Dawn Baumhover, Nederland Community Center Manager. We are marking the one year anniversary of the Nederland Community Center (NCC) closure due to the pandemic. NCC was closed to the public for six months! Now, six months since reopening, we continue to adapt to the ever-changing landscape the pandemic has brought us. While it is hoped activities and events will be resumed over the coming months, we remain open to changes and public priorities.

Though challenging, the events of the past year have strengthened the relationships and collaborations between human service providers and the community center. An emerging theme over the past year is the community center as a resource for residents, and while it has always functioned in this capacity, the role is becoming more defined. Throughout the pandemic, the Nederland Food Pantry and Nederland Area Seniors have provided residents with food and informational resources and support. The Nederland Community Center was able to continue in our long-established role as a Voter Service Polling Center during the general election in November. NCC has become a Covid testing site and when supply becomes available, Boulder Community Public Health will establish a community vaccine site at the community center.

Though Covid prevented mass sheltering last fall, NCC operated as an evacuation information site during the fires. Currently, the community center is prepared to accommodate Peak to Peak residents should the need arise during snow events since sheltering is now permitted at 50% capacity. 

We are grateful to serve in this role although we would welcome the opportunity to balance service with some celebration! The Nederland Area Seniors/Mountain Peak Life folks are currently planning to do just that with an outdoor barbecue to celebrate the 4th of July. The plan is to hold the event in the community center parking lot, open to the community, details are to be determined according to restrictions at the time of the event.

For more information about the Nederland Community Center check out https://www.nederlandcommunitycenter.org/

(Originally published in the March 18, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)