It’s Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Happy hump day, Boulder. If you’re a student at BVSD or CU, I hope your spring break is going well. Let’s dive into the news.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has recommended that the Boulder City Council enact a program that would provide free swim lessons for young Boulderites. The suggestion follows a year with three people drowning in Boulder Creek, including a 9-year-old boy. Right now, swim lessons are available at the North and East Rec Centers, but the fee stands in the way of some Boulder residents getting their kids the skill that could someday save their life. The classes are also booked out.

In other news, the City of Boulder has approved a new plan for the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless to operate 24 hours a day, allowing it to offer services during the day.

Also, we’re covering a maybe, maybe not restaurant on Walnut Street in downtown Boulder. Taking up a portion of the area previously occupied by The Med, Avant Garden Bistro might be bringing gourmet vegan food to the space shuttered by the economic turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic as soon as this spring or summer.

And just a heads up, there will be no BRL Today in your inbox this Friday. We’ll be back on Monday.

I hope your coming days are filled with tranquility and equanimity.

— Tim, reporter

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In other news

Heading towards the 60s

What remains of Sunday and Monday’s snow should melt today and tomorrow, with today’s 50s giving way to several days of 60s. Precipitation should hold off until the weekend, though clouds will foreshadow rain until then. If we’re putting our faith in the forecast, we’ve got a week before the sun fully returns. Should you bemoan the clouds, however, remember that come the 100-degree days in a few months, you’ll be hearkening back to such overcast days.

Boulder and Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes draft stewardship plan for Fort Chambers site, linked to Sand Creek Massacre

The City of Boulder and representatives from the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes have developed a draft stewardship plan for the city open space land believe to be where Fort Chambers once stood. Fort Chambers was used to train Boulderites before they went to participate in the Sand Creek Massacre — the 1864 murder of some 230 Native Americans who believed they were camping in a protected area near a United States fort.

The draft plan, titled “Heal the Land; Heal the People,” has steps spanning ecological restoration to farmstead improvements. Restoring ponds left from gravel mining is one concrete step outlined in the plan, as is removing berms to restore the natural floodplain and create wetlands that support native wildlife. A healing trail is also included, with indigenous plantings and places for reflection and gathering.

Fred Mosqueda, a Southern Arapaho, said that when tribal representatives began working with the city, staff listened with open minds so all could “understand where we were coming from and the things that happened on the land.” He added, “as we began to understand what we could do together, I think it began to heal us by being able to talk about it and make this place a place to tell the whole story.”

Boulder Reporting Lab spoke with Fred Mosqueda regarding the Sand Creek Massacre and Boulder’s involvement. In the interview, Mosqueda noted the frequent discussion of the massacre and emphasized the importance of acknowledging Boulder’s involvement, along with that of residents of other municipalities. He also pointed out positive developments happening for Native Americans along the Front Range.

“All along the Front Range, there’s a lot of good things going on for the tribes,” Mosqueda said in December 2022. “I think in the coming years, you may see us Arapaho and Cheyenne there again on the Front Range as a people. I believe we’ll be part of the landscape again one day, not just by the names of the streets and trails and mountains.”

A community questionnaire is available for those who want to comment on the draft plan. Input should be provided before April 7. Read on BRL.

Lafayette city hall going xeriscape

Lafayette’s city hall is getting a makeover, or the land surrounding it is. Three unhealthy spruce trees have been removed, replaced by low-water plants to reduce maintenance and water needs. Some of these include the American Century, a plant native to Mexico and Texas that thrives in desert conditions, and Ruby Ribbons, a switchgrass known for its drought resistance and continued beauty well into winter.

For those interested in undertaking similar efforts on their own lawn, Lafayette partners with Resource Central for lawn removal services and low-water plants. Boulder offers similar discounts for the service, though not as generous as Lafayette. Boulder Reporting Lab covered Resource Central’s efforts a year ago.

Fiber install happening in Louisville

Starting this week, Intrepid Fiber Networks is installing fiber line through Louisville’s main roads. While this won’t provide direct service to Louisville customers, it puts infrastructure in place for local internet providers to partner with Intrepid, enabling Louisville residents to access higher data speeds.

Affected residents will be notified of the upcoming installation through yard signs and door hangers. The new wires will use existing utility poles or underground conduits to lessen the impact. Louisville is not unique in this regard, as such installation is happening in Lafayette and Westminster as well.

Boulder community urged to provide feedback on Wildfire Protection Plan Update

Boulder residents have until April 8 to review and comment on the draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Update on the city’s website. The plan identifies wildfire risks in Boulder’s wildland-urban interface — where development meets flammable vegetation — and recommends strategies for mitigation, including reducing hazardous fuels and improving fire response. City experts and consultants will respond to comments left by community members in the draft. The process has already included an ongoing community survey and engagement sessions. The community’s feedback will shape the final document, expected by June.

You can view the draft here and submit comments via this form.

Deadline nears for Boulder high schoolers to submit art for U.S. Capitol display

Earlier this month, Congressman Joe Neguse announced the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for high school students in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, encompassing Boulder County and 10 other counties. Submissions are open until April 15, offering students a chance to showcase their artistic talents. The winning piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year, alongside other national winners. Four additional artworks will get to hang in the Colorado Department of Education and Neguse’s offices. Entries must be two dimensional and original, and adhere to specific size and weight guidelines. Accepted mediums include paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art and photographs.

Submission instructions and artwork collection details are here, and find the submission form here.

Explore ALL upcoming events in Boulder. If you have something to promote, use the self-submission form on our events page, for free.

🏊 Drownings prompt push for universal swim lessons in Boulder

Featured stories

Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board calls for ‘universal swim’ program to prevent drownings

Avant Garden Bistro, new vegan eatery in downtown Boulder, appears ready to open even amid uncertainty

City of Boulder approves plan for Boulder Shelter for the Homeless to operate 24 hours a day