The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) is a board of seven members and one Trustee from the Board of Trustees (BOT) serving as liaison. The group is comprised of residents, land owners, and business lessees from within the NDDA’s boundaries, which is considered Nederland’s Central Business District (CBD). The NDDA has the authority to “study, prioritize, and propose development projects” that are within, or directly impact, the CBD.

In 2022, the NDDA initiated and oversaw several Town improvement projects that involved public art, townwide beautification, increased mobility, and tourism promotion. The NDDA also provides funding for special events through an application process and, though the major festival Frozen Dead Guy Days (FDGD) is no longer under their jurisdiction, they did assist and oversee several events held in Nederland throughout the year. This is a condensed recapitulation of the discussions and actions made by the NDDA at their scheduled meetings held in 2022.

On January 12, the NDDA were given a presentation on how Nederland can better be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Board members also approved the 2022 budget for the Beautification subcommittee, which hires and oversees those responsible for creating and maintaining the flower displays throughout Nederland’s CBD in summer.

On February 3, the NDDA held a special meeting in order to approve a contractor for the Big Springs Parking Project. The project consists of raising a parking lot and putting in a concrete retaining wall at the Black Forest building, implementing a new storm pipe, as well as creating sidewalks, paved entrances to the building, and parallel and perpendicular parking spaces. The NDDA ultimately approved the bid made by Edge Contracting Inc. out of Golden.

On February 9, they approved funding for the Public Art subcommittee, for the Beautification and Traffic and Safety Support budgets, and for traffic control for FDGD. Board members discussed the possibility of Nederland’s Public Works department handling the paving aspect of the Big Springs Parking project, and also discussed funding part of the project with funds from the tourism and mobility initiative known as the Wayfinding project.

On March 9, the NDDA approved funding to assist special events and Nederland businesses, including traffic control for the Ned Gravel bike race and advertising for Wild Bear Nature Center. The NDDA also weighed in on the discussion of parking infrastructure issues within the CBD, hearing from a subcommittee formed of members of Nederland’s boards and commissions tasked with finding solutions to the problems.

On April 13, they heard updates on the Green Business program and on the Bobcat Ridge project. The Bobcat Ridge project has been in the pre-development stages for nearly a decade and involves 17 acres of property on the south side of Colorado Road 130, proposed for the construction of an affordable housing community. The project had been on hold because a parcel of the land cannot be annexed to the town of Nederland due to restrictive language in the Town’s intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Boulder County.

On May 11, the NDDA heard several proposals from the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB) involving a bicycle pump track at Chipeta Park, a downhill mountain bike flow course, and the Trails Master Plan. Board members also voted to approve local artists Sally Eckert and Julia Williams, who applied to paint murals on buildings in town.

On June 8, Board members approved Sally Eckert’s design for the mural for the Nature’s Own building. They also recommended that the BOT appoint Scott Papich and Steve Karowe to the vacancies on the NDDA, which was approved later that month.

On July 13, the NDDA appointed their members to the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer. They also began discussions on roof and structure repairs for the covered bridge as well as on supplemental funding needed to assess land at Guercio Field being considered for the creation of an outdoor performance space. There was concern that the proposed space was located within the floodplain; on August 10, the NDDA approved the funding for a land survey.

Also on August 10 they approved special event funding for the Ned Fire Auxiliary National Night Out, the Ned Jazz and Wine Fest, and the Ned*Ned 10k run. Board members also approved the draft NDDA 2023 budget and the draft application for the Boulder County Economic Vitality Grant, which provides local businesses that suffered through the pandemic with additional funding.

On September 14, the NDDA approved funding requests for traffic control for both the Farmer’s Market Harvest Festival and for heavy traffic during leaf peeping season. Board members also approved continuing into the second phase of the Wayfinding project with the consultant firm Merje. Phase two of the project involves creating and implementing a town-wide signage program as well as designing a smart-device app.

The NDDA also approved the final draft of their 2023 budget. They also approved Julia Williams’ mural design for the Poe Wall, underneath the boardwalk between The Deli and Busey Brews.

On October 12, Board members approved funding for traffic control for trick-or-treaters during Halloween night and also approved a scope-of-work proposal from engineering consulting firm JVA on the floodplain analysis and investigation of potential drainage issues at Guercio Field. The quote from JVA also included the cost of producing design plans and schematics for the performance space, with the total job being predicted to take only up to four weeks and able to begin immediately.

On November 9, they continued their discussion on the roof and structure repair required for the covered bridge and ultimately approved the $30,000 in funding needed for the project to happen in 2023. In an effort to protect the NDDA from liability, Board members also approved changes to their grant application process regarding what is expected from special event organizers who apply to them for funding. Additionally the NDDA approved $200 for Town staff to provide hot cocoa and treats to those residents who attend the Nederland Christmas Lighting at Town Hall on December 2.

On November 30, the NDDA gave the final approval to their 2023 budget.

Moving forward into 2023 the NDDA looks to see many of their town improvement plans come to fruition, like the Big Springs parking project and the next phases of the Wayfinding project. The repairs on the covered bridge, paving of the Visitor’s Center parking lot, and developments on the Performance Space and Chipeta Park Pump Track projects are set to appear on the NDDA’s agenda in 2023.

NDDA Board members have expressed the desire to discuss in the future such dream projects as a “creek walk” extending along the creek behind the businesses on the south side of East 1st Street. And the NDDA is also making dedicated efforts to continue assisting and promoting special events in Nederland, as well as the creation of new festivals.