Civic Area Phase 2

(Part 1)

​The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department is implementing the next phase of the Civic Area Master Plan by embarking on the creation of a unified civic park space in the heart of Boulder. The project area is located in downtown Boulder between the public library and 13th Street and is bordered by Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue (see diagram below). Phase 2 focuses on engaging the community around various aspects of the Civic Area spaces including the building program, the arboretum path connecting downtown to the Hill and the park area. It also includes what aspects of Phase 1 (west of Broadway and north of the creek) are effective, what further improvements are needed, and what additional elements should be integrated in the future. The Civic Area Phase 2 Project will “build on the 2015 Park Plan and continue the design effort to transform this important public space to encompass vibrant urban living, diverse cultural events, a connection to nature and a place that honors the complete history of the area while serving the community of Boulder. ”

Seven principles guide Phase 2 development of the Civic Area Project:

● The Civic Heart of Boulder (City Center, Diversity, Spaces for All)
● Life and Property Safety (Security, Resiliency, Welcoming Space) 
● Outdoor Culture & Nature (Blend Urban & Natural Green Spaces, Nature Connection, Equitable Spaces)
● Celebration of History & Assets (Inclusive History, Local Food & Market)
● Enhanced Access & Connections (Wayfinding, Universal Access, Multimodal)
● Place for Community Activity & Arts (Art, Performances, Community-led events)
​● Sustainable & Viable Future (Partnerships, Environment, Education)

​Boulder High School Engagements

Click here to Read the report

GUB partnered with 11 Boulder High School’s National Art Honor Society (NAHS) students to gather youth recommendations for the future Civic Area space. After introducing the city project, goals and timeline to students, GUB facilitated a walk audit to understand how these teens currently use and feel in the space. After group sharing of the audit experience, GUB staff engaged BHS art students in envisioning the future space. Over several months, artists began thinking, sketching and writing about what they most wanted to see the reimagined space look and feel like. Students created a final art piece in painting, pottery, photography, or 3D model for their NAHS class to represent their vision for the future. In April, students shared their draft plans with city staff, community members, and other decision-makers and finalized their works in May. Their artwork is on display in an exhibit entitled, “Young Artists Envision Boulder’s Future Civic Area' featured at the Boulder Public Library from June-August 2024.

By the Numbers

● 11 Boulder High School youth in the National Art Honor Society (NAHS): 10 who exhibited
● 4 Boulder High School (NAHS) staff
● 3 GUB staff
● 5 City of Boulder staff
​● 3 Community partners

Boulder High School youth view the Civic Area as an important community asset which will require significant improvement to meet the goals of bringing people together in the heart of downtown. Overall, students feel the space is unsafe, unwelcoming, underutilized, and lacks creativity and vibrancy. Students believe that the area has great potential, and they are happy to hear that there are plans to invest in creative and financial solutions to successfully reimagine the space.

 

"It was motivating to see how the organized and deliberate the seven principles of the Civic Project fit so well to various visual interpretations. It makes me think how feasible this project will grow when it takes off. Students were invested in feedback lends itself to the validity to their practice. It was impressive to witness them address major obstacles by effectively bridging it with anecdotal impacts in their lived experiences. I'm grateful for Growing Up Boulder's community outreach and inclusive approach by including teens in the conversation with a productive and imaginative outlet of expression for youth." --Share Out Session Participant

Since 2012, children and youth have been requesting similar themes for the Civic Area: nature (blue and green spaces), places to hang out, and arts and cultural expression. Boulder High National Art Honor Society students recommend these things and more: they want a safe, welcoming place that’s litter-free where they can connect with others, spaces designed specifically for teens in mind, and opportunities to create and display art. As artists, they are connecting to the space as high school students and as artists. They’re interested in the ascetics of space–how the Civic Area space could look like in the future for everyone. They see potential for using the Civic Area to showcase artwork for local artists of all ages. They also expressed strong support for resourcing our unhoused population and for the area to have robust programming for community members of all ages and abilities. Teen artists view the Civic Area as having great potential but lacking key elements necessary for full activation of the space for all residents. These priorities reflect a broader vision of the Civic Area as a safe, inclusive, and culturally rich space that fosters community interaction and celebrates diversity