Broomfield’s Builders Paul Derda: The Heart, Soul, and Voice of Broomfield Recreation and Events By Tina Eichner
The year was 1978 and the community of Broomfield was booming. City programs were growing and expanding and an opportunity in recreation brought a newcomer to town. Then City Manager George DiCiero hired a new Director of Parks and Recreation. His name was Paul Derda.
He would not be a newcomer for long. Through the years, his name would become a local household name and later the moniker for a beloved Broomfield gathering place. But Paul Derda is an extremely unique person. I dare say for as many people who know his name, he knows just as many names of local residents. No one is a stranger in Paul’s world. I have known Paul since I was a child. He is an usher at my church and as an active teen, I frequently encountered him in sports and recreation programs as have thousands upon thousands of other Broomfield young people and families. He was one of my first “professional” journalism interviews in 1988 when I profiled him for a feature article in the Broomfield High School newspaper. A few weeks ago I had the chance to interview Paul again, over breakfast at Le Peep. The topic was the cancellation of the 2020 Broomfield Days due to COVID. Paul began by talking fondly about his decades as Director of Parks and Recreation, working with George DiCiero and helping other Broomfield leaders implement a Master Plan for Broomfield, “We wanted a park within walking distance of every young person, without needing to cross a major artery. We met that goal. That is true in Broomfield today.” Broomfield Days was started in 1957 by the Jaycees. Back then it was called the Broomfield Boom. There was a pancake breakfast, a parade, family games, and bingo – traditions that still hold today. In those first years, Broomfield
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Our Broomfield™ Magazine | September 2020
Days was held over the 4th of July. The Jaycees, the Optimists, the Lions, and the Rotary all came together to support the event. In 1981, management of the event was moved to the City, with continuing support from many individuals and organizations. “We also moved the date,” he recalled. Paul noted that the third weekend in September was chosen due to more desirable weather and the fact that schools would be back in session
