Boulder Creek Park Phase 2 reaches 50% design; 13th Street plans still evolving

Boulder Creek Park Phase 2 is about 50% designed, city staff told the Transportation Advisory Board on Aug. 10. The plan would make 13th Street a vehicle-free festival street while preserving emergency, vendor, farmers-market and ADA access.

The $18 million project would cover the park area between Broadway and 13th Street, adding a larger central green, play areas, a splash pad, expanded garden paths, lighting, wayfinding and bike and stroller parking. The broader Civic Area extends from Ninth to 14th streets and includes connections to the Arboretum Path, according to the city’s project description.

Staff said the $18 million is the amount currently allocated for Phase 2 through the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety tax. The record does not identify a separate total construction-cost estimate or a dollar amount for any unfunded portion of the broader plan. A city budget memorandum says staff anticipated using debt supported by the existing tax for Civic Area work, but does not establish that the full $18 million has been issued or spent.

The 13th Street design would eliminate routine vehicle travel and parking. The street would instead serve as a pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented public space and a flexible venue for farmers-market stalls, performances and other events. Removable or retractable barriers are still being studied so emergency, vendor and event-loading vehicles can enter when needed. Staff also said access to the T House for people with disabilities must remain available.

On ordinary days, staff described a central bicycle route and an east-side pedestrian route along 13th Street. During the farmers market and other crowded events, cyclists could be directed to an alternate multiuse path through the park interior. The plan is intended to preserve connections to the Boulder Creek Path and Arapahoe Avenue while moving bicycle traffic away from dense areas used by families and children, according to the Transportation Advisory Board presentation.

Board members said the circulation system needs more work. They raised concerns about sharp turns where paths meet the Boulder Creek Path, a sharp-angle route near the B-cycle station and library, and possible cyclist-pedestrian conflicts during events. They also asked staff to clarify at 13th Street entrances when people should continue through the festival street and when they should use an alternate route.

Staff said path geometry, turning radii, lighting, materials, signage and barriers remain under review. Board members urged the city not to rely on color alone to separate travel areas, suggesting textured or tactile paving. Staff said options could include bricks, pavers or colored concrete with banding, though maintenance requirements would need to be considered.

The project was expected to enter site-plan review by the end of August, followed by permitting and construction-document work in 2027. Staff told board members construction was targeted for 2028-29 and could be affected by permitting, including FEMA review because the park is in the 100-year floodplain. The city’s project page lists a different schedule: construction from late 2027 through late 2028 and an opening in early 2029.

The advisory board took no formal action. Its comments will inform continued design work before permitting and construction.