Boulder, CO – After months of uncertainty and stalled talks between the city and the county, the neighbors of Iris Fields decided not to wait. The Save Iris Committee and North Boulder Little League, the Broadway and Juniper Condo Association and Juniper Townhomes Association, today announced the submittal of a community-driven proposal for the Iris site.
Developed in partnership with Academy Boulder as the culmination of months of neighborhood organizing, the proposal reflects a historic coalition’s effort to protect Boulder’s legacy fields and community character while opening new opportunities for community-driven development in Boulder afteryears of tension.
“This proposal didn’t originate from a developer or from City Hall,” said Aquiles La Grave, neighborhood resident and community leader. “It came from parents, players, and neighbors who refused to let Iris Fields sit in limbo. We created a vision that prioritizes community needs first, then found a partner to help fit development around that envelope. Now it’s on the County to recognize this historic effort by its constituents and engage with it.”
The proposal preserves the ballfields and guarantees Little League play, prioritizes the protection of historic structures, and introduces critically needed senior housing stock deliberately designed for minimal impact – senior residents generate only a fraction of the traffic of working households. With a majority of Academy Boulder residents historically coming from within Boulder County, the model delivers maximum benefit to county housing needs as it allows older adults to remain in the community while freeing up single-family homes for new families.
“This is what grassroots leadership looks like,” said Thomas Click, Save Iris Committee. “Neighbors aligned on youth play, preservation, and connection, and then found a credible partner to deliver. Academy Boulder stood out not just as existing neighbors and longtime community members, but because their approach strengthens community rather than replacing it.”
“It is an honor to be approached by NBLL and the surrounding neighborhoods about this unique opportunity” noted Gary Berg, managing partner of Academy Boulder. “We can’t help but be inspired by this well organized and deeply committed group that is clearly driven by the core community values of saving the ball fields and sourcing a use that is low impact for the adjacent neighborhoods.”
The plan also envisions new amenities—a restaurant, café, and mercantile—that anchor daily neighborhood life for the surrounding communities and invite interaction across generations.
The community has done the heavy lifting. Now the Save Iris Committee is calling on Boulder County leaders to engage with us and this proposal, recognize it as the citizen-endorsed vision, and work with local and regional leaders to support it.
“This is more than a plan – it’s a powerful blueprint of what Community-drive Development can deliver,” added Alison Jaffe, Incoming NBLL President and longtime Board Member . “We’re now publicly asking County Leaders and Commissioners to meet with us in open process, review the proposal, and help move it forward in a way that benefits everyone.”
Residents are encouraged to voice their support by contacting Boulder County Commissioners and staff at:
commissioner.levy@bouldercounty.gov
ybowden@bouldercounty.gov
ghandyside@bouldercounty.gov
astolzmann@bouldercounty.gov
mloachamin@bouldercounty.gov
clevy@bouldercounty.gov
and urging them to bring the proposal forward for public engagement. By standing together, neighbors can ensure Iris Fields remains a living, breathing space that honors its history and secures its future.
Thomas Click, Save Iris Committee – (720) 285-7638
Aquiles La Grave, Broadway & Juniper Condo Association – (720) 503 0791
Word has been circulating this week that a formal offer for the Iris Complex has been submitted to the County. We can confirm this is true, and we’d like to share more about how it came to be.
Over the past several months—amidst a sustained lack of progress between the County and City—we have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to shape a credible, balanced proposal for the future of the Iris Complex. That has meant listening to neighbors, HOAs, athletic associations, city and county staff and commissioners, and community organizations; understanding the priorities that matter most; and weighing the trade-offs of different paths forward.
Along the way, we interviewed multiple potential partners from around the country to determine who could best align with those priorities and partner with us to shape the future of the Iris Complex. Ultimately, we identified the right partner—one capable of delivering on the community’s vision. It is that partner who submitted the offer to the County this week.
The proposal reflects what the community has consistently voiced it wants:
Preservation of the Iris ballfields
Respect for historic structures
New community amenities
New infrastructure, especially for seniors
Expanded access and equity for underserved residents
Enhancements that strengthen the character of surrounding neighborhoods
This is not a top-down push. It is the result of a bottom-up organizing effort that gathered community priorities, vetted options, and attracted a partner capable of turning that vision into reality.
This is only the beginning of a new chapter. The outcome is not yet secured, but we have taken the initiative and helped shape the conversation. The formal process for reviewing offers now rests with the County, and we intend to keep you fully informed. We also ask that you continue making your support for this vision heard by the County.
The story is clear: when residents organize, co-create, and stay persistent, they can shape outcomes that truly matter.
While the announcement did not specify the future use of the North Broadway property, Iris Fields are included in the North Broadway complex that is targeted for sale by the County.
For nearly 70 years, North Boulder Little League has been party to a Memorandum of Understanding for its use and access to Iris Fields with Boulder County. The County has confirmed North Boulder Little League will have access to the fields for the 2025 season.
We understand this news brings uncertainty for the future as many of us have deep connections to Iris. NBLL community members and the neighborhoods that surround Iris Fields will have the opportunity to provide input regarding the future of the North Broadway Complex property during the 2025 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update this spring.
As further details emerge and community government proceedings are scheduled to take place, there will be the opportunity to have the community voices heard.
We welcome all members of our community to voice their concerns and advocate for the preservation of our Little League fields in Boulder, Colorado. Your participation is crucial in ensuring that our voices are heard and that we can continue to provide a valuable space for our children to learn, play, and grow through baseball.
We welcome all members of our community to voice their concerns and advocate for the preservation of our Little League fields. Your participation is crucial in ensuring that our voices are heard and that we can continue to provide a valuable space for our children to learn, play, and grow through baseball.
You may contact the Boulder city and county representatives to let them know to preserve Iris Fields. We have made that easy for you here. Simply click the button below to email them, or call the phone numbers below:
*Clicking the button below will email all of the Boulder City Council members at once.
Call Boulder City Council: 303-441-3388
Email Boulder County Commissioners: commissioners@bouldercounty.gov
Call Boulder County Commissioners: 303-441-3500
Help get the word out by ordering a yard sign! You also have the option of donating to offset the cost of printing the sign.