The Importance of Public Participation

The Balsam Alpine Planning Initiative is rooted in the desire for redevelopment of the hospital vicinity and community.  While the design of this site undergoes ideation phases and community participation increases, there exists copious room for possibilities within the project.  Some of the initial design moves include the following: precedent studies of eco districts, pre existing building typology studies, community engagement, land use restrictions, fitting the city’s goals into the design, and sustainable site analysis.   One of the most important elements of this project is engaging the community of Boulder in the decisions of the design process because ultimately it is the city’s citizens that will be using this space. The city officials on the design board should consider some different ways to successfully outreach to the public.  Firstly, the board should start by defining what consists of the “public” so that they avoid one-sided opinions and represent all communities in Boulder.  That doesn’t include solely community’s adjacent to the site, but the contextual communities which might be effected by the second tier ramifications of the site.   After understanding who the participators will be, it is important to publicize to those communities the open meetings.  Explicitly stating the purpose of the meeting and the goals associated with it.  And then the type of outreach can be through digital media, physical papers, pamphlets, or person to person voicing.  This site has the opportunity to be a huge success and asset to Boulder.  Through design phases and constant public engagement and participation, this site will be a success.