Tie it All Together with Safe, Comfortable, and Interesting Infrastructure

5TIE IT ALL TOGETHER WITH SAFE, COMFORTABLE & INTERESTING INFRASTRUCTURE

ADDITIONAL DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN & BIKE FACILITIES ENHANCE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM ADDITIONAL SHADE STRATEGIES

The fifth Big Idea calls for all of the previous projects and programs in the downtown area to consider its application, with safe, comfortable, and interesting infrastructure. Three approaches outline to achieve this are additional dedicated pedestrian and bike facilities, an enhanced public art program, and additional shade strategies.

ADDITIONAL DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN & BIKE FACILITIES

The first approach calls for additional dedicated pedestrian and bike facilities, and is supported by strategies such as following the guidance of the ADA Transition Plan by Accessible Boulder, increasing the number of B-Cycle facilities in the downtown area and in surrounding neighborhoods, and exploring concepts from the Low Stress Walk and Bike Network Plan such as buffered bike lanes and leading pedestrian intervals.

ENHANCE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

The second approach outlines strategies to expand and enhance Boulder’s public art program, which is a cultural foundation and priority of downtown. These strategies include identifying philanthropic funding sources, partnering with local artists and gallery owners, expanding and enhancing the existing Boulder Public Art Walking Tour and creating a mobile app for self-guided exploration and tourist engagement, identifying new locations for rotating creating an active artist registry, including public art rotations in the downtown Boulder Partnership newsletter to keep people up to date. Finally, consider temporary art installations as a part of vacant storefront initiatives.

ADDITIONAL SHADE STRATEGIES

The final approach is to ensure the prioritization of additional shade and cooling strategies, which will improve accessibility and comfort for all in the downtown area, especially during the harsher months of the year. These potential

shade strategies include traditional shade structures, awnings, colonnades, public art structures that double as opportunities for shade, and responsibly increasing urban forestry and tree canopy.

SUPPORTING STRATEGIES

Additional supporting strategies to aid in these three approaches include:

• Additional and enhanced signage and wayfinding including digital and interpretive signage • Edible landscapes and urban farming • Consider dispersed garden practices in otherwise vacant areas

• Install vertical garden planters • Explore rooftop gardening opportunities and ordinances

• Explore financial instruments like Tax

Increment Financing (TIF) for infrastructure investments

CASE STUDY City of Ryde Artscape

In the City of Ryde, located in Northern Sydney, Australia, there is a large artistic structure along a popular retail corridor. The previously unused space was subject to extreme temperatures and weather, making it uncomfortable and unappealing. In 2021, Ryde installed a large shade structure designed to emulate tree tops. The artwork was developed in a number of modular sizes, designed to be installed according to the city's budget. The leaves of the structure are made from large multi-colored glass panels, intended to comfortably shield visitors from all types of weather. They are also strategically perforated, to allow light and air to flow through the structure. Elements of play and seating are placed underneath to draw users to the space and create a place for both active and passive use. Programmable light systems built into the leaves can keep them bright and illuminated at night, providing activated event and programming space as well as a sense of safety.