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  1. Plan

    2023 - 2025

  2. Community Engagement

    2023-2026

  3. Design

    2025 - 2027

  4. Build

    2027-2028

Current Phase
Design

Project Updates

Renaming Civic Area

As part of the Phase 2 project, we are looking for a new name to fit the full park and build a stronger identity for the space. Over the past several months, students from Boulder High School’s Zonta Club, University of Colorado Boulder’s Department of Environmental Design, and other community members delved into the history, nature and vibe of the area to come up with 8 proposed name ideas.

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback - the online form is now closed. Stay tuned for updates later this month on the recommended new name.

For more information on naming, see the PRAB January packet (starts on page 12).

Schematic Design Summary

Building on the Concept Plan, the Schematic Design focused identified what improvements could be covered under the council approved funding as well as refine the design in this area based off community feedback. The image below identifies the area in the pink boundary that will move forward into Phase 2 construction improvements next year and includes expanded garden walks, a new pedestrian-first festival street, nature play areas, community gathering spaces, multi-use connections, signage and story-telling features. We are grateful to the hundreds of community members and stakeholders who provided feedback during the past 2 and a half-year process. Your input, along with city policy and technical research, resulted in an excited design that imagines a new future for such a key downtown space.

Image - Site Plan

Envisioning 13th Street as a festival street creates a flexible, multi-use public amenity to support everyday activity and special events, shown here during a farmers’ market with vendor stalls, pedestrian movement, and space that can adapt to gatherings, performances, and community programming.

Rendering illustrating a pedestrian-oriented festival street designed for markets, events, and public gathering. The rendering depicts a nighttime scheme with public realm activation and welcoming lighting design.

The Porch imagines a welcoming civic space that brings people together, featuring terraced deck seating, opportunities for informal gathering, all under the canopy of beloved park trees.

Conceptual rendering showing the Porch gathering area with seating terraces, public space activity, and views toward adjacent buildings and park areas.

The expanded nature-based play environment encourages exploration and discovery, incorporating natural materials, integrated play features, informal seating, and open lawn areas for recreation and connection to the park and adjacent areas.

Rendering showing the Wildwoods nature play environment with natural materials, play structures, seating, and open lawn for recreation.

More detailed project updates are available in the Full Summary of the Schematic Design package.

Disponible pronto: Hay más detalles disponibles en español en este Resumen completo de Diseño esquemático (ESPAÑOL).

Project Overview

The Civic Area Phase 2 Project is building on the 2015 Park Plan, continuing the transformation of this important public space into a vibrant hub of urban life, cultural events, and natural connections—while honoring the full history of the area and serving the Boulder community.

The image shows a site map showing the boundaries of the Civic Area project, including the completed Phase 1 area and the scope of Phase 2.
The project boundary is made up of 9th St, Canyon Boulevard, 14th St, and Arapahoe Avenue. It also includes the Arboretum Path which runs from Central Park to CU. Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2018 and includes the area of the park located between the library and the municipal building.

Project Milestones

  • Based on community feedback, the project team is working to define which features from the Civic Area concept design will be built under the project budget in 2027.
  • The team is progressing through governance studies to identify how best to activate and manage the space in the future.
  • The team is finalizing reprogramming and use studies to progress urban development in the East End of Civic Area.
  • In August 2025, the project team completed Engagement Window 3, bringing family-friendly activities and the Wild Woods temporary nature discovery area to the park space and asking the community to vote on their favorite features shown in the concept design.
  • In December 2024, the project team completed Engagement Window 2, finished the Planning Analysis phase, and published a project milestone report.
  • In spring of 2024, the project team completed Engagement Window 1.

Wild Woods Nature Discovery Area in Central Park

This temporary nature discovery area was installed in the park space along 13th street in collaboration with the CU Environmental Design program using local recycled wood.

  • Children climb on a natural log feature.

    1 of 7

  • Nature play area log features and colorful signage with children

    2 of 7

  • Wild Woods nature play area sign and sand pit with children

    3 of 7

  • Nature play area climbing feature with children and flatirons in the background

    4 of 7

  • Nature play area log tunnel feature with children

    5 of 7

  • Nature play area sand pit feature with children

    6 of 7

  • Nature play area fairy house made by a child

    7 of 7

    • Project Timeline

    2023: Scoping, Project Management

    2024: Planning Analysis, Engagement Windows 1 and 2

    2025: Concept & Schematic Design, Space Activation and Governance Plan, Engagement Windows 3 and 4

    2026: Design Development, Space Activation and Governance Plan, Construction Documentation

    2027-2028: Construction, Space Activation and Governance Plan, Park Opening

    • Summer 2025: Engagement Window 3 opens. The community will give feedback on the concept design.
    • January 2025: Project team completes planning analysis and begins concept and schematic design. Project team analyzes public feedback from Window 2 to inform concept design. Project milestone report
    • Fall 2024: Window 2 of public engagement runs from October - December to confirm what we heard from the community in Window 1.
    • May 2024: Project team analyzes public feedback and the design team conducts ongoing technical studies.
    • May 6, 2024: Window 1 of public engagement closes.
    • February 2024: The city holds a project kickoff meeting with the consultant, Rios, to officially begin the project's planning and analysis phase.
    • February 22, 2024: Window 1 of public engagement opens and the City collects feedback from the community on existing park features and what they would like to see and do in the future park.
    • January 22, 2024: The Cultural Landscape Assessment (CLA) and the Proposed Civic Area Historic District were presented to and discussed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB).
    • January 2024: The final contract and scoping for the project were completed and Rios was selected as the design consultant.
    • September 2023: The City of Boulder Interviewed design teams to assist with the project.
    • July 17, 2023: After final scoping of the project had been completed, the City released a Request for Proposal to solicit a design team in support of the planning, design and public engagement work needed to complete the Civic Area’s Schematic Design.
    • July 12, 2023: The Landmarks Board voted to initiate the designation process for the Historic District as outlined by the application.
    • May 2023: An application for a Historic District was submitted by three community groups.
    • January 2023: The City of Boulder launched the Phase 2 Civic Area project. This process will build on the rigorous effort of the planning process and Phase 1 park improvements, completed in 2018. Staff have conducted scoping and pre-planning, and outlined a public engagement strategy to take the Civic Area Plan from Concept Design to Schematic Design.

    As part of the research process for the proposed Civic Area Historic District, the Parks and Recreation Department conducted a Cultural Landscape Assessment (CLA) to evaluate park land as part of the proposed historic district. The CLA is focused on Central Park (including the currently designated bandshell) to ensure there is a solid base of knowledge regarding the historic significance and integrity of the parkland. The CLA and the Proposed Civic Area Historic District were presented to and discussed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) on Jan. 22, 2024.

    CLA Memo and Full Assessment:

    • Proposed Civic Area Historic District Memo (starts on page 13)
    • Central Park Cultural Landscape Assessment Memo (memo starts on page 72)
    • Central Park Cultural Landscape Assessment (Full Report starts on page 76)

    PRAB Presentation and Discussion:

    • Central Park Cultural Landscape Assessment Presentation @ 8:40
    • Proposed Civic Area Historic District Presentation @ 29:50
    • Recommendations from PRAB @ 1:18:35
      • Board Vice Chair’s Statement, as referred to in the recommendations @ 1:06:30

    Boulder has routinely been named one of the top places in America to call home, and in keeping with this charge, Phase 2 of the Civic Area Project is critical to maintaining this way of life. We have the opportunity at the heart of downtown to rethink urban park design to ensure a strong connection to nature, promote the robust local economy, support the dynamic art scene, and continue to cultivate Boulder’s thriving culture.

    The project vision encompasses the makings of a beautiful recreational river park at the core, with incredible views of the celebrated Flatirons. This area is flanked by bookends that can entertain civic and commercial development that are alive with activity, collaboration, and innovation.

    This will be a space for everyone - a lively and distinct destination that reflects the principles laid on in the 2015 Civic Area plan. A place where people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and incomes feel welcome to recreate, socialize, relax, and enjoy the ambiance of a high-altitude urban center at the feet of the Rocky Mountains. The green ribbon along Boulder Creek is the unifying design that will weave metropolitan and park space into a richly diverse, sustainable, equitable, resilient, communal, recreational, artistic, historic, cultural, educational, and social gathering space that reflects Boulder’s identity as a funky, fun and friendly place to live.

    This project will also focus on how this vital downtown area can connect to the university on the ‘hill’. The Civic Area will also potentially see city-owned buildings become available as city staff move to a new location. This allows us to reimagine the reuse of these assets to create centers where community members can meet, interact, and innovate. All together, these elements create a true civic heart for the Boulder community, a place to tell, enjoy, and participate in Boulder’s story.

    The planning process for Boulder’s Downtown Civic Area kicked off in 2012 with the initial Plan for Boulder’s Civic Area, adopted by Council in September 2013. This document provided a high-level vision with design principles for Civic Park, Central Park, 13th Street, East Bookend, West Bookend, Pearl Street, the Arboretum Path, and major pedestrian connections between these spaces. In 2015, City Council approved Boulder’s Civic Area Plan, refining the initial thinking with an updated concept and program plan. Throughout these two key efforts, a robust public engagement, stakeholder, and steering committee process was incorporated into the overall project timeline to ensure the proposed Civic Area enhancements reflected the values and goals of the community.

    The 2015 Civic Area Plan PDF and resulting redevelopment efforts seek to breathe new life into some of Boulder’s most beloved, historic, and iconic public spaces. With parts of Phase 1 (as outlined in the 2015 plan) completed in 2018, Phase 2 of this project will review Civic Park, Central Park, the Arboretum Path, 13th Street, and the West and East Bookends. They will also review multiple city-owned buildings as key components to understand future land use, development opportunities, and which park spaces will move forward for the next phase of implementation. The outcome of the project is to lay out a dynamic, connected, and vibrant collection of community spaces enjoyed by residents and visitors in the Civic Area, guided by the seven main principles from the Civic Area Plan PDF:

    Main design priorities:

    • The Civic Heart of Boulder
    • Life & Property Safety
    • Outdoor Culture & Nature
    • Celebration of History & Assets
    • Enhanced Access & Connections
    • Place for Community Activity & Arts
    • Sustainable & Viable Future

    Community Connectors

    City staff are partnering with a community connector for this project to have conversations with a diverse set of neighbors that represent communities with disabilities, multi-generational groups, and neighbors passionate about bringing equity to Boulder.

    Claudia Sanchez, community connector for the Civic Area Phase 2 Project

    Claudia Sanchez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and has lived in Boulder for 25 years, including 20 years in downtown Boulder. Claudia works as a systemic change organizer for the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition. She has always tried to be an inspiration of strength to the community by helping and sharing her leadership skills in collaborative ways. She enjoys spending time with her family and celebrating all that can be celebrated. All three of her children have attended Boulder High School, which is her alma mater.

    Adriana Paola Palacios Luna

    I am founder of Luna Cultura and a Mexican Mestiza woman from Cuetlaxcoapan, currently known as Puebla, Mexico. I have worked for more than 28 years on socio-environmental justice and social change projects. My participatory research approach is Communication for Social Change, Sociology of Culture, Gender Equity, women and gender studies, Human Rights, Art, Culture, and Identity. Culture and Alternatives Building. Participatory planning for social change.

    As an artist, I am a poet, short story writer, storyteller, textile artist, and explorer in the Maker movement.

    Honored by the Boulder Chamber in 2022, as a “Woman Who Lights the Community“.

    Feature by the City of Boulder at Celebrating the Boulder Women Who Tell Our Stories

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