Save Iris Fields? Boulder community plan to keep Little League diamonds faces $48 million bid to build over them
Date: 11/12/2025
The Iris Baseball Fields, home to North Boulder Little League for more than 60 years, are at the center of a heated debate as Boulder County prepares to sell its North Broadway Complex. Local families, neighborhood groups, and league leaders are urging commissioners to choose a proposal that keeps the fields intact. Five bids are under review, with a vote expected on November 18, but only two of them fully preserve the fields.
The community-supported proposal comes from The Academy, a senior living developer offering $26 million. Their plan would keep the fields in place and redevelop the county buildings into senior housing. It also includes transferring the fields to the City of Boulder to ensure long-term access for the Little League. This approach has strong backing from the league’s board, several homeowners associations, and the Save Iris Committee, which formed earlier this year in response to concerns that the fields could be lost.
The most controversial bid comes from local developer John Kirkland, who submitted a $48 million proposal that would demolish the baseball fields and redevelop the entire site into housing, including about 200 affordable units. His offer depends on the city approving high-density rezoning and allowing demolition of historic structures, a process likely to be difficult and contentious.
Kirkland’s involvement became especially divisive after then–Little League president Kirk Fronckiewicz sent commissioners a letter supporting his bid without the board’s approval, even though the board had voted 12–2 to endorse The Academy’s plan. League members quickly disavowed the letter, reaffirming that preserving the fields is essential for the league’s survival. They argued that Kirkland’s proposed five-million-dollar donation would not come close to securing new land or ensuring long-term field access within Boulder.
The current tension can be traced back to a February meeting between Fronckiewicz, county staff, and multiple developers. Fronckiewicz described it as purely informational, but other league leaders recall Kirkland suggesting that the fields were too valuable to remain as they are and proposing a full redevelopment that included relocating the league. That moment sparked community organizing efforts to protect the fields, eventually leading to The Academy’s bid.
With five proposals on the table, two preserving the fields and one leaving the option open, the future of the Iris Baseball Fields now rests with the county commissioners, who are expected to decide on November 18.
URGENT: Save Iris Fields - Act Today!
Date: 11/4/2025
Dear NBLL Families and Supporters,
Our home fields are under a NEW direct threat. A former board member supported a proposal that neither relocates nor preserves Iris Fields, misrepresenting it as NBLL’s official plan. It isn’t. Their version wipes out the fields entirely — the same fields our league has built, played on, and defended for decades.
Our board spent months building a balanced, community-backed plan that protects Iris Fields while addressing development goals. That plan is now in danger — and so is the future of NBLL.
The County Commissioners will discuss THIS WEDNESDAY which proposal moves forward. Once that happens, there’s no undoing it. The only way to protect the fields is to make sure the Commissioners hear from us — loudly, personally, and now.
Here’s what to do:
1. Email the County Commissioners today (details below). If you already have, please do it again!
2. Tell them you support the Academy plan for keeping Iris Fields for NBLL and the community.
3. Forward this message to every parent, player, and supporter you know.
We’ve fought too hard to lose this in silence. The clock is ticking. Make your voice impossible to ignore.
Keep NBLL at Iris Fields. Act now.
Email the Commissioners:
Claire Levy – clevy@bouldercounty.org
Marta Loachamin – mloachamin@bouldercounty.org
Ashley Stolzmann – astolzmann@bouldercounty.org
North Boulder Little League Denounces Unauthorized Letter, Reaffirms Support for Academy Proposal to Preserve Iris Fields
Date: 10/21/2025
It has come to the attention of North Boulder Little League (NBLL) that a former board member recently submitted an unauthorized letter to Boulder County falsely claiming that NBLL endorsed a proposal regarding Iris Fields. This letter was not authorized, endorsed, or issued by NBLL or the Save Iris Committee, and it does not represent the official position of either organization.
To be clear, the proposal referenced in that letter neither preserves Iris Fields nor relocates them — it would result in the permanent loss of the fields altogether.
North Boulder Little League, the Save Iris Committee, the Broadway and Juniper Condo Association, and the Juniper Townhomes Homeowners Association have jointly endorsed the Academy proposal as the only official, community-led plan that ensures the continued use and preservation of Iris Fields. No other proposal has the support of NBLL or the community it represents.
For decades, Iris Fields has been home to North Boulder Little League and a cornerstone of this community. NBLL’s position remains firm and unchanged: Iris Fields must be preserved. We have communicated to Boulder County that any materials or correspondence suggesting otherwise should be disregarded.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to save Iris Fields.
Neighbors Submit Community-Led Proposal for Iris Fields: Preserves Ballfields, Protects History, Builds an Intergenerational Future
Date: 9/25/2025
Boulder, CO – After months of uncertainty and stalled talks between the city and the county, the neighbors of Iris Fields decided not to wait. The Save Iris Committee and North Boulder Little League, the Broadway and Juniper Condo Association and Juniper Townhomes Association, today announced the submittal of a community-driven proposal for the Iris site.
Developed in partnership with Academy Boulder as the culmination of months of neighborhood organizing, the proposal reflects a historic coalition’s effort to protect Boulder’s legacy fields and community character while opening new opportunities for community-driven development in Boulder afteryears of tension.
Read the Full Press Release
“This proposal didn’t originate from a developer or from City Hall,” said Aquiles La Grave, neighborhood resident and community leader. “It came from parents, players, and neighbors who refused to let Iris Fields sit in limbo. We created a vision that prioritizes community needs first, then found a partner to help fit development around that envelope. Now it’s on the County to recognize this historic effort by its constituents and engage with it.”
The proposal preserves the ballfields and guarantees Little League play, prioritizes the protection of historic structures, and introduces critically needed senior housing stock deliberately designed for minimal impact – senior residents generate only a fraction of the traffic of working households. With a majority of Academy Boulder residents historically coming from within Boulder County, the model delivers maximum benefit to county housing needs as it allows older adults to remain in the community while freeing up single-family homes for new families.
“This is what grassroots leadership looks like,” said Thomas Click, Save Iris Committee. “Neighbors aligned on youth play, preservation, and connection, and then found a credible partner to deliver. Academy Boulder stood out not just as existing neighbors and longtime community members, but because their approach strengthens community rather than replacing it.”
“It is an honor to be approached by NBLL and the surrounding neighborhoods about this unique opportunity” noted Gary Berg, managing partner of Academy Boulder. “We can’t help but be inspired by this well organized and deeply committed group that is clearly driven by the core community values of saving the ball fields and sourcing a use that is low impact for the adjacent neighborhoods.”
The plan also envisions new amenities—a restaurant, café, and mercantile—that anchor daily neighborhood life for the surrounding communities and invite interaction across generations.
What’s Next
The community has done the heavy lifting. Now the Save Iris Committee is calling on Boulder County leaders to engage with us and this proposal, recognize it as the citizen-endorsed vision, and work with local and regional leaders to support it.
“This is more than a plan – it’s a powerful blueprint of what Community-drive Development can deliver,” added Alison Jaffe, Incoming NBLL President and longtime Board Member . “We’re now publicly asking County Leaders and Commissioners to meet with us in open process, review the proposal, and help move it forward in a way that benefits everyone.”
Call to Action
Residents are encouraged to voice their support by contacting Boulder County Commissioners and staff at:
commissioner.levy@bouldercounty.gov
ybowden@bouldercounty.gov
ghandyside@bouldercounty.gov
astolzmann@bouldercounty.gov
mloachamin@bouldercounty.gov
clevy@bouldercounty.gov
and urging them to bring the proposal forward for public engagement. By standing together, neighbors can ensure Iris Fields remains a living, breathing space that honors its history and secures its future.
Media Contacts
Thomas Click, Save Iris Committee – (720) 285-7638
Aquiles La Grave, Broadway & Juniper Condo Association – (720) 503 0791
Confirming an Offer for the Iris Complex
Word has been circulating this week that a formal offer for the Iris Complex has been submitted to the County. We can confirm this is true, and we’d like to share more about how it came to be.
Over the past several months—amidst a sustained lack of progress between the County and City—we have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to shape a credible, balanced proposal for the future of the Iris Complex. That has meant listening to neighbors, HOAs, athletic associations, city and county staff and commissioners, and community organizations; understanding the priorities that matter most; and weighing the trade-offs of different paths forward.
Along the way, we interviewed multiple potential partners from around the country to determine who could best align with those priorities and partner with us to shape the future of the Iris Complex. Ultimately, we identified the right partner—one capable of delivering on the community’s vision. It is that partner who submitted the offer to the County this week.
The proposal reflects what the community has consistently voiced it wants:
Preservation of the Iris ballfields
Respect for historic structures
New community amenities
New infrastructure, especially for seniors
Expanded access and equity for underserved residents
Enhancements that strengthen the character of surrounding neighborhoods
This is not a top-down push. It is the result of a bottom-up organizing effort that gathered community priorities, vetted options, and attracted a partner capable of turning that vision into reality.
This is only the beginning of a new chapter. The outcome is not yet secured, but we have taken the initiative and helped shape the conversation. The formal process for reviewing offers now rests with the County, and we intend to keep you fully informed. We also ask that you continue making your support for this vision heard by the County.
The story is clear: when residents organize, co-create, and stay persistent, they can shape outcomes that truly matter.
On February 4, 2025, Boulder County announced its decision to sell the North Broadway Complex, which includes the Iris Baseball fields.
While the announcement did not specify the future use of the North Broadway property, Iris Fields are included in the North Broadway complex that is targeted for sale by the County.
For nearly 70 years, North Boulder Little League has been party to a Memorandum of Understanding for its use and access to Iris Fields with Boulder County. The County has confirmed North Boulder Little League will have access to the fields for the 2025 season.
We understand this news brings uncertainty for the future as many of us have deep connections to Iris. NBLL community members and the neighborhoods that surround Iris Fields will have the opportunity to provide input regarding the future of the North Broadway Complex property during the 2025 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update this spring.
As further details emerge and community government proceedings are scheduled to take place, there will be the opportunity to have the community voices heard.
We welcome all members of our community to voice their concerns and advocate for the preservation of our Little League fields in Boulder, Colorado. Your participation is crucial in ensuring that our voices are heard and that we can continue to provide a valuable space for our children to learn, play, and grow through baseball.
We welcome all members of our community to voice their concerns and advocate for the preservation of our Little League fields. Your participation is crucial in ensuring that our voices are heard and that we can continue to provide a valuable space for our children to learn, play, and grow through baseball.
How can I help?
Make Your Voice Heard
You may contact the Boulder city and county representatives to let them know to preserve Iris Fields. We have made that easy for you here. Simply click the button below to email them, or call the phone numbers below:
*Clicking the button below will email all of the Boulder City Council members at once.
Call Boulder City Council: 303-441-3388
Email Boulder County Commissioners: commissioners@bouldercounty.gov
Call Boulder County Commissioners: 303-441-3500
Get a Save Iris Fields Yard Sign
Help get the word out by ordering a yard sign! You also have the option of donating to offset the cost of printing the sign.
