Originally delivered on 9/26/2023 5:24 pm

SUBJECT: April 2023 SUNI Newsletter

Issue Highlights:

  • SUNI Annual Meeting - April 27th, 2023
  • SUNI Land Use Meeting - April 13th, 2023
  • SUNI Parks Committee Cleanup and Party
  • Neighborhood Planning News and City Planning Links
  • District 1 Monthly Office Hours - 4/21
  • Sustainability - Community Garden, Tree Survey
  • CALC Micro-Grants
  • Cherry Creek Trail Closure
  • Viva Streets Denver
  • Business Corner - Cosmo's Pizza


Message From the Board

Our Annual Meeting, Elections and Pizza Party is April 27th so please mark your calendars.  We'll have guests including CW Amanda Sandoval and city agencies as well as an update from SUNI board and committees.  

We are always looking for volunteers so please reach out if your are interested in a committee or board position role.  Email us with any questions. 


To keep up to date on what is going on, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.  

info@sunnysidedenver.org

SUNI Annual Meeting

This month we will hold our Annual Meeting with Elections and a Pizza Party.  Special guests include CW Amanda Sandoval, city staff from CPD, DOTI and CASR.  Of course, there will be pizza from Cosmo's, and raffle prizes!

SUNI Land Use Meeting - April 13th 6:30pm - 8:00pm

SUNI Land Use Public Folder: Click Here

Watch recordings of our meetings on our YouTube page: Click Here

Zoom Link for upcoming meeting: Click here


Agenda:

  • RNO Notifications and Updates
  • Council District 1 Land Use Updates 
  • New Business -  4385 Tejon St - Property for sale

Can't make our usual monthly meetings? Our Land Use Committee Chair, Rod, is hosting coffee hours to discuss land use and development in Sunnyside on the first and third Mondays of each month.
Upcoming:

  • Monday, May 1st, from 4:00 - 6:00pm at The Radiator
SUNI Parks Committee

You're Invited to the Second Annual Parks, Rivers, Trails & Trees! 

Part park cleanup, part community party!


A celebration of Denver’s parks and the people who care for them, the second annual Parks, Rivers, Trails & Trees, hosted by the Denver Park Trust, will feature twelve park cleanups across the city followed by a volunteer celebration at City Park.


The Details:

Saturday, May 13th, 2023

12 simultaneous park cleanups across the city from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sunnyside will be cleaning up at Chaffee Park! A community celebration from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at City Park.


Celebration will include food, drinks, music, games, and more! All park cleanup volunteers will receive a free food voucher.

Register here for a park clean-up near you! 

And, make sure you’re not missing any Parks, Rivers, Trails & Trees updates by filling out the interest form!

Neighborhood Planning News and City Planning Links

Neighborhood Planning Initiative
Find updates for the Near Northwest Area Plan here.

City Council Schedule and Recordings:
City Council schedule can be found here.

Department of Excise and Licenses:
City wide liquor and marijuana license hearings can be found here.

Community Planning and Development Rezone Applications:
Rezone Applications can be found here.

Board of Adjustment (BOA) Case Records:
BOA cases can be found here.

District 1 Councilwoman's Office Hours

More information about and from our City Councilwoman can be found here.

SUNI Sustainability

New Community Garden


A new community garden and food forest is coming to the open space at 48th Avenue and Julian Street in fall 2023! Community gardens are a wonderful resource for growing local food. They are also a great way to build community and meet your neighbors! 

Participants needed! Denver Urban Gardens & Denver Parks and Recreation are looking for:

  • Volunteer Garden Leaders to help activate and maintain the garden
  • Residents interested in an annual plot

Learn more about the new garden by attending one of the following three informational meetings being held by Denver Urban Gardens & Denver Parks and Recreation. 

Tree Survey


Denver Parks and Recreation and the Office of the City Forester need your help to create the city’s first Urban Forest Strategic Plan! Trees improve air quality, reduce urban heat island effect, increase property values, help with stormwater management, improve mental and physical health for residents and so much more!  

Whether it's a tree in front of your home, along your neighborhood street or at your local park, every tree in Denver is part of our urban forest. 

By providing your feedback in this short survey, you'll be playing a vital role in shaping the future of the urban canopy in Denver. The purpose of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan is to refine existing tree canopy goals, identify new goals and provide an equitable vision for the future of the urban forest in Denver.  

Don't miss your chance to help shape the future by contributing your thoughts today. All survey submissions will have the option to enter to win a FREE tree from the city to be planted in a public location of your choice.  

Let’s help Denver PLAN(t) for the future! 

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPRForestry

CALC Micro-Grants

The Community Active Living Coalition (CALC) is a diverse group of community members who care about health and safety through physical activity.  We envision a city with safe, convenient & fun spaces to walk, roll, bike and take transit where residents of all ages and abilities can connect to their environment and one another. One great way to get involved is through our Micro-Grant program, which open on April 12th.  You can find more information on HERE.

DOTI Seeks 15-20 Sidewalk Champions to Review Citizen-Led Sidewalk Ordinance 307

DENVER Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is seeking applications from Denver residents interested in serving on a new Sidewalk Ordinance Task Force that will begin meeting in April. DOTI is aiming to gather a diverse group of residents representing a variety of perspectives as it takes a comprehensive look at Ordinance 307, passed by voters in November 2022.

Ordinance 307 shifted the responsibility for sidewalk construction, reconstruction and repair in Denver from adjacent property owners to the city and established a fee the city is to charge property owners to fund the sidewalk work, based on linear feet of property frontage and street type. DOTI, which is now leading implementation of Ordinance 307, is establishing a task force to analyze and discuss the timelines and revenue assumptions included in the ordinance to potentially recommend changes or adjustments to meet stated goals.

In selecting task force members, DOTI will seek geographic diversity and consider people’s expertise, interests, and lived experiences. Applicants should be able to commit to meeting every other week for the next 5 or so months. Denver residents interested in serving on the task force should email DOTISidewalks@denvergov.org by the end of day on Friday, April 7, 2023, providing their name, address, and a statement about why they are interested in participating on the sidewalk task force.

Additional information about Denver’s sidewalk programs can be found at www.denvergov.org/sidewalks.

Cherry Creek Trail Closure

The Cherry Creek Trail will be closed for approximately 4-6 months (December 12, 2022 - June 2023) while the Larimer Street bridge is reconstructed, along with other streetscaping enhancements as part of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure's Connecting Auraria project. Trail users will be routed to the south side of the trail at the Downtown Playground and Creekfront Park via Wynkoop, Market, and 14th Streets. Download the trail detour map here.
 
Vehicle and other pedestrian detours will also be in place; everyone in the area should plan for extra travel time. Find more details on the project webpage and digital flyer.
 
For all trail detours visit www.denvergov.org/traildetours.

"Viva Streets Denver" Turns Main Thoroughfares into Community Bike Routes and Gathering Spaces



Ever dream about a leisurely bicycle ride down the middle of Broadway?! If so, you’ll be excited to hear that on four Sundays in the spring and summer of 2023, everyone is invited to bicycle, walk and gather on two of the city’s premiere streets, without the typically-present traffic.

The Downtown Denver Partnership and City and County of Denver are working together to close about 3.5 miles of Broadway and Welton St, between Alameda Ave and Five Points, to cars from 8 am to 2 pm on the following Sundays:
  • May 14
  • June 4
  • July 9
  • Aug 6
The event is called ¡Viva! Streets Denver.

The idea to regularly close streets to cars comes from Latin America, with the first “ciclovía” (Spanish for “bikeway”) held in Bogota, Colombia in 1974. Denver hopes its mile-high interpretation of that fun event will build community and activate businesses located along and around the route.

During the ¡Viva! Streets Denver events, cars will be able to cross Broadway and Welton on high-traffic roads like Colfax and Speer, but won’t be able to turn onto the car-free streets until the event is over at 2 pm each day. The Downtown Denver Partnership will be looking for volunteers and community groups who want to pitch in.
Sign up here, to stay in the know.
Business Corner - Cosmo's Pizza

A Denver favorite for pizza, and a generous sponsor for SUNI, we love Cosmo's Pizza!  Look for our annual meeting flyers at local businesses for a coupon for $5 slice and beverage!

Check them out at 3920 Federal Blvd!
Or at their website.

Follow us on Instagram:
 @sunnyside.denver

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SunnysideDenver

Website
https://sunnysidedenver.org/

Do We Have Your Support?

Did you know that supporting your RNO (Registered Neighborhood Organization) feels great? And you get access to discounts around the neighborhood! Can you donate? Any amount helps! Please go to the website and click the Donate Link. SunnysideDenver.org 


Please share this with your friends and neighbors.

Our mailing address is:
PO Box 11181
Denver, CO 80211

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