Good Monday morning, Boulder. It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Find local MLK and other events here.
Leading today’s edition: We’ve been following the push to replace the aging South Boulder Rec Center, and the latest is this: The building is nearing the end of its functional life, but the city still has no clear plan to pay for what comes next. Officials say the facility must be replaced within five to seven years, and while early estimates put the price tag at at least $30 million, the final cost could be significantly higher. The issue is coming to a head as Boulder prepares to launch its Fund Our Future budgeting process, where officials will weigh whether to pursue a ballot measure — likely as part of a broader package of city needs, rather than a standalone proposal.
Meanwhile, a Parks and Recreation Board member has floated redirecting money from planned renovations at East Boulder Rec Center, but city staff say the funding could not be used that way. South Boulder residents continue pressing city council to preserve the center’s pool, gym and fitness spaces. Brooke Stephenson reports.
And if you missed John Lehndorff’s Nibbles newsletter last week: He dives into the surprisingly transcendent world of Japanese-style egg salad sandwiches, from a Boulder 7-Eleven to standout spots in Broomfield and Longmont. Along the way: high-altitude egg-boiling tips, canned-beer praise for Oskar Blues, and a little longing for summer gardens and CSA season. Make sure you’re on the list so you don’t miss tomorrow’s Nibbles, landing around lunchtime.
Also, as a reminder, we publish obituaries for free as a public service. To submit an obituary, click here or reply to this email with questions.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- Boulder Falls: Closed, but a new viewing platform is planned.
- Bike to Work: Winter ride and free breakfast return Feb. 13.
- Marshall Fire: Recovery programs merge Feb. 1.
- CU at 150: Anniversary events kick off this month.
- Things to Do: MLK events, maternal meetup, tree care, Irish-Lebanese theater, fungi dance, pie day + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
South Boulder’s rec center needs a $30M replacement. The city has no clear way to pay for it yet.
With a tight parks budget and pushback against shifting funds from East Boulder, city officials say a new rec center would likely require voter approval. Continue reading…
Wintry start Monday, warmer days ahead
It feels like winter today after early-morning snow left about 2 inches across the area. The snow has tapered off, giving way to clearing skies and a cool high near 40. Tonight will be clear and cold, with lows dipping into the mid-20s.
By Tuesday, we warm up again under mostly sunny skies, with highs climbing into the low 50s, though it will be breezy at times. The mild, sunny pattern continues Wednesday, with highs near 50.
Boulder plans new viewing platform for Boulder Falls after rockfall closure
The City of Boulder says it has settled on a preferred plan to restore limited visitor access to Boulder Falls: a new viewing platform set back from the canyon, designed to let people see the falls while reducing the risk of future rockfall. The popular site has been closed since a catastrophic rockslide in late 2024, and officials continue to warn that the existing trail remains too dangerous to reopen.
BRL broke the news last year that city staff were weighing whether Boulder Falls could ever safely reopen — or whether permanent closure might be necessary — after consultants found a high risk of future, potentially deadly rockfall events. At the time, officials said moving the viewing area farther from the falls was likely the only viable alternative to shutting down access entirely.
City officials now say an engineering analysis confirms the original trail alignment cannot be restored. The new plan would create a designated viewing area at a safer distance, while keeping the current trail fully closed. The city plans to begin a feasibility study in 2026 to evaluate design options, costs and a construction timeline.
Open Space and Mountain Parks Director Dan Burke said the goal is to balance public access with safety at one of Boulder’s most visited natural attractions, which drew more than 260,000 visitors in 2023. Officials emphasized that entering the closed area remains extremely dangerous and urged the public to respect closures and signage, noting that illegal access also puts first responders at risk.
As BRL’s local history contributor Silvia Pettem has reported, Boulder Falls has been a popular stop for hikers and sightseers since the late 1800s, when stagecoaches and picnickers traveled Boulder Canyon long before cars filled the road.
Winter Bike to Work Day returns Feb. 13
Winter Bike to Work Day returns Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, with riders across Boulder and Boulder County encouraged to bike to work or take a morning ride, even if they work from home. Free breakfast stations offering coffee and food will be open from 7 to 9 a.m. along popular routes, and organizers expect hundreds of participants. Local businesses can still sign up to host breakfast stations, and riders are encouraged to pledge in advance. In the lead-up to the event, Community Cycles is offering free winter biking classes and discounts on bike lights throughout February.
Marshall Fire recovery programs to be consolidated starting Feb. 1
More than four years after the Marshall Fire, a new recovery support program will replace the Community Foundation Boulder County’s remaining wildfire assistance programs beginning Feb. 1, consolidating unmet needs, housing support and rebuild grants into a single application process. The change, announced last week by the community foundation in partnership with Impact Development Fund, is intended to simplify access to aid as some residents continue to struggle with long-term recovery.
The program will provide financial assistance to survivors across Boulder County who are still dealing with housing instability, essential expenses or property damage linked to the Dec. 30, 2021, fire. Eligible applicants may seek help with rent or mortgage payments, basic household needs such as health care and transportation, and restoration work for smoke- or ash-damaged homes. The county says about 8% of the 1,109 homes destroyed in the Marshall Fire have not been rebuilt or otherwise fully recovered. Assistance will be available through summer 2027 or until funding runs out.
Applications for the current unmet needs program will be accepted through Jan. 31. The new recovery support program portal opens Feb. 1 and will be hosted through Impact Development Fund’s disaster recovery website. Questions can be directed to recovery@impactdf.org or 970-744-4835. The Community Foundation Boulder County’s Boulder County Wildfire Fund raised more than $43 million from over 80,000 donors to support Marshall Fire survivors, a fundraising and recovery effort BRL closely documented.
CU Boulder kicks off its 150th anniversary celebrations
CU Boulder is beginning its 150th anniversary celebrations this month, with events running through the spring. Highlights include Blazing Trail for 150 Years at CU Boulder, an exhibition opening Jan. 21 at the Museum of Boulder, a Jan. 25 ceremony honoring longtime women’s basketball coach and athletics administrator Ceal Barry, and the university’s first Community Engagement Week from Jan. 27-29. The official anniversary kickoff is scheduled for April 13-16.
Also from BRL, in case you missed it: As CU marks 150 years, we looked back at how close the university came to being built somewhere else. In a richly detailed piece, Silvia Pettem revisits CU’s earliest days through the work of a 19th-century local reporter who documented the school’s uncertain beginnings, when Old Main stood alone on a barren mesa and Boulder fought to secure the university’s future.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Annual MLK Celebration: Monday, Jan. 19, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, 111 W. Baseline Rd, Lafayette. Read More
Free Acoustic Jam Sessions: Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Dr. Read More
Mother Circle: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Yoga Pearl, 4750 Broadway. Additional date Wednesday, Feb. 18, same time. Read More
Ethics in the Age of AI: An Interactive Panel Discussion: Thursday, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m., Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Dr. Read More
Toubab Krewe: Thursday, Jan. 22, 8:00 p.m., The Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St. Read More
Lines, a multimedia production: Friday, Jan. 23, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional date Saturday, Jan. 24, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Read More
Rory Scovel comedy show: Friday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. Read more.
MycoMorphosis: Dancing with Fungi: Friday, Jan. 23, 7:30-9:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional dates: Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan 25, same time. Read More
Dave Abear’s A Very Jerry Band w/ Foggy Mountain Spaceship: Friday, Jan. 23, 8:00-11:30 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A. Read More
“Pieowa” showing with filmmaker Q&A and pie: Saturday, Jan. 24, 1:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More
Winter Fruit Tree Care: Pruning Apple & Pear Trees: Saturday, Jan. 24, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Benevolence Orchard & Gardens, 6712 Jay Rd. Read More
Flatiron Stomp Dance Party: Saturday, Jan. 24, 7:00-11:00 p.m., Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Ave. Read More
National Pie Day Celebration: Sunday, Jan. 25, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway. Read More. Pie contest same day.
Personal Safety & Self Defense Seminar: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2:30-5:00 p.m., Battle Woman, 2845 5th St. Read More
Scott Strickland: Sunday, Jan. 25, 7:00-9:30 p.m., Stone Cottage Studios, 1928 Pearl St. Read More