Phase 2 of Boulder Creek Park design advances: festival street, culvert and event planning

City project staff presented phase 2 of the Boulder Creek Park design, a Council‑approved phase focused on connections between Broadway and 13th and funded with $18,000,000 from the CCRS tax.

Steven Rehoe introduced project manager Shahomi Kuregawa and deputy project manager Jake Minden, who described the phase’s features: a band shell, multiple play areas including a splash pad, an elevated porch platform for seating and food service, and an expanded central green created by culverting an existing ditch. "This phase was approved to advance by city council and is $18,000,000 allocated from the CCRS tax," Rehoe told the board.

Jake described circulation changes: the team proposes converting 13th into a Festival Street that "means there will be no daily vehicular travel and parking," shifting vehicular access to emergency and event logistics only and adding alternate multiuse path routings to separate cyclists from dense event‑day pedestrian flows. The design includes bike‑plus parking hubs, movable furniture and a northern shade structure funded in phase 2 renderings. Staff also flagged FEMA flood‑plain permitting as a substantial permitting layer that could affect schedule.

Board members recommended physical cues and materials (textured surfacing, radii adjustments at turn points), clear signage or lighting to indicate festival versus daily modes, and study of removable bollards or other vehicle filters that preserve ADA and emergency access. Staff said they will incorporate TAB feedback as they continue site‑plan review and advance to permitting and construction documentation.