GUB worked with New Vista High School teacher, Mike Codrey's, civics class to get local youth involved in the Civic Area Project.  The purpose was not only to gather youth opinion on the re-visioning of the Civic Area, but to show the students that local government values their opinions.  During the week long curriculum, students participated in a photogrid project where they took notes and photos of things they liked and didn't like in the civic area.  Each group then put together a poster documenting their findings.  The groups shared their photos and observations with City of Boulder Senior Planner, Lesli Ellis.  See below for their final photogrid projects and a summary of their ideas for the civic area. 

Photogrid

Click on the images below to check out the instructions and final photogrid projects! 

Summary of NVHS Student Ideas

Layout

Better define bike and pedestrian paths

Make areas more connected

Have big "welcome to the civic area" signs to identify the area

Create more seating areas, especially at the bus stops

Create more shaded areas

Get rid of the woodchips by the band shell

The meditation maze is cool, but is hidden and surrounded by transients so often goes unused

Activities for the Youth

Update play equipment and/or create bigger play structures. 

"Street Style" skate park that has boxes and rails would be fun. 

Update the band shell so that is has better acoustics and lighting; also put it in a better location away from the busy road. 

Some sports fields for soccer, basketball, Frisbee etc would be nice. 

Fields should be big enough to play games on because currently these grassy areas are divided by sidewalks/bike paths. 

Natural Areas

Love the trees and bushes around the creek, but would love to see the vegetation a little more spread out so that lines of vision are improved and people can see from one side to the other. 

More gardens, grasses, and flowers would be nice. 

Love the running water through the area. 

Does the segmentation of the creek negatively affect the wildlife? 

Maintain access to the creek, it's pleasant! 

Public Art

Would love to see outdoor exhibit space. 

An interactive art space where students are able to create art on a continuing basis would be nice. 

A graffiti wall would be nice; could potentially be a wall for anyone to tag or a wall where a local graffiti artists display their work on a rotating schedule. 

Interactive art installations such as a stationary bike that powers a lighting design or a fountain would be fun! 

Art should make statements, it's Boulder after all! 

Lighting

The area is too dark at night and should be better lit. 

The underpasses are very dark and lights would be nice. 

Farmer's Market

Create a permanent, year-round farmer's market. 

One NVHS student likes the Dekalb Market in Brooklyn where re-purposed shipping containers are used for gardens, food, clothing sales, artwork and greenhouses. 

General Maintenance

Graffiti removal in the underpass. 

Some underpasses are dirty and "creepy." 

Much of the civic area space feels unsafe and unwelcoming due to the large transient population and so is often unused.