Posts tagged Parks and Recreation Department
Valmont Dog Park reopens Friday, Aug. 24
0August 23, 2012
Valmont Dog Park, located at 5325 Valmont Road, will reopen to the public this Friday, Aug. 24, after being closed since early May for major renovations and improvements.
Valmont Dog Park improvements included widening the parking lot access, putting in a new entry plaza, fencing, surfacing, landscaping and water hydrants. A portion of the new park will also include an enclosed, irrigated turf area, low berms, a new 16-foot square shade shelter (to be installed later this fall), and two smaller shelters. The shelters are funded by the Capital Improvement Bond passed by voters in November 2011. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is anticipated for later this fall.
Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Department is now offering dog waste composting at the newly remodeled Valmont Dog Park as part of the department’s efforts to create a more environmentally sustainable community. The city will be providing compostable dog waste bags for use by dog guardians to pick up their dog’s waste and place it into a specially marked container at the main entrance of the dog park.
The dog waste compost container will be emptied periodically and its contents will be made into compost using a special high temperature composting technique. Placing dog waste in your yard compost bin is not recommended. Dog guardians are encouraged not to bring plastic bags to Valmont Dog Park anymore, but instead use the compostable bags provided by the city. Please continue to donate unwanted plastic bags at any public park, trails and the other three dog parks in town: East Boulder (5660 Sioux Drive), Foothills (west of Broadway between Locust Avenue and Lee Hill Road), and Howard Heuston (on 34th Street, south of Iris Avenue and east of 30th Street).
Information: Boulder Parks & Recreation Department, 303-413-7200.
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Boulder Creek duck race loaded with prizes
0May 17, 2012
25th annual EXPAND Duck Race to be held May 28; online duck sponsorship now available
The 25th annual EXPAND Duck Race will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 28, at the Boulder Creek Festival®. The EXPAND Duck Race is a benefit for the Parks and Recreation Department’s EXPAND (EXciting Programs Adventures and New Dimensions) program, which provides recreational opportunities for children, youth and adults with disabilities.
Participants may sponsor ducks for $5 each and watch them race from the 9th Street Bridge to the finish near Boulder Creek next to the Main Library lawn. Online registration is now available, and is open through Sunday, May 27. Participants may also sponsor ducks at the Boulder Creek Festival®.
Dozens of prizes will be given away to the top duck finishers, including an all-inclusive, three-night stay in Cancun with airfare from Denver, courtesy of Doris Mundy Travel, Apple Vacations and Dreams Resort and Spa; $1,000 in cash from Fisher Kia & Honda of Boulder; a nine-month self defense package from Boulder Quest Center; gift certificates; and much more!
Participants do not need to be present to win. Prizes will be mailed and winners will be notified within 14 days. All proceeds benefit the EXPAND program.
For more information, a full list of prizes and to sponsor a duck, visit www.EXPANDDuckRace.org. For more information about EXPAND and the programs offered, please go to www.BoulderParks-Rec.org.
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Boulder offers vets a free 90-day rec pass
0May 17, 2012
Boulder Parks and Recreation launches recreation pass program for veterans and active duty military personnel
The Boulder Parks and Recreation Department will offer a special recreation facility pass program for veterans, active duty and reservist military personnel beginning Monday, May 21. Boulder City Councilmember Tim Plass proposed the program, which was approved by City Council on May 15.
The program includes a one-time, free, 90-day recreation facility pass for post-9/11 veterans who are City of Boulder residents. It also offers a 25 percent discount on annual passes for all military personnel and veterans who reside in the City of Boulder or Boulder County. The program is not retroactive for current pass holders. The passes provide entry to all three city recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.
“We are honored to offer this program and provide an opportunity for returning veterans and other service personnel to participate in health and fitness programs in our local community,” said Alice Guthrie, recreation superintendent for the Parks and Recreation Department.
To qualify, applicants must have served in one of the following branches of service, identified by the Department of Defense:
● Army
● Navy
● Air Force
● Marines
● Coast Guard
● National Guard
● Merchant Marines
To receive the free 90-day recreation pass, applicants must go to the Parks and Recreation administrative offices at 3198 Broadway Ave. and show a DD-214 form with separation date and a photo ID. To receive the 25 percent discount, applicants must bring either a DD-214 form, valid Veterans ID from the Veterans Affairs Office or valid Active Duty or Reservist ID to one of the three city recreation centers (North Boulder Recreation Center at 3170 Broadway Ave., East Boulder Community Center at 5660 Sioux Drive or South Boulder Recreation Center at 1360 Gillaspie Drive).
The Parks and Recreation Department also offers veterans a variety of therapeutic recreation programs through the EXPAND (EXciting Programs, Adventures and New Dimensions) program.
For more information on the veterans and active duty military personnel facility pass program, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org.
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Boulder’s Valmont bike park makes short list
0January 11, 2012
Valmont Bike Park selected as one of three finalists to host 2014 and 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships
Boulder’s Valmont Bike Park has been selected as one of three finalists to host the 2014 and 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. The three potential host cities are Asheville, N.C. (Biltmore Estate), Austin, Texas (Zilker Park), and Boulder (Valmont Bike Park).
“The news that Valmont Bike Park is one of three finalists to host the 2014 and 2015 United States Cyclo-cross National Championships further establishes Valmont Bike Park as an industry leader in bike park construction for both event hosting and daily use,” said Kirk Kincannon, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “Valmont Bike Park was specifically designed and built to accommodate world-class cycling events like the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. We are honored to receive this consideration.”
The United States Cyclo-cross National Championships is expected to bring in at least 1,500 athletes and even more spectators.
“This is exciting news for Boulder—and for all of the organizations who have helped make Valmont Bike Park an exceptional facility,” said Mary Ann Mahoney, executive director of the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We would be honored and thrilled to host this amazing event. With the metro area’s concentration of cycling fans, this world-class facility and Boulder’s amazing array of bike shops, restaurants, hiking, biking and running trails, I believe we could deliver a phenomenal experience for both riders and spectators.”
USA Cycling evaluated six potential host cities using various criteria, including: accessibility, community support, course options, technical expertise and the organization’s commitment to volunteer recruitment, marketing and lodging. USA Cycling will conduct site visits in early 2012 before making their final selection.
“We are extremely excited about the quality and depth of the bids we received for this event,” USA Cycling National Events Director Kelli Lusk said. “All of the cities offered spectacular presentations. We’re confident that any of these three cities would make a great host for these two championship events in 2014 and in 2015.”
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Weather grounds biking at Boulder’s Valmont Bike Park
0January 11, 2012
Valmont Bike Park remains closed until further notice
Parks and Recreation Department requests public cooperation in staying off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent additional damage
The Parks and Recreation Department has closed Valmont Bike Park due to poor trail conditions, and is asking for public cooperation to stay off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent further damage. Recent running, snowboarding, sledding, dog walking and biking on the trails have caused excessive damage to not only the top surfacing material, but to the base layer as well. The maintenance required to repair this damage is costly and time-consuming and will extend the re-opening date of the park due to the extra surfacing maintenance work.
“Our staff is evaluating trail and feature surfacing daily to determine if any areas of the bike park can be opened, and we will notify the public once those areas open,” said Kirk Kincannon, Parks and Recreation Department director. “However, due to moisture deep in the soil and surfacing material, no areas of the park will be opened within the next few days.”
The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) also urged the public to refrain from using the trails at this time.
“We need your cooperation to protect the coolest bike park on Planet Earth,” said Jason Vogel, BMA president. “Warm weather does not mean Valmont Bike Park is ready to ride. We are contending with upwelling groundwater freezing subsurface as well as snowcover and snowmelt. These conditions are a perfect storm for destroying the park we’ve all worked so hard to make a reality. BMA urges all park users to respect park closures.”
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Sneak peek of ghosts at Columbia Cemetery
0October 18, 2011
by Ron Baird, news editor
in News
What: Columbia Cemetery storage facility ribbon-cutting ceremony (and sneak peek of Ghost Walk/Ghost Talk event scheduled for Oct. 22 and Oct. 23)
When: Thursday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m.
Where: The event will take place at the southwest corner of the cemetery at the storage facility. There is an entrance gate located at the corner of College Avenue and 8th Street.
Background Information:
Please join us for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open our new 340-square-foot storage building at the Columbia Cemetery. The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, in the southwest corner of Columbia Cemetery.
The Parks and Recreation Department collaborated with the University of Colorado’s College of Architecture and Planning, Division of Environmental Design to design and construct the facility. It will be used for storage and restoration of broken or damaged grave markers.
The ceremony is free, open to the public and will last 30 to 45 minutes. Light refreshments will be served. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include a brief visit with one of the “spirits” who will participate in the Ghost Walk/Ghost Talk events scheduled for Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 (more information below).
Ghost Walk/Ghost Talk event Oct. 22 and Oct. 23
Sponsored by Historic Boulder, Inc., and the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department, this event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Highland Lawn neighborhood homes and Columbia Cemetery (weather permitting). Please note that this is a different event than “Meet the Spirits,” which is held at Columbia Cemetery every other year. Participants can visit a number of “spooky” houses and hear their stories, as well as hearing the stories of five “spirits” at Columbia Cemetery who will be stationed along the roadway in Columbia Cemetery. More information: www.HistoricBoulder.org.
About Columbia Cemetery
Columbia Cemetery was founded in 1870 and was the first permanent cemetery in the City of Boulder. The cemetery is a resting place for many early community leaders and a cross-section of Boulder settlers—farmers, miners and trades people.
The cemetery is a historic, cultural and artistic resource owned by the City of Boulder and managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. It is a City of Boulder landmark, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
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Boulder bike park a winner!
0October 12, 2011
Parks and Recreation Department wins 2011 Colorado Parks and Recreation Association award for Valmont Bike Park
The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department was awarded the 2011 Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) Columbine Award for Recreation Facility Design at Valmont Bike Park. The award was presented to Parks and Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon and Recreation Superintendent Alice Guthrie on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the CPRA Annual Conference in Grand Junction.
“This is a great honor for the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department,” said Kincannon. “Valmont Bike Park was designed and constructed with the community in mind. Through our extensive public input process, we were able to create a park that appeals to all levels of cyclists and provides a great recreation facility for families. We are thrilled to have this community treasure recognized by the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association.”
The opening of Valmont Bike Park in June 2011 was the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between the community and Boulder Parks and Recreation Department. A 40-acre, natural-surface bike park, Valmont was designed and developed in partnership with the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA), a group representing the area’s active, off-road cycling community. BMA brought volunteers, funding and sport-specific expertise to this ambitious project. BMA also agreed to help with fundraising and long-term stewardship of the bike facility and formed a partnership with the PLAY Boulder Parks Foundation as a mechanism to receive tax-deductible donations.
The park offers trails and features for all ages, riding abilities and styles. It also incorporates the latest sustainable design features including water conservation systems; LEEDTM certified building design, solar photovoltaic power and wildlife-proof recycling and trash containers.
The addition of the park and completion of multi-use trails leading to it elevated Boulder’s League of American Bicyclists’ status from gold to one of only three, Platinum-level bike friendly communities in the U.S. Valmont Bike Park provides new recreation opportunities for the community and competitive venues for local, national and international events.
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Boulder vols needed for your land, my land
0September 15, 2011
by Ron Baird, news editor
in News
The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to help with maintenance and cleanup at both Scott Carpenter Park and Valmont Bike Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, as part of National Public Lands Day. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve America’s public lands. The Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with REI Boulder for this event.
Please RSVP and indicate which project site you would like to support by Thursday, Sept. 22. For more information and to RSVP, contact Mary Malley at 303-413-7245 or malleym@bouldercolorado.gov.
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East Boulder Community Park grand re-opening celebration Aug. 27
0August 24, 2011
by Ron Baird, news editor
in News
The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department will host an East Boulder Community Park grand re-opening event on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the East Boulder Community Park and East Boulder Recreation Center, 5660 Sioux Drive.
The free, public event will celebrate the recent completion of major improvements to the park, including:
● Addition of two, multi-sport synthetic turf fields;
● Renovation of the dog park;
● Resurfacing and lighting of five tennis courts;
● Improvements to handball courts;
● Addition of pedestrian and multi-use path connections;
● Renovations to grass open play fields;
● Addition of a parking lot on the south side of the park; and
● Improvements to landscaping, drainage and irrigation.
The re-opening event will feature:
● 8 to 8:45 a.m.: Free outdoor fitness bootcamp behind the tennis and basketball courts in the East Boulder Community Park.
● 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Free admission to the East Boulder Recreation Center; free child care; and free dance, yoga and fitness class samplers.
● 9 to 11 a.m.: Free youth and adult tennis lessons with Gonzo. Humane Society of Boulder Valley volunteers will have information, treats and adoptable dogs.
● 10 to 10:30 a.m.: Ribbon-cutting ceremony on the grassy area between the east multi-sport field and the dog park.
● 10:30 to 11 a.m.: Water-wise turf demonstration garden preview, highlighting different water conserving turf species and irrigation methods. The turf garden will be completed in 2012—but you can get a preview now. It is located on the south side of the recreation center and east side of the ponds.
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July is National Park and Recreation Month: Boulder has Yogi Bear
0July 15, 2011
by Boulder Channel 1
in News
City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of recreational activities and opportunities
The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of recreation opportunities in July during National Park and Recreation Month.
● Performances in the Parks: Join the Boulder Concert Band for free concerts at a variety of parks on Monday evenings throughout the summer. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and last one hour. Full schedule: www.BoulderParks-Rec.org.
● Valmont Bike Park: This 40-acre bike parkhas features for all ages and abilities, from children to professional riders. The park is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk every day. For more information, visit www.ValmontBikePark.org.
● Family nights at Scott Carpenter Pool: Bring your family for a scavenger hunt and trivia night, cardboard boat race, and more from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday night in July at Scott Carpenter Pool. More information: www.BoulderParks-Rec.org.
● Super twilight golf specials at Flatirons Golf Course: Play as much golf as you can from 7 p.m. to sunset with a cart for $20 per person if you book your tee time online at www.FlatironsGolf.com.
● Clean Marina flag raising ceremony: Celebrate the Boulder Reservoir
becoming the first certified Clean Marina in Colorado with a flag raising ceremony at noon on Saturday, July 16, at the Boulder Reservoir Boathouse. More information:www.BoulderRez.org.
● Let’s Move! Cities and Towns: Boulder is a proud member of the national Let’s Move! initiative. To learn more about active ways you can enjoy parks and recreation facilities please visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org and click the Let’s Move logo to the left of the screen.
For more information, call Paul Bousquet, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7239.
National Park and Recreation Month
National Park and Recreation Month is presented by
the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and its “America’s Backyard” initiative. Since 1985, America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month
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Parks and Recreation Department utilizing goats to control weeds at Boulder Reservoir
0July 5, 2011
by Ron Baird, news editor
in News
For the 11th consecutive year, the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department is employing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to control invasive weeds in non-irrigated park areas by grazing between 300 and 350 goats in the areas. The goats will be arriving on the east side of the Boulder Reservoir (along the dam) around July 7-8 and will stay for approximately one week. Park users should not be impacted by the goats, but are asked to keep dogs leashed along the dam faces in the area of the goats in order to avoid encounters with and to not impact the goats.
Goats have been utilized effectively as a control for many weeds, as they eat even prickly weeds. The state of Colorado’s noxious weed act requires monitoring and control of certain plant species, and the Parks and Recreation Department complies with this state mandate by applying the four IPM techniques for weed management – mechanical, biological, cultural and chemical. The use of biological controls, such as goat grazing, is important as the department seeks to reduce the amount of herbicides used.
When done at the proper times, grazing prevents the current year’s plants from going to seed and depletes the root system’s reserves. Grazing also recycles organic material back into the soil and cultivates the ground allowing for better water infiltration, aeration and sunlight exposure.
For more information, call Shelly Ruspakka, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7214.
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One-of-a-kind, natural surface bike park to open June 11 in Boulder
0June 6, 2011
Media interview opportunities available in advance of Valmont Bike Park grand opening
What do you call 40 acres of twisting trails, mild to wild dirt, structural jumps, strategically-placed sand pits, logs, boulders and staircases? While off-road cyclists may soon call it, “Shangri La,” we call it, “Valmont Bike Park.”
Opening for the first time at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 11, the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department’s latest park development has already been hailed as an outstanding bike park by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA).
“Cyclists from around the nation will be totally floored by what they see,” said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. “Based on its many options for riding natural-surface trails, the diversity of both technical and non-technical features and the outstanding quality of the build, Valmont will be among the top venues in the country for this style of biking.”
The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department will open the newly-developed park with a grand opening event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The event will feature an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. with comments from council members, including Deputy Mayor Ken Wilson and Parks and Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon. Food and bicycle gear vendors, a cycling demonstration (on the park’s slopestyle features) and public riding in the park will round out the day’s activities. The event is free and open to the community.
The park contains a pump track, dual slalom and slopestyle riding loop as well as elements for a competition cyclo-cross course. The park also includes training and skill building trails, a toddler playground, event plaza, restrooms, parking and outstanding city and Flatiron views. Developed with the support and partnership of the local cycling community, Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) and organizations such as the PLAY Boulder Parks Foundation and Great Outdoors Colorado, the 40-acre Valmont Bike Park encompasses natural-surface amenities for multiple riding styles and skill levels.
“We are very excited to open this flagship park,” Kincannon said. “We invested in a collaborative partnership with BMA and the off-road cycling community to design and build this portion of Valmont City Park. The result is a park worthy of our internationally-recognized athletic community—one that will be a daily asset to local kids, families, riders and businesses and also attract events and riders from all over the country and the world.”
Note to Media: Media interviews with Parks and Recreation Department Director Kirk W. Kincannon will be available on a scheduled basis on June 7 and 8. The media is encouraged to attend the grand opening event on June 11. Please contact Shelly Ruspakka by June 7 at RuspakkaS@BoulderColorado.gov or 303-413-7214 to set up a media interview or to discuss plans for the opening event.
The bike park is currently closed due to allow completion of construction. The park will open to cycling on June 11. No footage of park use or demonstrations will be available until June 11.
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Volunteers sought for Valmont Bike Park opening day June 11
0June 6, 2011
Valmont Bike Park officially opens on Saturday, June 11, and the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department and Boulder Mountainbike Alliance are seeking volunteer bike park hosts for two-hour shifts that day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Shifts and skills needed include:
Event, stage and booth setup – 7 to 9 a.m.
Empty Eco-Cycle stations – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Course marshals for trail crossings – noon to 5 p.m.
Bouncy castle supervisors – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Traffic control and parking (both bike and car) – 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Post-event cleanup – 5 to 7 p.m.
Volunteers will be trained at a mandatory park host training session held at Valmont Bike Park from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7. Volunteers must register and attend the training. Volunteers should be 16 years of age or older and comfortable interacting with the public. Bicycle riders of all levels are encouraged to respond but riding is not required. Sign up at www.BoulderMountainBike.org or by emailing valmont@bouldermountainbike.org.
Reminder: Valmont Bike Park remains CLOSED to unauthorized visitors and riders until opening day (June 11) to allow for completion of construction.
Long-term volunteers are needed through the summer months as well. For more information, call Shelly Ruspakka, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7214.
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Boulder Reservoir receives first Clean Marina certification in Colorado
0May 20, 2011
by Boulder Channel 1
in News
The Boulder Reservoir has received Colorado’s first Clean Marina certification under a new program aimed at protecting water quality and encouraging environmentally-friendly boating and marina practices. The certification was awarded by the recently launched Colorado Marina Association (CMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering the Clean Marinas Colorado Program and promoting clean boating on Colorado’s waterways.
To receive certification, the Boulder Reservoir has met the program’s rigorous criteria and must adhere to a set of ongoing standards and requirements. These standards reflect best management practices for minimizing the environmental impact of boating and marina operations.
“This is an important accomplishment for the Parks and Recreation Department as it demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship of the recreational waters of the Boulder Reservoir,” said Kirk Kincannon, director of Parks and Recreation. “We are proud to be the first in the state to receive this certification.”
The Clean Marinas Colorado Program is a voluntary program that targets marinas and individual boaters—providing education and outreach activities that help maintain or restore water quality in Colorado’s major waterways. The program was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Nonpoint Source Program, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Mile High Flotilla and the Colorado Lake & Reservoir Management Association (CLRMA).
For more information, call Shelly Ruspakka, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7214 or visit the Colorado Clean Marina Association’s website at: www.coloradomarinas.org
