases up to 3 years) and
City Council (leases over 3 years).
The department’s preference is a base rent plus a percentage of revenue, with
tenant responsible for all utilities.
Park Commercial Use Program
Renters that are operating a program in public-access park space for commercial
gain, including collection of admission fees, participation fees, or donations for
participation are considered Commercial Users.
Commercial Users are invoiced for 5% of gross receipts collected for the program
occurring in City of Boulder park space. Payment of invoiced fees shall be due
quarterly to seasonally (based on permit type) and is required for permits to be
issued or remain valid for the following quarter or season. Gross receipt totals may
be prorated by the estimated proportion of use occurring in City of Boulder park
spaces.
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Soliciting or general fundraising is prohibited in park spaces.
Adjustment to Base (ATB) 2 – Supplemental Appropriations to the 2025 Budget
At the November 20, 2025, council meeting, City Council will hold an introduction, first
reading, and consider a motion to order published by title only, an ordinance approving
annual supplemental appropriations to the 2025 Budget. Mid-year adjustments are
necessary to support governmental operations as Colorado law requires an annual
budget appropriation by December 31st of each year, however government businesses
continue year-round.
With ATB2, the department submitted $50,000 in requests that are associated with grant
revenue received in the second half of the year. These grants require increases to both
revenues and expenses. The two grants received support the Recquity program, which
provides subsidized recreation visits for low-income residents and EXPAND Program in
an effort to respond to and support individual and family caregivers accessing respite
services.
The department also submitted $218,959 in donations to support major initiatives:
Chautauqua Arbor Restoration, Chautauqua Park Court Renovation, EXPAND
scholarships, YSI programming and the memorial bench program.
Additional revenue and expenses were included in the amount of $41,091 to support
planned lease payments at Harbeck House and funding for the Tree Protection and
Mitigation Program.
These grant revenues and donations are examples of BPR seeking non-traditional
funding to support department operations, in line with the Financial Sustainability Goal 1
–Increase Non-Traditional Funding and Resources from the 2022 BPR Plan.
City Council is expected to hold the first reading of the Adjustment to Base 2 on
November 20, with the second reading scheduled for December 4, 2025.
C.Parks and Recreation Operations Updates
Snow Removal Update
Boulder Parks and Recreation maintains 63.5 miles of sidewalks and paths, along with
44 acres of parking lots across the city. These areas are serviced through 30 designated
snow routes that ensure safe and accessible public spaces during winter weather. Snow
operations are supported by 45 field staff and one mechanic, combining personnel from
Urban Parks, Construction and Regional Facilities teams.
Snow shifts are typically scheduled 24 hours in advance on weekdays and 48 hours
ahead of weekends or holidays. Staff work from 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with extended
hours as needed based on storm conditions. This schedule ensures key transportation
corridors, such as the Boulder Creek Path and walks to and through parks to schools,
are cleared early in the day. In accordance with BRC 8-2-13, snow must be cleared from
walks and paths within 24 hours (Figure 1). Following initial removal, crews conduct
targeted ice checks in areas prone to freeze-thaw cycles to maintain safety and
compliance.
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Service Component Details
Sidewalks & Paths 63.5 miles
Parking Lots 44 acres
Snow Routes 30 routes covering sidewalks, paths & lots
Staffing 45 field staff
Table 1: Boulder Parks and Recreation snow removal overview
Figure 1: Staff member operates equipment with a plow, clearing pathways at a park during winter conditions.
Recreation Facility Holiday Schedules
With the holiday season starting shortly, recreation facilities will have modified hours on
certain days. Schedule modifications allow for staff time off on holidays and recognize
the drop in participation on holidays as community members travel and celebrate.
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27: All recreation facilities closed.
Friday, November 28:
North Boulder Recreation Center (NBRC) – Open normal hours
East Boulder Community Center (EBCC) – Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
South Boulder Recreation Center (SBRC) – Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boulder Reservoir – Open normal hours
Flatirons Golf Course – Open normal hours
Sunday, December 14: NBRC, EBCC and SBRC will close 1 hour early for a staff
holiday celebration.
Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24:
NBRC, EBCC – 5:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SBRC, Boulder Reservoir, Flatirons Golf Course – Closed
Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25: All recreation facilities closed.
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New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31:
NBRC, EBCC – 5:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SBRC, Boulder Reservoir, Flatirons Golf Course – Closed
New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1:
EBCC – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NBRC, SBRC, Boulder Reservoir, Flatirons Golf Course – Closed
D.Parks and Recreation Planning, Design and Construction Updates
The following information is intended to provide the PRAB with relevant updates on
specific projects as they reach major milestones. This section is not all inclusive of all
current projects and only illustrates major project updates. For a complete list of all
current projects and details, please visit www.BoulderParkNews.org.
Overview of Major Projects
Staff continue to work on the following projects and will update the PRAB as major
milestones are achieved.
Projects Status Next 2026 PRAB
Milestone
System Planning
Future of Parks Planning Feb
Boulder Valley Comp Plan Planning March
Park & Facility Renovation Plans
Boulder Junction Park: Opening a New
Park
Design Q3
Civic Area Renovation Design May
East Boulder Community Center
Renovation
Design TBD
North Boulder Park Renovation Design June
Pearl Street Renovation Start 2026 Feb
Primos Park: Opening a New Park Design Q3
Tom Watson: Pickleball Courts Permitting April
Barker Park Renovation Design March
Park Asset Management
Bill Bower Park: Interpretive Area Completed Jan
Boulder Reservoir: ADA Dock
Replacement
Construction March
East Boulder Community Park: Racket
Courts
Design July
Valmont Park: Signs Design June
Chautauqua: Utilities Planning TBD
Table 2: Overview of major projects
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Planning, Design and Construction (PD&C)
Historic and Cultural Assets Program
The Parks and Recreation Department manages 15 historic landmarked properties in
Boulder including Columbia Cemetery, Pearl Street Mall and the Glen Huntington
Bandshell. The department’s Historic and Cultural Assets Program is dedicated to
preserving these historic resources so that they can be enjoyed by all, including future
generations.
2025 Projects
In 2025, the department completed several projects on the department’s historic
resources focused on preventative maintenance, restoration and preservation. The
Historic Places Plan (HiPP), completed in 2023, provided an assessment of the
department’s historic resources and made recommendations for their treatment. All
projects completed in 2025 aligned with the recommendations laid out in the HiPP.
Treatment Recommendations (from HiPP) Completed in 2025
Repair asphalt driveway at Harbeck-Bergheim House ✓
Enhance security measures at Harbeck-Bergheim House ✓
Repair gutters and downspouts at Harbeck-Bergheim House ✓
Improve drainage at Harbeck-Bergheim House ✓
Restore masonry at the Chautauqua Arbor ✓
Maintain the distinct composition of grave markers and
features at Columbia Cemetery ✓
Prime and paint exterior of Platt Farmhouse ✓
Trim exterior plantings at Platt Farmhouse ✓
Table 3: 2025 historic preservation projects completed by Boulder Parks and Recreation, showing HiPP treatment
recommendations and completed status.
Project Details
Harbeck-Bergheim House – In March, the Parks and Recreation Department made
repairs to the Harbeck-Bergheim House to improve drainage and prevent moisture
buildup in exterior masonry walls. A contractor also carried out a full environmental
assessment to determine the presence of hazardous materials in the house and develop
a plan for abatement. In September, the department made upgrades to the building’s
security system (see photo below).
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Figure 2: Photo of upgrades being made to the integrated security system at Harbeck-Bergheim House
Chautauqua – In early Fall, the Parks and Recreation Department completed masonry
restoration at the Chautauqua Arbor. This was the final phase of reconstructing the 110-
year-old shade structure (see photo below).
Figure 3: Photo of Chautauqua Arbor after restoration
Columbia Cemetery – The department is pleased to announce that Wreaths Across
America will be taking place at Columbia Cemetery on December 13. This national
program, led by the Daughters of the American Revolution, is dedicated to honoring
military veterans by laying wreaths on their graves every year.
Platt Farmhouse – In early November, the department completed a major project to
remove lead paint from the exterior of Platt Farmhouse, repaint the house, and clean
and stain the deck. Boulder Fire-Rescue also conducted a wildfire assessment to
determine the vulnerability of the historic structure to fire and to make recommendations
for threat mitigation.
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Plans for 2026
The department plans to carry out several restoration and conservation projects on its
historic resources in 2026. Some of the planned projects are:
•Installation of a key card access control system at Harbeck-Bergheim House
•Masonry repairs at Harbeck-Bergheim House
•Window restoration at Harbeck-Bergheim House
•Conservation of grave markers at Columbia Cemetery
•Structural assessment and stabilization of Roney Farmhouse
Figures 4 and 5: Photos of Platt Farmhouse before and after lead paint removal and repainting
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TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
FROM: Alison Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation
Bryan Beary, Senior Manager, Community Building and Partnerships
Mark Davison, Senior Manager, Planning
Denise Dawson, Senior Manager, Urban Parks
Jackson Hite, Senior Manager, Business Services
Megann Lohman, Senior Manager, Recreation
Scott Schuttenberg, Deputy Director
Erynn Simone, Senior Manager, Regional Facilities
SUBJECT: Matters from the Department
DATE: November 17, 2025
A.Launching Nature Everywhere for the City of Boulder
PURPOSE
The intent of this memo is to update PRAB on Boulder becoming a Nature Everywhere City,
with the goal of increasing access to the outdoors, parks and nature for youth of all ages.
QUESTIONS FOR PRAB
Questions for PRAB:
1.Does PRAB have questions about the Nature Everywhere initiative?
2.Does PRAB have questions about BPR roles in this movement
PROJECT BACKGROUND
2022 BPR Department Plan: Key Themes Advanced:
•Youth Engagement & Activity
•Community Health and Wellness
•Taking Care of What We Have
•Financial Sustainability
The Nature Everywhere initiative, led by three city Departments (Parks & Recreation, OSMP
and Climate Initiatives), is working in collaboration with Growing Up Boulder to ensure all
children and youth in Boulder have access to the outdoors, parks and nature. The strategic
overview for Nature Everywhere is described below:
Boulder as a Nature Everywhere City
We envision thriving naturehoods where all youth:
•Feel connected to nature,
•Play freely, and
•Spend more time outside with family & friends,
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because this can lead to:
•Improved mental and physical wellness,
•Deeper social connections and reduced isolation,
•Resilience and recovery from adverse experiences,
•Academic success, skill-building and career readiness,
•Hope for their collective future, and
•Confidence that they can help our climate thrive.
We believe it’s important for every child and teen to:
•Climb, splash, imagine, dig and get dirty playing outside,
•Feel safe, welcome and protected in the outdoors,
•Connect with nature and know they’re a part of it,
•Enjoy the dignity of risk-taking and independent exploration,
•Walk or roll to parks and nature within 15 minutes of their home,
•Gather and celebrate outdoors with friends and family,
•Learn from trusted mentors about how to know and love nature,
•Benefit from the gifts of nature, including clean air, water, food, shelter, arts and
crafts,
•Rely on nature as a place of health and healing – every day and when things go
wrong,
•Feel hopeful and confident they can help the future of this planet, and
•Voice ideas and take action to give nature what it needs.
Through this initiative, there are two current areas of focus: Naturehoods and Nature Play.
Naturehoods: We are guided by our vision of a Boulder community where all youth feel
connected to nature, family and friends, hopeful about their collective future, and confident
they can help nature thrive, long into the future, for the benefit of all. Some things that matter
most to us are ensuring all kids have access to the outdoors, parks and nature. We also
strive for equity for historically marginalized youth, accessibility for kids with disabilities, and
kinship with nature and with each other. City staff on the Nature Everywhere team are
working towards creating Naturehoods, places where all our kids can play outdoors while
feeling safe, welcome, discovering, learning and having fun. The goal of a naturehood is to
enable families to feel that they can enjoy the spaces in their neighborhood through
awareness, programming and feeling ownership of the spaces (Figure 1). There are
currently pilot naturehoods testing this approach, such as the Primos and Crestview Park
area.
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Figure 1: Modelling how a naturehood can work
Nature Play: Within Naturehoods are Natural Play Areas that provide places for children to
engage in free play beyond the typical gross motor activities offered by traditional
prefabricated playgrounds. In these nature play areas, kids can still practice gross motor
skills and big fast play, while also engaging in other types of play including fine motor skills,
collaborative and creative play, and contemplative, quiet play. This new approach helps
build confidence and supports both the physical and mental health of children. In building
natural play areas, we are also using recycled trees from the city’s Forestry team that would
normally be placed in a chipper, instead they have a new lease of life. This sustainable
practice comes at 1/10th of the cost of a traditional playground. In addition, the goal is to
make natural play accessible to all through universal design. This is critical to ensure all our
children feel part of an inclusive community, the "Placemaking: How to Build Kinship and
Inclusive Park Spaces for Children with Disabilities" article covers how Boulder intends to do
this.
With 43 play areas within the Boulder parks system, our hope is to expand this cost-effective
approach over the next decade and ensure that nature play areas are designed to support
how kids learn best—through unstructured play. Made with natural materials such as logs,
stones and water, these spaces invite climbing, digging, building and imagination for the
developing mind. These spaces also promote independence and self-guided outdoor
exploration while building a stronger connection to the natural world. A generation ago, kids
spent four to five hours outside daily; today, the average is just ten minutes. This makes
nature play areas an important addition to the city playscape to support children’s physical
and mental health. Research shows kids who regularly engage in nature play:
•Show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and
they are sick less often (Grahn, et al., 1997; Fjortoft & Sageie, 2001).
•Play in more diverse, imaginative and creative ways that fosters language and
collaborative skills (Moore & Wong, 1997; Taylor et al., 1998; Fjortoft, 2000).
•Engage more deeply in creative problem-solving, imagination, self-regulation and
social interactions (Texas Children in Nature Network, 2025).
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The 4 Play Types
Traditional prefabricated playgrounds typically focus on one type of play—gross motor.
Gross motor play tends to segregate the age groups, serve a smaller range of children and
reduce visitation time to around 20 minutes per visit. Recent research by city staff has
shown that play comes in four forms. The project team plans to integrate all four types of
play into the Barker Park renovation to create a sensory-rich and inclusive experience.
The four types of play are:
•Imaginative and Collaborative: perform, discover, hold hands
•Alone and Quiet: contemplate, observe, rest
•Fine Motor: craft, create, use fingers
•Gross Motor: climb, jump, be wild
The four types of play are intimately connected to natural materials and the natural
environment. For instance, the quiet and contemplative type often occurs in small areas
such as near a group of trees, where children can gather on their own or in small
groups. Gross motor play involves greater physical exertion with larger natural play objects
like logs and boulders. Fine motor play relies on loose parts, such as sand and
water. Creative and collaborative play utilizes more structured forms of games and dramatic
activities.
Reverse Engineering the Play Design Process: The project team uses a reverse
engineered design process to create inclusive nature play areas, using sensory
experiences, emotions and activities to inform the design and program play features. Figure
2 shows this process.
Figure 2 Design Process for Nature Play Diagram
In conventional playground design, prefabricated structures are placed and the play
experience develops from there. This new process is reversed. It starts with children's
sensory inputs and how that informs their emotional response and cognitive decision making
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in a play space. This leads to their decisions to play within the four types. The goal is to
create spaces that suit the needs and desires of all children. Research shows creating more
sensory rich spaces for the four types of play can increase the time a child spends playing
by one hour, compared to traditional playgrounds.
Universal Access: Another aspect of this project is to provide universal access that goes
beyond typical ADA requirements to make the park inclusive and cover the full range of
children’s sensory capacities. A way to think about universal design is to move away from
physical prescriptions that ADA prescribes (ramps, grade of path, an isolated single
wheelchair swing, etc.) and start with sensory inputs—a truly universal approach. This
approach means children experiencing disabilities can integrate into play rather than having
a single piece of equipment set aside for them—something parents have express as their
biggest concern with bringing their child with a disability to a typical playground. Starting with
sensory inputs can include activities such as access to sound (e.g. a bird singing), sight
(under dappled leaves of a tree), touch (feet in water), smell (a snack of cookies), taste (wild
field mint) and vestibular (moving along a bouncy trail in a wheelchair).
B.North Boulder Park Renovation
PURPOSE
The intent of this memo is to update PRAB on the North Boulder Park improvements
including teen engagement, design development, updated schedule and next steps for the
park.
QUESTIONS FOR PRAB
Questions for PRAB:
1.Does PRAB have questions about the teen event and their findings?
2.Does PRAB have questions about the latest design update for the park?
PROJECT BACKGROUND
2022 BPR Department Plan: Key Themes Advanced:
•Taking Care of What We Have
•Community Health and Wellness
•Youth Engagement & Activity
•Financial Sustainability
The North Boulder Park Renovation project had initially been scoped to replace the
playground, update the restrooms and install a new fitness court in the park. An initial
concept plan and site program was developed from community input in 2022. This design
initially considered mitigating a small portion of the overall drainage challenges found
throughout the park.
After further planning analysis in 2024, the scope for the project was adjusted to fix the
drainage across the park. Even with grade changes, multiple stormwater inlets and several
large stormwater pipes, the park acts as a collection area for a large watershed. In the
northern portion, water sheets across the play area and erodes the play surfacing and
landscape areas into 9th Street. The southern portion of the park acts as a detention basin
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and looks more like a lake than a park for many days after a significant rain event. Some
work has already begun to convey stormwater from the low point across 9th Street as part of
the West City Campus project. Collaborating with the Utilities Department, the project team
has designed the park to complement one another’s goals: achieving protection from 5-year
storms across the southern portion of the park (south of Cedar Avenue) and 100-year
storms in the northern portion of the park (north of Cedar Avenue) where staff has the
greatest desire to protect new infrastructure being planned for this area. Working with
Stream Landscape Architecture, Tres Birds (Architects), and Learning Landscapes (Natural
Play and Learning Environments), the project team advanced the design past the schematic
design phase. This phase incorporated the feedback received from the community in 2022
while honoring emerging ideas for program elements, which include a community
preference for nature play areas. In March 2025, the next engagement window took place
where the plan and program elements were shared with community members during an
event in the park, attended by over 400 community members, and on the project website.
PLANNING ANALYSIS / UPDATES
Since the last PRAB update, the project team has compiled community feedback, met with
focus groups, and supported a Teen event, put on by Teens for Teens in partnership with
Growing Up Boulder. Teen areas have long been neglected as part of parks design. This
targeted engagement advances the BPR Plan policy to engage youth and prioritize
amenities and features that encourage youth activity, participation and healthy lifestyles.
Based on feedback, the project team updated aspects of the plan, maximizing the multi-use
lawn spaces ensuring future park use matches the community’s desire to maintain many
elements of the existing park. These elements include pick-up games for volleyball, ultimate
frisbee, soccer, winter skiing and more. The renovation efforts can be thought of as two
zones. The north zone includes formal plaza spaces, an event lawn, an exterior renovation
of the pavilion and the existing active park elements (basketball, fitness court and main play
area). The south zone includes the ballfields and informal activities such as yoga, the multi-
use field and an accessible path that forms a loop around the park. Based on input from
Forestry and Irrigation staff, the native planting areas have shifted west to minimize impacts
to some of the larger and healthiest existing trees. Likewise, the dry stream bed will now be
focused to the area of greatest stormwater impact and to ensure no impact to the long-held
tradition of winter skiing in the park. Items that will remain in their current location include the
pavilion, basketball court, fitness court, a portion of the play area and almost every tree on
the site with additional plantings as part of the new design that will increase canopy cover,
provide shade and places for children to play on and around the trees in the nature play
areas.
Final tweaks are still being made to the design, such as shifting the ballfields further east to
create a larger buffer between the adjacent residents. A separate effort includes realigning
the play area boundary and walkway with a channel for dispersing water flow along 9th
Street so that these features remain outside the area of impacting tree roots that typically
are at the edge go to the edge of tree canopy of several significant trees (see sketches at
end of memo). Finally, the input from the teen event is being finalized and this feedback will
be included with the next update. Initial feedback to staff includes teens describing how they
leave the play areas when younger children come along and they are left without spaces of
their own, the ‘third space’ as they have described it (Figures 1 and 2). This third space is
viewed as a place in the park that is specifically set aside, in this case, for teens to do
activities that they enjoy such as informal sports, socializing, enjoying food and beverages,
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hammocking, etc. Through more conversations and participation, the hope is to create
spaces for teens where positive social behaviors can occur, and teens can feel like they
have their own space to hang out and belong.
Figure 1: Teens community outreach boards for engagement purposes at the park.
Figure 2: Teens facilitating community outreach for their peers aged 14 to 18 in North Boulder Park.
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Figure 3 Above – Framework Plan (North End), October 2025. Trees of significance are highlighted in red.
Figure 4 Below – Example channel crossing near the primary play area.
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Figure 5 Above – Framework Plan (South End), October 2025. Trees of significance are highlighted in red.
Figure 6 Below – Example channel crossing near 9th Street that will convey stormwater to the W. City
Campus.
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Figure 7: Aerial view in Google Earth of North Boulder Park with updated design overlaid (only showing existing
trees and not proposed trees)
NEXT STEPS
•November 2025:Incorporate Teen Feedback
•December 2025: Final Community Engagement to share the updated plan
•December 2025: Design Development
•January - May 2026: Construction Documentation
•July - August 2026:Permitting
•August - October 2026: Bidding and Negotiations
•November 2026: Construction Begins
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C.Barker Park Renovation
PURPOSE
The intent of this memo is to update PRAB on the Barker Park Refresh including the project
background, schedule, planning, engagement and schematic design plan for the park.
QUESTIONS FOR PRAB
Questions for PRAB:
3.Does PRAB have questions about the project process?
4.Does PRAB have questions about the schematic design?
PROJECT BACKGROUND
2022 BPR Department Plan: Key Themes Advanced:
•Taking Care of What We Have
•Community Health and Wellness
•Youth Engagement & Activity
•Financial Sustainability
Barker Park, located at Spruce and 15th St., is a unique downtown space connected to the
Boulder Day Nursery (BDN)—an organization that provides affordable early education to
children in the Boulder community. In 2024, Barker Park was identified for a Park Refresh
with plans to enhance the playground, seating and fencing due to the park’s assets reaching
the end of their life cycle. The park was also identified as an ideal site for the city’s first
permanent nature play area for its connection to downtown and BDN.
Barker Park project goals emphasize creating a vibrant community space for
multigenerational use while also integrating nature play features for kids of all ages. The
project team is also working with BDN to improve the leased space which will support early
education and play for 1-6 year olds. This space will remain private during BDN school
hours and will be open to the public for use in the evenings and weekends as a key
community amenity for kids. This partnership with BDN is one of many collaborations the
department is taking on to further support Youth Engagement and Activity, a key goal in the
2022 BPR Plan.
Below, Figure 1 shows the project boundary around the existing park.
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Figure 1: Barker Park Project Boundary
Project Timeline
Scoping for the project began in late 2024, and the project team selected national nature
play design professionals, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, to consult on the project. Table
1 shows the full project timeline.
Table 1: Timeline of the Barker Park Renovation
Milestone Schedule
Scoping Nov – Dec 2024
Project Kickoff Feb 2025
Planning Analysis March – June 2025
Community Engagement (Consult) Aug – Sept 2025
Concept Design Aug – Sept 2025
Schematic Design - We Are Here Oct – Nov 2025
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Design Development Nov – Dec 2025
Construction Documentation Dec 2025 – Jan 2026
Permitting Jan – Feb 2026
Bidding and Negotiations Feb – March 2026
Construction April – June 2026
Opening July 2026
PLANNING ANALYSIS SUMMARY
History
Hannah Connell Barker—a civic leader, philanthropist and one of Boulder’s first
schoolteachers—donated the land for Barker Park in 1911. Then, in 1929, the Boulder Day
Nursery (the first childcare center in Boulder County) moved to the building on the edge of
the park with a lease in place for the Boulder Day Nursery (BDN) that will be a 100-year-old
partnership by 2029.
Prior to the establishment of the park, the lot operated as a horse-drawn carriage rental
service until the early 1900’s when the electric car came to the scene. Talmage and Lilly
Livery operated here, offering stagecoach service for transportation between Boulder and
surrounding areas, and a place for teamsters to unhitch and conduct business in town.
Site Inventory & Analysis
The project team completed a series of site analysis studies such as circulation and site
connections, sun and shade conditions, tree species and protection zones, viewsheds,
existing uses, site history and drainage. From this site inventory and analysis, major
considerations that influenced the design process were:
•Nature Play – develop natural features that fully integrate play across the park for all
ages, and provide a connection to nature within an urban setting
•Universal Design – integrate throughout the park with specific emphasis on the play
area
•Tree Canopy – tree canopy should be added to the south side of the park, and the
existing canopy should be protected and integrated
•Existing Circulation Patterns – improve park circulation for public and day nursery
use
•Flexible Park Space – preserve flexible use lawn while introducing programmed
nature play into the park to balances programming for all generations
•Site History – Integrate history of Hannah Barker, BDN, and Talmage and Lilly
Livery
•Early Childhood Play – develop play features to match the needs of children ages 1
–6 years through the lens of nature-play-backed research while also meeting BDN’s
preschool licensing standards
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•Unwelcoming Existing Fence – new perimeter fence should be reduced in height,
create a welcoming feel for the community and be artfully designed while balancing
the need for safety and the proximity to existing roads that surround the space
Community Engagement
The community engagement process included a walking field trip with BDN families from
Barker Park to the Wild Woods nature exploration area, three meetings with BDN staff and
parents to gather feedback, and a community open house at the park. Engagement results
show public priorities center around these values:
•Balance flexible park space with programmed elements
•Create a sensory rich nature play experience
•Accessibility and inclusive design
•Iconic identity and sense of place
•Increased sense of welcoming to the community
•Shade and seating
•Safety from traffic and visible line of sight for teachers and parents
•Social gathering space
•Multi-generational use
•Continued space for dog-walkers, scooters, strollers and wheelchairs
•Nature, art and history integration
•Opportunities for swinging, sliding, climbing and learning
DESIGN SUMMARY
SITE PROGRAM
Table 2 lists the site program the project team developed based on planning analysis
findings and community feedback, and it matches program elements with identified
community values.
Table 2: Site Program Features and Community Engagement Value
Feature Value
Entry Gates Increased sense of welcoming to the community
Open Lawn Balance flexible park space with programmed
elements
Seating Opportunities Shade and seating; Social gathering space; Multi-
generational use
Custom Log Play Feature and
Swing
Opportunities for swinging, sliding, climbing, and
learning; Accessibility and inclusive design
Water Play Pump Feature Create a sensory rich nature play experience
Sand Play Create a sensory rich nature play experience
Log Shade Structure Shade and seating; Nature, art, and history
integration; Accessibility and inclusive design
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Accessible Play Features Accessibility and inclusive design; Create a sensory
rich nature play experience
Sensory Play Stations Create a sensory rich nature play experience;
Accessibility and inclusive design
Fairy House Create a sensory rich nature play experience
3’ Hill Slide Opportunities for swinging, sliding, climbing, and
learning
Infant Lawn Balance flexible park space with programmed
elements
Outdoor Classroom Opportunities for swinging, sliding, climbing, and
learning
Loose Parts Play Create a sensory rich nature play experience
Playful Edges and Retaining Create a sensory rich nature play experience
Primary Path Increased sense of welcoming, accessibility and
inclusion for the community; Continued space for dog-
walkers, strollers, scooters and wheelchairs
Secondary Paths Create a sensory rich nature play experience
Increased Tree Canopy Shade and seating
Planting Beds Create a sensory rich nature play experience
Artful Perimeter Fence Increased sense of welcoming to the community;
Safety from traffic; Nature, art and history integration
Art Elements Nature, art, and history integration
Historic Storytelling Elements Nature, art, and history integration
The project team began to conceptually layout the identified site program. Figure 2
illustrates an early program diagram for the park space. The project team built on this early
concept—analyzing activities, accessibility and sensory experience along the way—to move
into schematic design for the park.
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Figure 2: Barker Park Activities & Circulation Diagram
Figure 3: Barker Park Accessibility/Sensory Design Diagram
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Figure 4: Barker Park Sensory Diagram
Figure 5: Barker Park 4 Types of Play Diagram
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Figure 6: Barker Park Design
Figure 7: 3D aerial model view looking from above the Spruce and 15th corner
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Figure 8: 3D model view looking into the park from 15th St.
Figure 9: 3D model view of the Wind Pipes sensory instrument and accessible water play entry
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Figure 10: 3D model view looking at swing and climb play features for all ages
Figure 11: 3D model view looking at the shade shelter with historic storytelling elements
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3198 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304 | www.boulderparks-rec.org | O: 303-413-7200
TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
SUBJECT: Matters from the Board
DATE: November 17, 2025
A.Boards and Commissions Winter Pre-Retreat Letter to City Council
B. PRAB Matters (Verbal)
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Memorandum
To: Mayor and Members of City Council
From: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Ali Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation
Subject: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Letter to City Council
PRAB Request for City Council Priorities, Pre-Winter Retreat
Date: November 17, 2025
To the esteemed members of City Council,
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) appreciates Council’s continued
engagement with the department’s long-term funding challenges. As requested, we are
writing to identify our top priority for Council’s consideration over the next year.
We believe it should be a top priority to address the structural funding gap that
prevents Boulder from adequately maintaining, modernizing, and replacing its
recreation facilities and amenities by expanding allowable uses for the Permanent
Parks and Recreation Fund.
The 2022 Parks and Recreation Plan identifies a persistent shortfall in both operating
and capital funds. Without additional resources, the department will be forced to
continue deferring maintenance, reducing access, and eliminating amenities, with
disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable users.
As Council knows, this gap is not hypothetical. The South Boulder Recreation Center
(SBRC) is a clear example of the consequences of decades of deferred investment.
SBRC has reached a point where renovation is no longer feasible, and a full rebuild
will be required to meet safety, accessibility, energy-efficiency, and programmatic
needs. In our view, SBRC is the poster child for why the system needs a more flexible
and sustainable funding mechanism.
As you identify priorities for the coming year, PRAB urges the City Council to
pursue tools that would provide long-term, flexible funding for capital
reinvestment, including:
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●Ask voters to expand the allowable uses of the Permanent Parks & Recreation
Fund (PPRF) to include parks operations (this fund is currently restricted to the
acquisition of lands for the development of new parks);
●Considering asking voters to approve a mill levy increase to stabilize operating
and capital budgets
We recognize that City Council discussed expanding the PPRF earlier this year and
chose not to move forward. However, based on current facility conditions, updated
community needs assessments, and the scale of deferred capital needs, we believe this
issue warrants renewed consideration. SBRC’s condition and required rebuild illustrate
the urgency of providing adequate revenue to fund BPR’s operations at the levels that
Boulderites expect from their city.
For these reasons, we respectfully encourage Council to:
1.Revisit expansion of the PPRF or a mill levy increase;
2.Incorporate SBRC’s required rebuild into long-term funding and capital planning
We appreciate Council’s leadership and look forward to continuing our partnership in
ensuring a sustainable future for Boulder’s parks and recreation system.
Respectfully,
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
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Process for PRAB Letter Finalization (2025)
Thank you all for your input to date.
Facilitation of the discussion:
1. First, by show of hands, PRAB members in attendance will be asked if there are
any items or words which the Board Members wish to omit or are strongly
opposed to. These are not edits or suggested changes in wording, but rather
suggested items for removal.
2. If there are no suggested amendments, PRAB will advance to step 3. If there are
suggested omissions, PRAB will go person by person to hear any suggested
omissions and then take a majority vote on support (or lack thereof) for those
changes.
3. By show of hands, PRAB members in attendance will then be asked if there are
any suggested additions or other edits to be considered. Again, these will be
considered one at a time and then confirmed as supported or not by a majority
vote.
4. The subcommittee members that drafted the letter will take notes reflecting these
discussions and will edit the draft reflecting those amendments as the Board
majority proposes.
5. The subcommittee will then finalize the letter and provide it to the board secretary
(PRABAdmin@bouldercolorado.gov) to submit to the City Clerk's Office as
signed by PRAB. There will not be an additional routing to PRAB before
submission, but all PRAB members will be copied upon its submission.
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