January 2024 Letters to the Editor
Click Below for the January 2024 Letters to the Editor in response to the guest editorial by Khury Petersen-Smith entitled The Roots of Black-Palestinian Solidarity
New Pickleball Courts Now Open In Glendale
by Mark Smiley
From left to right: Storm Gloor, Glendale Mayor Pro-Tem; Mike Dunafon, Glendale Mayor; Joe Haskins, Glendale Chief of Police; and Josh Bertrand, Glendale Deputy City Manager.
Barret O’Brien, Chamber Board Member, left, and Joe Haskins, Glendale Chief of Police.
From left to right: Mayor Pro-Tem Storm Gloor; Mayor Mike Dunafon; Chuck Line, Glendale City Manager; Josh Bertrand, Glendale Deputy City Manager; and Jeff Allen, Glendale Chamber COO, cut the pickle to officially open the new outdoor pickleball courts in Glendale.
The new pickleball courts are now available to play on in Glendale Park.
On October 24, 2023, the City of Glendale unveiled its new pickleball courts at the new Glendale Park, formerly known as Mir Park. With the recent closing of the outdoor courts at Eisenhower Park and Congress Park in Denver, the metro area was in need of another option for outdoor pickleball.
Under the Leadership of Mayor Mike Dunafon and the Glendale City Council, the City of Glendale has partnered with Arapahoe County Open Space Grant Program in 2023 to create the Glendale Park Phase One park improvements and usher in a new era of recreation in Glendale.
While the newly dedicated pickleball courts may be the main attraction, there are several important additional improve
ments which park patrons will appreciate. Working with Chief Joe Haskins and City of Glendale Police Department, the City applied principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design to make improvements in the park. These park safety improvements include new site lighting and new “Portlandloo’s” stand-alone toilets which address common public bathroom concerns.
Also, a new picnic pavilion will be available to grab a bite to eat while watching the light-hearted activities on either the pickleball court or on the playground. Going forward, Ken LeCrone, Finance Director for the City of Glendale, has secured an open space grant from Arapahoe County for Phase Two improvements in 2024.
The Phase Two improvements will include improvements to stormwater drainage and the addition of a new dog run to the north side of the park,” said Josh Bertrand, Deputy City Manager, City of Glendale. “Patrick Carroll, Chris Roozing, and the Public Works team will continue working with our valuable partners, Matt Wilgenbusch with EmDub Designs, and ECI Site Construction Management, to complete phase two of the project.”
The work is expected to be completed by the end of Summer 2024. Glendale Park is located at 560 S. Elm Street in Glendale. Visit www.glendale.co.us for more information.
Heybike Cityrun: An Electric Bike To Consider
by Mark Smiley
Solid Ebike: The Heybike Cityrun is an ebike to consider if in the market for one. It is powerful, comfortable, and reliable.
Electric bikes have grown in popularity over the last couple of years. To meet the demand and to try to reduce the amount of vehicles on the road, the city of Denver launched a rebate program in April 2022. It has issued over 7,000 vouchers totaling $6.5 million since then and more on the way.
According to a survey conducted by the city of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency, cyclists are replacing 3.4 vehicle trips every week with electric bike trips, which according to the office, totals 150,000 vehicle miles per week.
The vouchers are good for 60 days and can be presented at participating ebike dealers for an immediate rebate at the register. Most are good for $300 toward the purchase for a regular ebike, and $500 toward the purchase of a cargo ebike. Lower income qualified candidates may be eligible for as much as $1,200.
There are many options to consider and most good options are all over $1,000. The Heybike City Run is one to consider as it fits the bill for what most people are looking for. It retails for $1,299 at the time of press and can be purchased using a voucher at Boost Ebikes at 2344 S. Broadway in Denver.
Versatile: The Heybike Cityrun suits users of all heights and weight.
The Heybike City Run takes some time to assemble as most ebikes do, approximately 30-45 minutes. Once assembled, the learning curve is minimal. Most riders can easily fit comfortably as it has a load capacity of 350 pounds. The technology syncs with both android and IOS users with its own app. The smartphone app lets you customize and update the bike, control whether it’s locked, and track your rides. It is not meant to be anti-theft, but it does make it more difficult to steal if it turns off if the Bluetooth is not connected.
Comfortable: The Heybike Cityrun’s seat is comfortable for any user. The step through design also makes it easy to get on and off.
The 500W motor and 48V 15Ah battery make it more than suitable for long rides. In fact, you should be able to travel between 55 and 65 miles on a charge. This bike has the capability of going 21 mph depending on weight and throttle.
Heybike just launched a new commuter bike, called the Horizon. The Horizon is very similar to the City Run with a few differences. The Cityrun cannot be folded, while Horizon can be folded. Compared with battery installation, Cityrun’s battery is installed at the bottom of the frame, while Horizon’s battery is installed at the top of the frame. The minimum height of Horizon riders is higher than that of Cityrun, and the motor on Horizon is more powerful than Cityrun, Horizon is 750W and Cityrun is 500W.
The Cityrun is a bike that gets good reviews from trusted sources and as mentioned before, should fit what most people are looking for in an ebike. It’s an affordable, comfortable, and powerful ride that gets going quickly when stopped and can handle long distance travel on a charge. It also has turn signals and a brake light along with other safety features including hydraulic-disc brakes, a loud horn, an LED headlight, and hands free access.
For more information on the City of Denver’s ebike voucher program, visit energyoffice.colorado.gov/ebike-rebates. To learn more about the City Run, visit www.heybike.com/products/heybike-cityrun-electric-bike.
Monaco Inn
Comrade Brewing
