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Arvada's water begins its journey high in the Rocky Mountains making it's way from the Fraser River and Clear Creek to one of Arvada's two water treatment plants. Water Quality Administrator, Evelyn Rhodes, leads the team who ensures that when Arvadans turn on the tap, we can trust that our water has been treated, monitored, and tested to protect our health and safety. Visit ArvadaCO.gov/Water-Quality for more information, including a map of Arvada's water sources. 

In this episode, Evelyn shares more about:

• Arvada's annual Water Quality Report
• Lead in drinking water and the Service Line Replacement Program
• Source water protection
• PFAS 

Editor's note: when discussing PFAS particles as parts per trillion, the analogy that Evelyn was trying to explain was that this would be equivalent to one penny in 10 billion dollars!

Other news and events:

• Waste hauling program fee update
• Arvada's 120th anniversary 
• 4th of July fireworks display
• Arvada on Tap - July 13th 
• Movies Around Town - Jaws on July 19
• Arvada Days - August 24

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Arvada is home to more than 100 neighborhood, community and regional parks. But there's always room for more! Learn about the city's current and future plans to expand and improve the City's unparalleled park system from Darin DeLay, the City's Parks and Urban Design Manager. 

Darin explains how his team of landscape architects take projects from visionary concepts to tangible, sustainable realities. Topics covered on this episode include: 

• Holistic Health and Fitness Park 
• Garrison Garden Paseo 
• Standley Lake Library Trailhead 
• Marge Roberts Park 
• Gold Strike Park 
• Taking Lasting Care
• Turf Conversion Pilot Program 

You can learn more about the City's Parks and Urban Design team by visiting the city's website at ArvadaCO.gov/ParkProjects. 

Other news and events:

• July 13 - Arvada On Tap 
• July 19 - Movies Around Town (Jaws at Lake Arbor)
• Recycling and trash rates and fees update July 1

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Marco Randazzo is an Arvada resident, dad, music lover, and Neighborhood Leader.

In this episode, Marco talks about what it means to be a Neighborhood Leader with the City's Neighbors Connected Program and the value he has found in discovering new, creative ways to connect with his neighbors. 

Some of the topics covered:

• Block party trailer (reservations open now)
• Neighborhood grants program
• Neighbor conflict resolution

Other news and events: 

• Annual Water Quality Report
• Movies Around Town
• Help name Arvada's newest park
• June 8 events:
  • Kids Fishing Contest
  • Bulky Item Drop Off
• Ralston Central Splash Pad and Olde Town Water Fountain are open for the summer!

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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City Forester Ian McDonald joins the podcast to talk all things trees in Arvada!

Arvada was recently named Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 33rd consecutive year! And for the fourth straight year, Arvada earned the Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation for our outstanding commitment to sustainable urban forest management.

In this episode, Ian explains the criteria required to earn those recognitions (including the fact Arvada spends $8.35 per capita on our tree care – far exceeding the $2 per capita required to be eligible to be named Tree City USA!)

Other topics discussed with Ian include:

• The City's annual Arbor Day tree planting event with local elementary schools 
• What exactly is 'urban forestry' and how it's different than traditional forestry 
• The City's approach to replacing trees when they have to be removed 
• City and County of Denver's Licensed Tree Contractor List 
• The programs and services the City's forestry team offers, including Christmas Tree Recycling, Trees Across Arvada, a new mulch pick-up site that will be available soon, and the City's Plant-A-Tree program
• Which types of trees are suitable for Colorado's dry climate and which types are more trouble

Other news and events: 

• Mayor Lauren Simpson recently gave her first "State of the City" address
• The City's Volunteer Appreciation Event is now June 8 after getting rained out on April 27
• The Ralston Central Splash Pad and Olde Town Water Fountain open Memorial Day weekend! 

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Jacqueline Rhoades joins Inside Arvada to talk about all things transportation in Arvada!

Jacqueline is the Public Works Director who oversees an expansive department that includes engineering, inspections, streets and traffic operations, mobility planning, facilities and much more. In this episode, we dive into a variety of topics related to the City's transportation including:

• Updates on the Ralston Road and W 72nd Avenue widening projects, including the pause in construction coming on W 72nd 
  • Watch the 4/12/24 W 72nd community meeting recording
• The annual Pavement Program and some of the challenges the program faces in maintaining our roads
• Connecting Arvada, the City's first comprehensive transportation system plan

Plus, Jacqueline helps explain some of the complexities related to construction that often lead to construction fatigue, funding and managing projects, and how we work with other organizations who provide services in Arvada. 

Other news and events:

• Upcoming City Council workshops:
  • May 6: Updates on parks maintenance practices and naming a new park
  • May 13: Waste hauling rates and fees adjustment recommendations
• Olde Town Transit Hub top level closed until end of June
• Take the sustainability survey
• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X and learn about upcoming celebrations:
  • Drinking Water Week (May 5 - 11)
  • National Public Works Week (May 19 - 25)

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Anna Hoover joins Inside Arvada to talk all things Majestic View Nature Center!

Anna is the director of the Nature Center, the City's environmental education facility and one of Arvada's greatest hidden gems. Anna talks about the various public programs and environmental educational opportunities available through the Nature Center. From superhero-themed summer camps to educational field trips, stargazing events to gardening workshops, the Nature Center offers something for everyone.

Sign up for the Nature Center's enewsletter to stay up-to-date on their program offerings and latest news. 

We also discuss the Nature Centers' annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20. This year's celebration includes:

• Kids poster contest with the winners getting a tree planting at the Arvada school or park of their choice
• Family activities and booths
• Trash clean up and drawing for a chance to win a rain barrel

Learn more about this year's Earth Day theme of Planet vs. Plastics and why single-use plastics are bad for the environment. Plus, learn how you can celebrate Earth Day every day with actionable steps using the five Rs: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.

Plus, learn about what's in store for the future of the Nature Center, including: 

• New "Peek-A-Who's in the Forest" exhibit coming soon
• Outdoor classroom project and how you can help reach our funding goals 

Other news and events:

• Park Pavilions rentals and etiquette  
• High Tea for Seniors on Saturday, May 4
• Annual Pavement Program
• Volunteer Appreciation Event on April 27 at the Nature Center

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Festival and events season is upon us. For our first episode of Inside Arvada Adelle Burton, the City's Special Events and Public Arts Manager, shares information about the Arvada Kite Festival. Adelle tells the story of how this local tradition became the largest City-run event, filled with high-flying kites and activities for the young and young at heart. 

The event takes place Sunday, April 14 at Stenger Sports Complex where there will be fun to be had by all! While you're at the Kite Festival, take advantage of:

• A free  bike valet courtesy of Bike Friendly Arvada 
• The Denver Museum of Nature and Science's Curiosity Cruiser 
• Professional Kite Demonstrations by the Rocky Mountain Kite Association

Sign up to volunteer for Kite Festival!

In our conversation, Adelle also highlights her work with the Arts and Culture Commission integrating art into our city, include two mural projects, La Letra and Babe Walls. Listen now for the inside scoop on the happenings with festivals, events, art and even a short story dispenser that makes its way around town. 

Other news and event:

• W. 72nd Avenue community meeting
• Outdoor water saving programs
• Arvada-Blunn Reservoir 

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].

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Inside Arvada is the official podcast from the City of Arvada!

Learn more about what to expect from the new podcast about Arvada, Colorado from co-hosts Katie Patterson and Sean Star. Join us for conversations with those who make Arvada a thriving community. Hear stories about the past, present and future of Arvada through the lens of the team members who help make it all happen. 

Visit our website at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast to learn more about the show's hosts and to submit a question to be answered on the podcast. 

Visit us at ArvadaCO.gov/Podcast or email us at [email protected].