🏊 Boulder's free recreation access for low-income residents could end

Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the 2026 City of Boulder Climate Resilient Landscape Showcase. Celebrate local landscapes with a gallery walk, keynote and awards. Saturday, Sept. 12.

Leading today: We’ve been digging into Boulder’s proposed budget cuts, from city jobs to the uncertain future of Spruce Pool. Today, Por Jaijongkit goes deeper into how Parks and Recreation’s proposed 2027 cuts would affect residents.

The plan would shorten Scott Carpenter Pool’s season by four weeks, reduce indoor pool hours and drop-in fitness classes, eliminate childcare at East Boulder Community Center and cut subsidies for qualifying low-income residents from 100% to 75%. These reductions come as sales tax revenue has fallen short of projections and Boulder faces a $6.3 million General Fund shortfall. At the same time, voters will be asked in November to approve a property tax increase to repay a $400 million bond for recreation facilities and other capital projects — money that cannot fund day-to-day operations.

And if you’re not subscribed to Culture Club, sign up now. Every Thursday, arts and culture editor McKenzie Watson-Fore delivers original reporting to your inbox, plus a curated guide to things to do across Boulder County that you won’t find anywhere else. Yesterday’s edition took readers inside a new community arts hub in Lyons and included 44 things to do. The week before, Culture Club explored how Bliss is navigating a changing Pearl Street.

Plus more, Below the Fold:

BoulderCAST: Warm temperatures with minimal storm chances.
Fire restrictions: Lifted east; Stage 1 remains west.
License plate readers: Vendor decision delayed until spring 2027.
San Lazaro: Garage sale supports residents’ purchase effort.
Disaster preparedness: Sept. 15 town hall in Lafayette.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

Support our Boulder journalism

Join us to celebrate the 2026 City of Boulder Climate Resilient Landscape Showcase! We are celebrating creative and inspiring landscapes in our community! View a gallery walk and enjoy light food and refreshments, which will be followed by a keynote speech and a presentation of awards to community members. Saturday, Sept. 12 • 6-8:30 p.m.

Boulder proposes ending free recreation access for low-income residents

The proposed 2027 budget includes cuts to pool hours and fitness and childcare programs, while also scaling back a program that provides free access for low-income residents. Continue reading…

For 20 years, Bliss has brought Boulder artists and shoppers together. Now it’s fighting to stay open.

The locally owned gift and art boutique says rising costs and unpredictable spending threaten its future and the creative network it supports. Continue reading…

Staying warm to hot with only a hint of storms

Boulder stays locked in a warm, dry groove today as a stubborn Southwestern ridge keeps us baking. Highs will reach the lower 90s under mostly sunny skies. While most of us stay dry, there’s a slight chance of an isolated gusty evening storm, mainly over the higher terrain.

A weak cold front will sneak in late tonight or early tomorrow morning, and you’ll feel it. Saturday cools off into the lower 80s, with a bit more cloud cover but still not much more than isolated storm action.

Sunday rebounds into the mid‑90s, likely our hottest day in the extended forecast, while early next week looks cooler and more favorable for scattered showers and storms as moisture peaks.

We’re also tracking a potentially significant cold front that may reach the area Monday night or so, sharply curbing temperatures into the 70s or even 60s for highs come Tuesday.

—BoulderCAST

Fire restrictions eased in unincorporated Boulder County

Fire restrictions have been lifted for eastern Boulder County and downgraded to Stage 1 in western parts of the county after improved weather, reduced fire danger and increased availability of firefighting resources.

The restrictions apply only to unincorporated areas. In western Boulder County, Stage 1 restrictions generally prohibit campfires and charcoal fires, fireworks, recreational shooting, open burning and activities that could produce sparks, with some exceptions. Violations can carry fines of $500 to $1,000. Officials said wildfire risk remains and urged residents and visitors to continue exercising caution.

Boulder pauses license plate reader contract decision until 2027

The City of Boulder has formally paused its selection of a vendor for its automated license plate reader network to allow for community engagement and a broader policy discussion. The city had planned to choose a vendor by Sept. 15 but now expects the process to continue into spring 2027.

Boulder Reporting Lab reported in August that the city had fallen behind schedule and never conducted a planned pilot of competing systems. The delay comes amid scrutiny of the city’s current vendor, Flock Safety, over privacy and law enforcement access to its data.

Boulder will continue using Flock cameras while the discussion proceeds but plans to shorten its data-retention period from 28 days to 14. The city said details about the community engagement process will be announced later.

San Lazaro residents to hold garage sale as they try to buy their mobile home park

Residents of San Lazaro Mobile Home Park, just east of Boulder city limits, will hold a fundraising garage sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5505 Valmont Road. All proceeds will support residents’ effort to purchase the park.

An undisclosed buyer has offered $42.5 million for San Lazaro, leaving residents until Dec. 8 to submit a counteroffer. Residents began organizing to buy the property after it was listed for sale this spring, hoping to prevent rent increases, displacement or redevelopment.

The sale will feature furniture, jewelry, clothing, antiques and other household goods donated by residents and supporters across Boulder County. Photos are available on the event listing.

Boulder County commissioners to host disaster preparedness townhall in Lafayette

Boulder County commissioners will hold an in-person townhall on disaster preparedness from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Southeast Community Hub, 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette.

Monika Weber of the Boulder Office of Disaster Management will give a brief presentation on preparing for emergencies and unexpected events. Commissioners will then take questions about disaster preparedness or any other county issue. Attendees who want to speak should indicate that on the event’s sign-in sheet.

No registration is required, and there will be no virtual option. Spanish interpretation will be available. The disaster management office is also hosting preparedness workshops throughout September in Boulder, Allenspark and Louisville.

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🏊 Boulder’s free recreation access for low-income residents could end