

http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js







Park closure comments Boulder officials on Friday asked the public to submit feedback about a proposal to close the city’s parks and open space to encampments from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to address safety and health concerns. Here’s a look at some of the dozens of comments the city has received so far. “Please do not move forward with this proposal. It is an awful idea clearly aimed at curbing free speech.” — Myriah Conroy “Please do not pass the park closure rule. It was hilarious to listen to the quotes from city officials saying this has nothing to do with the occupy movement. No it’s just a big, giant, enormous coincidence of timing… that’s all. Keep working for the corporations and doing their bidding.” — John Malenich “At first I thought Boulder was doing the right thing by keeping a low-key profile in regards to the occupy people but now I believe that Boulder’s lack of response to this issue is escalating some of the occupy peoples’ behavior in a negative way.” — Heather Beadle “I supported the Occupy Wall Street movement around the country, but the protesters do not need to become permanent fixtures to make a point.” — Chris Hansen “Enough already! If the city succeeds with this rule then you can count on me never again voting for the purchase of more open space or raising our taxes for these purposes.” — Jan Higa “The parks closure rule is a terrible proposal and is not right for Boulder. It is punishing all citizens because of the actions of a few. I personally enjoy stargazing and hiking before dawn, and have many friends that do the same. To say that this is not a reaction to the Occupy Movement, a legitimate and peaceful assembly as guaranteed to citizens by the United States Constitution, is ridiculous.” — Katherine Stuart How to comment Anyone who wants to comment on the park closure proposal may file written statements through Jan. 2. Copies of the rule are available for public review at Central Records on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway. Written comments can be sent to Parks Closure Rule, City of Boulder, Box 791, Boulder, CO 80306, or emailed to parksclosurerule@bouldercolorado.gov.

Initial public reaction to a proposal to close Boulder’s parks and open space properties overnight ranges from indignation that officials would even consider such a move to delight that the city manager is taking on illegal campers.

City Manager Jane Brautigam on Friday announced a proposal to close the city’s parks from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to address safety concerns and health risks related to encampments. The “Occupy Boulder” movement recently moved tents near the Municipal Building at 1777 Broadway.

The proposed rule — which is now in a 15-day public comment period — would allow police to consider personal property left behind in parks at night “abandoned property.”

By Monday morning, dozens of people had submitted written comments about the idea. The vast majority of the correspondence is in opposition to the proposal, and it ranges from mild dissatisfaction to outright rage.

“Do not take the right to use our parks and turn it into police business; that would be the wrong move,” wrote Boulder resident Judith Lavezzi.

On Monday, Lavezzi said she felt compelled to speak up.

“If people don’t say anything about how they feel, the city seems to take that as permission to do whatever they want,” she said. “I don’t want to OK something by my refusal to speak.”

Many of the comments suggest the city’s proposal is little more than a thinly veiled attempt at controlling the Occupy Boulder protesters who have set up camp outside the city’s administrative offices in downtown Boulder.

“This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with the city’s lame solution to the (Occupy Wall Street) issue and the homeless situation that always seems to make the headlines lately,” Boulder resident Jan Higa wrote. “Why are you punishing the rest of us instead of enforcing the laws already in place?”

Brendan Dillon called the proposal a “disingenuous attempt to infringe on the right to assemble.”

But others, like David Jilk, said they support the city manager’s idea as a way of addressing the occupiers or homeless campers.

“There is no compelling reason why people need to be in the parks during these hours, and it will simplify enforcement to have a complete closure,” Jilk wrote.

Alan Parisse, a Boulder-based motivational speaker, wrote that the proposed overnight closures are “long overdue” and suggested that the Occupy Boulder encampment is made up of a “rambunctious few.”

Chris Hansen, also a Boulder resident, said he empathizes with the Occupy Boulder movement but its members “do not need to become permanent fixtures to make a point.”

Brautigam on Monday said her proposal absolutely is not aimed at the occupiers.

“Indeed, there were a few letters that were expressing the view that Occupy Boulder is being targeted,” she said. “I know that it kind of feels what that’s about. What we’re really concerned about is the general health and safety risks that we have in all our parks because they’re not lit at night — they can be dangerous.”

She said the rule would be designed to address “overnight camping, illegal transactions (such as drug deals) and violence.”

At an Occupy Boulder general assembly Monday night, University of Colorado student Audrey Campbell said the group has not decided on a response to the proposal.

Group representatives said in a statement that three members met with the city’s communications manager and were “surprised by the lack of government transparency around this issue, and the unwillingness to discuss possible other alternatives to addressing public safety and sanitation.” The group urged people to “stand up against this corruption” and contact Boulder’s elected officials.

Many people who wrote to city officials over the weekend expressed concerns about closing trails or paths that run through parks or open space, with some saying they enjoy using the areas for stargazing or early-morning runs.

The city responded in a form letter to those people, saying the proposed rule would not prevent people from biking or walking through city parks during the overnight closures.

“Hikers, trail runners, bicyclists, walkers and other pedestrians would continue to be permitted to enjoy our parks and open spaces at all times,” the response reads.

Buzz Burrell of the Boulder Trail Runners Group said he’s satisfied for now with the city’s assurance that the closure won’t apply to trails, but he still disagrees with closing open space and parks at night.

“People move to Boulder for access to nature,” he said.

Burrell said the city’s announcement came at a particularly sensitive time for the area’s trail users, as they expect city staffers to bring forward a proposal to close trails at night sometime next year.

Camera Staff Writers Erica Meltzer and intern Ben Macaluso contributed to this report.