University Hill and downtown Boulder just got easier to connect by walking and bicycling.
In the first week of June, the city of Boulder’s Community Vitality Department installed new wayfinding signs throughout the University Hill commercial district and downtown Boulder that point visitors to key destinations such as the Pearl Street Mall, Chautauqua Park, and the Boulder Public Library. The signs highlight the time it takes to walk or bike to each destination from where they are posted, and they include QR codes to learn more about the Downtown Boulder Partnership and The Hill Merchant Association.
The wayfinding signs were developed in partnership with business owners and organizations in the University Hill neighborhood and downtown Boulder, the University of Colorado, the City of Boulder, and the Boulder Chamber through an advocacy group known as the Boulder Connectors. The signs are one part of a larger plan to make it easier for Boulder visitors and guests of the new University Hill hotels to navigate the connections between the Hill and downtown without a car.
Another important step in strengthening connections between the two neighborhoods and local destinations this year was developing a new route for the Park-to-Park shuttle, which connects downtown Boulder and Chautauqua Park. The Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau worked with the City of Boulder to re-route the shuttle down Broadway from its former route on 9th Street, creating a frequent and free transit option for visitors on summer weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Future plans to create more comfortable and easy-to-navigate connections between the Hill and downtown include improving walk and bike access on 11th Street, Broadway, and 13th Street. The Boulder Connectors are working with the City of Boulder to improve conditions in the Andrews Arboretum and make the existing corridors safer and more inviting.