People often struggle to find ways to preserve health and happiness when they live in stress-inducing urban environments. Recent research suggests parks have a unique capacity to enhance physical health and foster a sense of community for city dwellers. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, used information from the Gallup-Healthways Well-being Index, the U.S. sensus Bureau, and a variety of other sources and combined this analysis with city-level data on park quantity, quality and accessibility... Read More

You may hear Boulderites referring to a “greenbelt,” but what is that and why does Boulder have one? There was huge population growth in Boulder between 1950 and 1970. This growth was due to the presence of the University of Colorado, the intellectual diversity surrounding the university, and a strong local economy. At an annual growth rate of about 6%, the population of the city was set to double every 11 years or so. Being all about sustainability and preserving local culture, the citizens of Boulder took action against the human tsunami threatening to wash out the city. In 1967... Read More

There are very few summer activities as romanticized as the classic picnic. A red checkered blanket and some iced tea can be the perfect way to spend and afternoon. Picnics like these can only really be ruined by two things–a parade of particularly vicious ants or having to jockey for blanket space. Chautauqua is a lovely place to enjoy some time lounging in the sun, but sometimes the hordes of sun seekers are just too much. To avoid lugging your wicker basket across miles of crowded lawn, check out a few of Boulder’s lesser known sunning spots. Beach Park Nestled just a few blocks down... Read More

  If you have time before work or maybe on the weekend this season you might choose to take a stroll, run, or ride on the Old Kiln trail in Boulder. These pictures were taken this past weekend, in pre-snow conditions.   Fourmile Creek Trailhead, managed by City of Boulder OSMP, is located in North Boulder on Lee Hill Dr near Broadway. Other than the Old Kiln trail, the trailhead supports the Foothills trail and is very close to Wonderland Lake. There are few trees among the tall amber waves of grain and grasses that cover the hill sides, making this a warm hike on a sunny but frozen... Read More

Motto: “Never Stop Growing” (Balfour) 1. Grab some ice cream at Sweet Cow A fan favorite, Sweet Cow is a Colorado based, small-batch ice cream shop, and its original location is in Louisville! Sweet Cow also has a food truck that travels around Colorado. This location is home to tons of seating and lights, and is a lovely place to hang out on warm summer afternoons. Their flavors are always changing, so there’s never a reason not to stop by! 2. Have a date night at Cinebarre If you want to have your cake and eat it too–while watching a movie–Cinebarre is the place to... Read More

Whew. We’re into November now and 2020 is still barrelling through all social norms and historical precedents at a blistering pace. At the start of this year, I wrote about an event at the Oriental Theater that over 600 people attended, packed in shoulder to shoulder and drinking in front of each other. My last column was about a socially-distant production at the Aurora Fox where a dozen folks sat many yards apart and were careful to walk in only one direction through the hallways. Let’s just say that a lot has happened in between those two columns, or just as accurately to say, a lot has... Read More

If you’re ready to put up your kids for adoption because you’ve been stuck in the house with them since March, hold off for the summer. Playgrounds, pools, and rec centers are finally starting to slowly reopen in Boulder. Spruce Pool is now open on a reservation-only basis for one-hour time blocks in individual lap lanes, city playgrounds are now open with capacity limit,s and the North Boulder Recreation Center will reopen Monday on a reservation-only basis for lap swimming, cardio, the weight room and other fitness activities. At Spruce Pool and North Boulder Recreation Center, visitors... Read More

Well it’s finally summer in Boulder! Time to put away the skis (well you have until A Basin closes), hit the farmer’s market, lounge by the Rez, and dine alfresco. Honestly there is no shortage of things to do in Boulder in the summer. (I’m personally very excited to be using my Boulder Passport for 2 for 1 tasty beverages around town). Without a doubt you gotta be outdoors for summer in Boulder; unless its a thunderstorm when you are given the excuse to get comfy indoors. Here’s some ways to spend this weekend outside: 1. Take a hike! Scan through City of Boulder Open Space... Read More

It’s officially spring! Even if it snowed yesterday (and will likely snow a few more times before summer), it is spring and the weather in Boulder has been mostly beautiful. We’ve also had some pretty great weather for kite flying. With the breezy spring air and access to many wide-open open spaces, Boulder is a great place to fly a kite. Non-motorized or passive recreation is allowed at most open spaces in the area.   I flew kites this past weekend at the Greenbelt Plateau area. While this City of Boulder trailhead is a fee area, there is a second access point to the trail further... Read More

Wow. It is snowing. And has been snowing. And will continue to snow. I know there are the Boulderites with their intense training schedules who will brave the cold and snow to run up mountains or brave the disastrous, car wreck inducing ski resort traffic on I-70 to freeze their buns off on the slopes; there is still plenty to do indoors for the outdoors enthusiast on the rare weekend that Boulder doesn’t have pleasant weather. Here are some of my options this weekend.   Planning Trips as well as many outdoor activities take planning. Even if you are the most experienced backpacker,... Read More

Walden Ponds Park, owned and managed by Boulder County, is a small gem nestled into Gunbarrel, on the outskirts of Boulder. The park hosts anglers, bird-watchers, walkers, runners, and many a nature program. While the park sustained some flood damage, the majority of the trails are open as well as the fishing areas. The park is popular throughout the year for bird watching, with many migratory birds stopping over, such as white pelicans. The park is much quieter than some other parks on the plains around Boulder, which is especially true in winter, making it a great place to take a break from daily... Read More

Most of the ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains have environmental protection policies because the mountains they are built upon are considered National Parks. These ski resorts are required to include a certain level of eco-friendliness, commitment to environmental stewardship, and commitment to environmental restoration. Resorts are often a part of the community they are in, especially in a ski town.  Resorts offer many jobs and include shops, restaurants and residences.  Because the resorts are at the heart of the local economies in these ski towns, when a ski resort uses less energy from... Read More

Its that spooky time of year again and if you’re looking for ghouls, ghosts, and goblins, look no further than your local parks! This upcoming weekend and Halloween weekend are sure to be filled with festivals and fun activities in and around the parks and public areas in Boulder county. Here’s my list of where to check out the frightful and fun fests: Boulder Halloween Carnival Oct 24 3-5pm at South Boulder Recreation Center This indoor family fun carnival has lots of activities for the little ones! Halloween Havoc Skateboard Contest Saturday Oct 25 10am-4pm Scott Carpenter... Read More

Even though it’s raining today, there’s still plenty of time to go play in the parks before winter hits! October offers all sorts of different activities and events in the parks of Boulder county. If you’re not sure how to get started, this weekend is the perfect opportunity to check out this assortment of events: Friday Oct 10 –Day of the Dead Opening, Longmont This is Longmont’s regular 2nd Friday downtown event but with a Day of the Dead twist, featuring storytelling under the stars, trolley rides, Day of the Dead art at the Muse Gallery, and a tour of the Longmont... Read More

< If you have gotten out to some of the foothills and montane parks around the county lately and sat for a quiet moment amid your mountain bike race down the mountain or perhaps your run up the hill, then you may have heard a strange whistling kind of noise. It is not the sound of elves frolicking, it is actually a love song. The bull elk is calling out, just like a love struck teenager, for some companionship from a cow elk.  The call is a bugle and can be heard now during elk rut.  The only herd of elk that lives out their entire lives inside the borders of Boulder County calls Heil Valley... Read More

There are few things better than taking a walk through shades of yellow, orange, and red, nestled in your favorite old sweater and hearing the crunch of freshly fallen leaves underfoot. Ahh, it is fall once again. Time for pumpkin spiced hot beverages, football games, and of course leaf-peeping. Fall officially begins tomorrow, Tuesday, September 23, on the Autumnal Equinox.  The days are getting shorter, and if you’re so lucky as to not spend part of your morning commute driving, biking, riding the bus, or walking in the dark, then you might be able to figure it out by looking at the... Read More