It’s Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.
Happy Monday, Boulder. Here’s some news.
Boulder County will soon receive almost $5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to get more public EV charging stations across the county. There are already more than 700 such chargers, and county officials say this grant will add about 100 to that total.
Yet the process is just beginning. By 2030, the county wants to have almost 2,400 public chargers. This is needed to facilitate the 30% of vehicles county officials hope will be electric in Boulder by 2030. So while $5 million and 100 chargers is great, it’s just the beginning of a long undertaking to electrify the county’s transportation system.
Also, Boulder’s version of Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow. So put away those ski boots and get out those mud boots. It’s time for spring. At least I hope it is.
Finally, everything we do here at BRL is made possible by readers like you who understand local journalism can’t happen without our community’s support. So if you find value in the stories we write, and maybe even from this fabulous newsletter, please consider contributing. Every donation, big or small, makes a meaningful impact. And it’s the best way to ensure Boulder remains informed. If you already donate, thank you so much.
Have a great day.
— Tim, reporter
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Featured stories
Boulder County gets grant to tackle its EV charging problem, prioritizing renters and multifamily housing
The U.S. Department of Transportation grant will pave the way for more than 100 new chargers in apartments and condos, rural areas and other neighborhoods. But the county’s electric car goals will demand much more. Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization that empowers our community through non-partisan, locally focused journalism that informs and connects.
In other news
Pretty nice
It’s quite delightful out there today. The sun will shine and temps will be in the 50s, warm enough to keep those of us with creaky joints from seizing up. Tomorrow will have some clouds.
This comes after Saturday’s storm broke records, according to BoulderCast. The 1.64 inches of liquid observed in Boulder was the wettest storm to every occur in February in the city since at least 1897, when recordkeeping began.
Parks and Rec wants more courts of the racket variety
Boulder Parks and Recreation has presented the first part of its court system plan to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, proposing the addition of 22 dedicated pickleball courts and 22 tennis courts. The number is based on the population of Boulder and its higher-than-average demand for racket sports.
The lack of courts as demand grows — both for tennis and pickleball — is a known problem in Boulder and is getting worse. The private tennis facility at the Millennium Hotel is likely closing due to redevelopment of the site for student housing. And the development of the CU South property is expected to affect the tennis complex there too.
Potential locations for the new courts include the East Boulder Community Park, Valmont City Park, Foothills Community Park, Gerald Stazio Fields and Tom Watson Park. Drawings of the new courts will be shared with the community in March. A six-year plan has already been outlined for their funding. (In case you missed it: Boulder’s first dedicated pickleball facility opened last year.)
Spring is coming, according to a stuffed marmot
Flatiron Freddy, Boulder’s top hat-wearing marmot, made his annual prediction about the winter’s length on Feb. 2. After riding in on a dog sled, Freddy did not see his shadow, indicating an early spring. Whether you want to trust him enough to put away your winter clothes is up to you. I, for one, have filled my closet with exclusively summer wear at his advice.
New Boulder park gets more funding
The City of Boulder is getting a grant to ensure the future park along Violet Avenue in North Boulder is accessible to all. Coming from the nonprofit Safe Routes to Parks, the grant is $10,000.
Part of the process will include engaging community members to understand how the park can best connect with surrounding neighborhoods. Situated in a floodplain to provide flood resilience, the park will also offer a link between Crest View Elementary, a forthcoming library branch, trails and public transportation. Construction is set to begin in 2025.
“With this grant, we will work with neighbors this spring to study problems with accessing the park by foot, bike, or mobility device,” said Deryn Wagner, senior landscape architect for the city.
Boulder Reporting Lab previously reported on the park, for those seeking some background on the project.
Black History Month events
The City of Boulder has several ways to celebrate Black History Month this February with local events:
“Black Futures in Art: Ever Evolving” — NAACP Boulder County is sponsoring art exhibitions featuring Black artists at the Dairy Arts Center, First Congregational Church and NoBo Bus Stop Gallery. The Dairy Arts Center opening reception is Feb. 9.
“An Insight Into the Life of an Educated Black American Male” — Efilaf Art Department is presenting a visual exploration of the life experiences of a young black man at NoBo Art Center through February.
NAACP Boulder County Freedom Fund Celebration — Boulder Arts Commission is putting on an event at Macky Auditorium featuring musician Danielle Ponder and guest speaker Mr. Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Tickets are available.
Black History Through Storytelling — Louisville Public Library is hosting a folk art painting event for kids ages 9-13 on Feb. 14. The event will teach attendees about artist Clementine Hunter.
Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History — Explore Colorado’s Black history at the Museum of Boulder through September 2025, where multimedia exhibits and oral histories will amplify black perspectives. Feb. 29 and March 28 will feature “Listen Back” events where speakers from CU, as well as Longmont resident Minister Glenda Strong Robinson, who was an active participant in the civil rights movement, will give history a new lens.
BRL on the radio
In the last month or so, BRL has talked about some of its more noteworthy stories on KUNC. Our publisher, Stacy Feldman, talked about our Valmont coal ash project that revealed contaminated groundwater moving away from the 100-year-old plant. Then, John Herrick spoke about the possible end of parking minimums in Boulder that would theoretically lower the barriers to entry for new housing developments. And most recently, I chatted about the new fire response in Boulder County that is data driven and collaborative.
For those who missed these stories, the links above are a great way to get the gist while doing the laundry or avoiding the laundry.
I’m Judy Amabile, proud Democrat running for State Senate. I want to continue making progress on issues like gun safety, climate action and mental health. My campaign is endorsed by Congressman Joe Neguse, Gov. Jared Polis, Senate President Steve Fenberg, and many others. I’d be honored to have your support.
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