A community-led plan for Iris Fields
For the past year, Boulder families have been inspired by their kids into action to preserve Boulder County’s Iris complex, a vital neighborhood asset that has served untold numbers of North Boulder residents. Faced with the certainty that the County would sell the property, and the likelihood that the usual group of developers would swoop in with high-density plans, we did something unusual, verging on punk rock. We banded together, built an inclusive vision of community priorities, aligned around that vision, and then recruited and interviewed partners nationwide to find a developer who shared those values. Together, we submitted an unsolicited offer to purchase the site, which triggered the County’s last-minute listing and request for competing bids.
For the first time in years, Boulder has before it not just another densification scheme, but a community-driven development proposal. A genuine neighborhood-developer partnership, built from the ground up by the community instead of imposed from the top down. We’ve listened to neighbors, HOAs, youth sports groups, county and city staff, and community organizations. A real offer, committed to preserving the historic Iris ballfields, upgrading infrastructure, creating new amenities, and embedding equity in access while adding senior housing and freeing up single-family homes.
The County has listed the 17.5-acre North Broadway Complex for sale. The listing doesn’t mandate protection of the fields, and the land-use designation is shifting from public to residential. Without action, these fields, home to decades of Little League memories, 16 state titles, and countless rituals, will vanish.
Thirty years ago, I arrived in Boulder as a teenage first-generation immigrant who didn’t know the culture or a single person. What transformed this place into home wasn’t policy, it was neighbors. Here’s our chance to carry that spirit forward. Let’s prove Boulder can build differently by letting the community lead.
Aquiles La Grave, Boulder
Kaplan has the experience City Council needs
Based on the last 6 months of this federal administration, I believe the next three years will be marked by continued fiscal unpredictability and threats to our city’s values, including individual freedom, the environment and clean energy. Local governments that collaborate regionally and effectively to coordinate resources will serve their communities best. Therefore, I strongly support Rob Kaplan for City Council.
Kaplan served our community as a firefighter for 18 years, working collaboratively across fire departments and sharing resources to prepare for and respond to wildfire emergencies. He has deep experience making tough decisions regarding what is “nice to have” vs “need to have,” which City Council will be required to do as budgets continue to shrink. Kaplan also ran a local bike shop, the kind of store that makes Boulder unique and attracts visitors that sustain our local economy. Kaplan is one of the few candidates endorsed by our entire delegation to the state legislature, including Senator Judy Amabile, Representative Junie Joseph, and Representative Lesley Smith. Please join me in voting for Rob Kaplan for City Council.
Tina Marquis, Boulder City Council member
Bucher will bring classroom experience to BVSD board
As long-time educators and community members in Boulder, we heartily endorse Deann Bucher for School Board. Deann is committed to education and, perhaps most importantly, to making sure ALL students find a welcoming place in our public schools. Deann has a long history with BVSD, from being a classroom social studies teacher to developing innovative and inclusive curricula to serving on a wide variety of District committees. In each of those roles, Deann has advocated for underserved and underrepresented students. At the same time, she has balanced that advocacy with careful analysis of data to assist teachers in helping students achieve academic success. Deann will bring critical thinking skills and a reasoned approach to problem-solving when weighing the many important policy questions that confront the Board.
John Zola and Jaye Zola, Boulder