Citizens for a New Valmont Park
A creative, sustainable vision for Valmont Park
In 1995 the citizens of Boulder approved a .25% sales tax for purchase and development of parks and recreation facilities in Boulder. One of these purchases was Valmont Park, located North and South of Valmont Road and east of Foothills Parkway. The land for the park was purchased at a cost of over $13 million. A major portion of the land south of Valmont was an auto salvage yard.
A major portion of the land north of Valmont was a major chicken farm. The auto salvage yard was removed and cleaned up and the chicken farm operations were removed and cleaned up. In the late 1990s/early 2000s a master planning effort was undertaken for development of the park. A public-private effort was undertaken for park development, but has been unsuccessful and overly bureaucratic.
Modest publicly funded improvements were constructed on the site including the Wonderland Creek Greenway Channel and Trail, a park entrance off of Valmont and a small parking lot.
Area grading, a pedestrian trail and related landscaping, and a large open-play area. A raw-water storage pond (insert picture of pond) and water-supply system was built North of Valmont for park irrigation use, and a dog park was installed near the old chicken farm. A small cross-country ski trail grading and bridge was included in the open-play area, and in 2000-2001 the Boulder Nordic Club completed a snow-making demonstration project on the site to confirm the feasibility of snow making on the site for normal years.
Since its purchase and clean-up, the park has been sitting mainly unused for 10 years. In winter 2006-2007, significant snowfall and cold temperatures allowed for in-town groomed cross-country skiing and sledding on the site. The public response was tremendous, with hundreds of skiers participating, but then the skiing was terminated by the City due to perceived prairie dog impacts.
Project Goals
In response to the overly bureaucratic inaction to creatively develop the site, the Citizens for a New Valmont Park was founded to efficiently plan, design, and fund a creative environmentally, socially and economically sustainable active park for the citizens of Boulder.
The following are the general principles and descriptions of the proposed park:
Environmentally Sustainable
A. Emphasis on alternative transportation to access the park
- Continuous off-street bike path system from north, south, and west existing. Eastern route to be included.
- Bus routes on Valmont Road and Pearl Parkway.
- Limited but adequate parking- make use of existing area parking, do not pave over the park.
- “Car Free” Park- no roads through or bisecting the park.
- Direct Bike/Pedestrian connections to area neighborhoods and to the regional system (Boulder Creek, Goose Creek, Wonderland Creek, ditch trails)
B. Energy Efficient
- New Structures (adventure center, maintenance and support buildings) to be energy efficient and solar/wind powered.
- Overall low-energy demand emphasis related to lighting, heating/cooling, etc.
- “Companion to Open Space” –provide close to home, active recreation without driving to or using regional open space areas.
C. Water Efficient
- Emphasis on low water use-xeriscape where possible, low water demand trees, shrubs and vegetation.
- Use existing raw water system for irrigation, snowmaking, pond, other non-potable water needs.
- Reduce recreation turf areas, provide the minimum water intensive and maintenance intensive areas (no new large active fields)
D. Appropriate wildlife restoration, enhancement
- Planting of hundreds of trees and shrubs for shading, buffers, aesthetics as well as bird and other general habitat, while providing for active recreation
- Restore or create wetland, riparian habitat along North Goose Creek for water quality treatment from any Park runoff.
- Keep north area of Valmont more passive (except Chicken Farm building area) with existing vegetation, while providing active trail recreation (biking, xc skiing, running, etc.)
Economically Sustainable
A. Cost effective:
- Build upon past work (past planning and construction).
B. Develop a creative, sustainable park at a much reduced cost compared to high maintenance, water intensive, large sodded fields; large indoor recreation centers with high energy costs; or major roads and parking lots within the park site.
C. Low long-term maintenance- provide adequate new maintenance facilities and staff, but concentrate on sustainability.
D. Incorporate existing grading, infrastructure, including
- Existing open play fields
- Wonderland Creek greenway and trail
- Existing access road/parking
- Raw water system
E. Incorporate existing structure
- Reuse/renovate existing Chicken Farm Building
- Add on-site nursery/community gardens
F. Generate on-site revenues to off-set operation/maintenance costs
- Outdoor Adventure Center
- Fees for lockers/showers, hot tub, etc.
- Event fees and sponsorships
- Income from on-site indoor/outdoor café, food, retailers
- Possible revenue from vendors, businesses in commercial zone areas.
- Revenue from rentals- bikes, blades, skis, skating, etc.
- Revenue from existing residential structures.
Sports To Be Accommodated
- Road Biking: The park will feature a loop for road cycling training and competitions. The loop will be continuous and creatively fit into the existing and proposed landforms and new landscaping and vegetation. It will also be used for all types of cycling, roller blades, roller skis, scooters, skate path etc. It will also be used for local running, cycling and multi-sport events as well as for area non-motorized circulation and park access for park maintenance and emergency vehicles.
- Mountain Biking/Cyclocross: The park will feature creative, unique cross biking and mountain biking trail areas both North and south of Valmont via a new trail underpass. These trails will be sustainable, be designed to work with the existing and future land forms and vegetation, can be flexible and changeable and be capable of holding major events.
- X-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing: A looped trail system both north and south of Valmont via a new underpass will be included. This trail will be natural grass/turf base with natural vegetation shading and wind protection. A proven, feasible snow making and snow grooming system will be installed using the existing raw water system on the site. The viability of the system has been proven on this site and is unquestionably successful as shown in other similar situations. The cross country ski trail will be continuous, creative and attractive to all levels of skiers, featuring trails over hills, along creeks, over numerous bridges and through forests and vegetated areas. It will be also capable of hosting competitive events for skiing, snowshoeing, and winter multi-sports.
- Sledding Hill and Snow Terrain Parks (Boards, Sleds, Skis): A new natural appearing hill will be built, with snowmaking, to provide a north-facing slope for fun, creative sledding, skiing or snowboarding. This will be designed with adequate drop and slope, but with appropriate un-obstructed runouts for safety. This area will be used for cycling and running in the summertime.
- Soccer/Softball/Ultimate Frisbee/Disc Golf: The existing open-play field will be preserved and expanded for all types of open-play recreation. In the summer, it will be used for games such as soccer, softball, ultimate Frisbee and disc golf, and in the winter for skiing and related snow sports.
- Running/Walking: The park will feature an outer loop soft-surface single track trail as well as internal trails. These will connect to area greenway trails to provide opportunities to access loops and connections. The Road Cycling loop can also be capable of holding major running events.
- Roller Blading and Roller Skiing: The paved road cycling loop could also be used for these activities.
- Swimming/Paddling/Ice Skating/Speed Skating: A new pond, attractively situated within the new landforms south of Valmont will be included. This pond will have a southern exposure swim beach, continuous water flow from existing raw water supplies and water treatments and circulation to maintain good water quality. The circulation pump will include a wave feature for surfing and paddle sports. The loop-shaped pool will allow for continuous swimming and paddling in the summer, then the depth will be reduced and the water frozen for ice skating and speed skating in the winter.
- Climbing/Bouldering: A modest outdoor, natural appearing bouldering/climbing area will be included on the south-facing side of the existing hill for nearly year-round climbing practice.
- Existing: The existing chicken farm building and other possible building pods near it will continue to be accessible for existing and expanded maintenance uses as well as future public/private indoor recreation facilities.
- Nursery/Community Gardens: The area south and east of the existing maintenance building will be used for community gardens and tree/vegetation nursery as well as for maintenance facilities and overflow parking. This area is directly accessible from Pearl Parkway.
- Outdoor Center: A beautiful, appropriately sized center will be built partially underground into the south-facing base of the existing hill, to provide a facilities center for all recreation activities. This center will be energy efficient and designed for numerous uses including:
- Lockers/showers
- Hot pools/saunas
- Indoor/Outdoor Health Café
- Rentals for skis, bikes, boats, sleds, gear for all sports
- Recreation and environmental education classrooms/community rooms.
The primary source of funding for this phase of the park development will be provided by bonding of the existing .25% sales tax dedicated to parks and recreation. This money will be used for site development described in this conceptual plan and built within a maximum 3-year time period. The goal will be to give the citizens something they can enjoy in a sustainable way as quickly as possible and to prove their tax dollars are being used wisely and efficiently. In addition all efforts will be made to augment this funding from private donations and partnerships, allocation of existing lottery money and GoCo grants and other sources.
