Dear Editor,

I have lived in the town limits in Nederland, CO for 24 years. I own two properties in town limits. I have both attended and participated in many events in Town over those years.

On June 1, 2024 I attended the first of a summer music series in Chipeta Park. After years of Covid, the demise of two of Nederland’s only and most successful festivals Nedfest and Frozen Dead Guy Days, it was a joy to be dancing in the park, in the sun with fellow community members. I applaud the DDA and the promoters and production team of the summer music series.

I heard second-hand that somebody with authority in the town did not want to continue having the summer music series in Chipeta Park because they were concerned the grass would be trodden. I find this kind of ironic, since there was recently a dispute about literally ripping up the rest of the land in Chipeta Park for an asphalt pump track. I walk in the park almost every day and I noticed no impact from the festivities. It was left in such great condition I could not tell there had been anybody using the property.

I contest that the ONLY appropriate place for the summer music series is the park. There would be two conditions that would change my mind.

1) Re-turf Guercio Field. If you have not visited Guercio Field since Eldora used it as a parking lot and a subsequent group “re-planted” and furrowed it, I encourage you to do so. Since I live in town limits, I walk in this area almost every day. Guercio Field was tilled, leaving an ankle breaking, uneven surface. It has also increased the surface area, causing it to dry out. It is completely unusable and even a safety hazard. If this field were re-turfed to resemble a flat field, something remotely close to the field the town used for baseball games and Nedfest, we could move the summer music series to Guercio Field. Until this is remedied, the town has a flat field that is no longer usable. As this is one of our only free-to-the public flat spaces in Town Limits with grass, I would like to see this area replanted and resurfaced to represent what it once was, or at least what the field was offered to the town for, a baseball field for their late baseball playing family member. To leave it as is, dishonors the family, the man who died and leaves resentment in those that have played baseball for years in the field, and also enjoyed 20 years of an extraordinary community music festival, Nedfest.

2) Complete the area that is designated for the amphitheater/ performance space. My understanding, again second hand, is that there was an environmental study on the area to see if it would be appropriate to develop. I understand that the group who undertook the creation of the children’s music area filled in the culvert that was previously and recently created to drain the area. Since the filling in of the culvert, that area is now a pond, with frogs. I think this is a perfect example of Ned having two many entities trying to do good things and not communicating well. Again, if you have not seen the children’s music area, and the filled in culvert and the new slimy pond with frogs I encourage you to do so. This area was set aside and hardscaped for an amphitheater. Although I think the children’s music area is cute, it is in the wrong place. If we are planning to have live music and an amphitheater in that space, why would one put up a music area for children that would potentially compete with the music? In addition, there was a weird plastic diorama of local flora and fauna. It had nearly dead growth of things that were right next to the plastic diorama of these things actually thriving in the wild. I do not encourage the use of plastic and this was a poorly thought out design that now looks like it needs to simply be removed. My understanding is that there was money ($40,000?) earmarked for this amphitheater.

If the summer music series cannot be in Chipeta Park because someone has the odd sense that the park should actually NOT be used for the public due to the grass getting trodden, Ned either needs to fix the now unusable Guercio Park or build the long-forgotten amphitheater space.

I also heard there was the idea to put it in the parking lot BEHIND the B and F. I am sure all the people that brought blankets to sit on the grass in Chipeta while their young kids used the swings, played near the kids pond searching for animals and dogs playfully enjoying the outside and sunshine would not appreciate setting up on an asphalt parking lot with the B and F ‘s refrigerator system running as background noise. If you have not had the pleasure of listening to B and F’s refrigerator system running, I suggest you set up your festival chairs in the parking lot on the asphalt and listen.

We have an amazing concert series with amazing local talent, capable producers, sound engineers and a professional staff that is willing and ready to make this one of the most successful things that has ever happened to Nederland. If you are not going to allow them to continue in the Chipeta Park because you do not want the grass to get trodden, please explain to me why we even have a park. If you are not willing to restore Guercio Park to a usable flat grassy beautiful area where kids can fly kites with grandparents by their side, or music festivals, please explain why.

If you are not going to build the amphitheater in the area earmarked for the amphitheater in the amphitheater space, with the money earmarked for the amphitheater project, please explain why.

I appreciate all of you who volunteer and listen so often to people like me that are frustrated and simply do not understand a lot of choices being made and reasoning behind them.

I am beyond thrilled that the DDA is putting money into this concert series. I think you chose an incredible professional team to execute it. I think everyone needs to get on board with it being in Chipeta Park. When a concert poster is created one needs to include What, Where, When. Currently, there is no WHERE. This is shooting yourself in the foot. If your intention is to get the community to come together to support this amazing event, give it a home. Put it in Chipeta Park for the rest of the summer, fix Guercio Field and build the Amphitheater as soon as possible. There are limited flat, grassy areas in this town and we should invest in them. Give the Summer Music Series Promoters a WHERE.

A heartfelt thanks to all who are involved and have been working to make the summer music festival successful.

Thank you,

Tanya Bokat

Nederland