Here’s some need-to-know information for the week:
Council and community invited to April 29 launch event for Child-Friendly Cities Initiative
We are excited to announce that the city, along with representatives from UNICEF USA and Growing Up Boulder, will formally kick off our Child-Friendly Cities Initiative at 11 a.m. on April 29 at the Civic Area Bandshell. The launch will coincide with a daylong celebration of Dia del Nino, hosted by BMoCA.
As you may recall from our mid-year check-in, this initiative, called CFCI, will allow the city to conduct a thorough assessment of all the ways it currently serves children and youth. After this, we will be supporting youth-led engagement to identify gaps and develop a Youth Action Plan. The city’s Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (YOAB) will play a significant role in this effort, which is expected to span two years.
Our Communications team is still finalizing materials, including a website, a BeHeardBoulder page, information for the launch event, and a video produced by YOAB. A formal release with links to this extra content will go out next week.
In the meantime, if you are able to attend, please save the date. Mayor Aaron Brockett has agreed to make a few remarks and has indicated he would invite all council members on stage to join him. The launch is expected to take less than 30 minutes, but there will be fun festivities following it, associated with the BMoCA activation.
For more information about CFCI, please contact Sarah Huntley, director of Communication and Engagement, at huntleys@bouldercolorado.gov, or Ali Rhodes, director of Parks and Recreation, at rhodesa@bouldercolorado.gov.
City of Boulder engaging with the community on Boulder Junction Phase 2 project
The Boulder Junction Phase 2 project kicked off in January 2023 and is in the first stage of the project, which involves evaluating the Transit Village Area Plan’s proposed land use, transportation connections and urban design and character of the area to ensure they align with current and future community needs. The project team is currently engaging the community to gather perspectives on Phase 1 outcomes and hopes for Phase 2.
Four focus groups were established to provide a variety of viewpoints, expertise, and experience. These include an Advocacy Focus Group, a Daily Users Focus Group, a Design and Development Focus Group, and a Property and Business Owners Focus Group. The four groups met for the first time in March and will meet throughout the duration of the project.
The broader community will be able provide input at an Open House on April 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Studio, 3550 Frontier Ave., Suite A2. A virtual opportunity is available through an online questionnaire through April 24. The project team is also working with Community Connectors to encourage participation of residents of 30 Pearl, Orchard Grove manufactured housing and San Juan del Centro apartment communities.
The next stage of engagement will take place in May and will focus on community input on alternatives for land use, transportation connections and urban design and character of the area.
For more information, contact Sarah Cawrse, City Planning Principal, at cawrses@bouldercolorado.gov.
Regards,
Nuria