The heart on the tree: “UP loves UP.” Expressed by University Park residents since the 1861 founding, when visionary families—the Evans, Iliffs and Warrens—decreed this a place of clean air and vast vistas promoting healthy minds and bodies. Generations have held the goal to preserve this thought and make wise decisions integrating the endless changes—from a cow to a car for most every household.
Many beloved neighborhoods have the goal of sharing time, patience, wisdom and creative ideas that work best. In UP, all residents are members. Everyone can vote. Dues are optional (though gratefully received). Active leaders try to represent the neighborhood, a challenge as we begin to have more renters than owner-occupants. Traditions are kept and new ones begun. We respect our neighbors and love our neighborhood.
We love that our President Traci and Veep Debbie are on Councilman Kashmann’s quarterly community forum which will welcome UP ideas as the city revises Blueprint Denver, the Denver Parks and Recreaction (DPR) Game Plan, the Vehicle Plan and Ped-Bike Plan. The goal is to integrate them in a useful way. We’ll eagerly give great feedback! Meantime, greet DPR Manager Happy Haines Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6-8:00p.m. at 2020 S. Monroe, to discuss Denver’s new park plans and concerns.
Valentines to UP folks who are as always gung-ho on improvements to Harvard Gulch, traffic and parking, sidewalks, construction concerns (oy!), open space, parks, gardens and communicating in general. UP is on Facebook, and the website is upcc.us.
Valentines to the Mom’s Club, which was alerted by a neighbor that too many toys were crowding the Observatory Park Playground. They cleaned up the area and agreed wholeheartedly to donate toys to the UP United Methodist Church’s refugee project where children arrive with no toys of their own. This is now an ongoing program for all to join—take toys to the church parking lot door during office hours.
We all love good deeds! Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9a.m. to 1p.m., UP joins an Eventbrite project to paint 10 University Park Elementary School classrooms. To volunteer or donate money for supplies or for more information, visit eventbrite.com or see the UPCC website. And, start donating items for the school’s April Auction—info: upelementary.org, or call Dana at 303-359-8858.
Valentines to all who engage with DU! UP grew up with DU (originally a seminary), and now the two meet quarterly to exchange thoughts and concerns. The next meeting is Feb. 17, 6-8:00p.m. at the Sturm Building in room 258 which is across from the DU tennis courts. Park for free in the lot west of Sturm and use coupon #14651. Visit du.edu/communityvisitors/neighbors.
Lastly, much love to the star-gazing at DU’s Chamberlin Observatory. The next event is Saturday, Feb. 13, starting at 5:30p.m. More info: denverastro.org, or 303-871-5172.
Big fancy valentines to all of you! If you have news or views of UP, please contact Diana Helper, 303-733-4902 or chapinhelper@aol.com.
