🌳 Denver’s parks get top grades

🚘 CDOT is Watching You

Beginning today, CDOT is cracking down on drivers who use and abuse I-70’s mountain express lane. A new fleet of cameras and sensors aim to catch vehicles illegally weaving in and out of the toll lane. Violators will first receive a warning in the mail, but starting July 21, CDOT will begin issuing $75 fines. [Denver Post 🔒]

• Related: If you can't beat the I-70 traffic, just learn to love it! [City Cast Denver 🎧]

👕 Goodwill Closes All Fitting Rooms

Goodwill will no longer offer fitting rooms at any of its 42 Colorado locations. The popular thrift store chain cited theft, vandalism, and “inappropriate use of the fitting rooms” as the reasons for the decision. [Westword]

🌳 Denver’s Park Systems Impress

The Trust for Public Land just released its 2023 ParkScore report ranking the best public park systems among the 100 largest U.S. cities. Denver secured spot No. 13, up from No. 18 last year. We ranked especially high in access and investment, and scored lowest for acreage. [Axios Denver]

🐘 Inside the Effort to Unseat Lauren Boebert

Last November, the state’s most infamous Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert, narrowly maintained her hold over Colorado’s third congressional district by a mere 546 votes. Now, Colorado Democrats are going full force in the effort to take her down and turn Colorado blue once and for all. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

Hey loyal reader, what’s been on your mind lately? 🤔

🦟 I recently shared some tips for keeping the mosquitoes at bay. Here are a couple follow-up items:

• Reader Gina J. wrote in to remind us all to check Denver’s rules and regulations regarding fire pits.
• Also, it was recently brought to my attention that citronella doesn’t actually work! 😮

🚂 We recently spotlighted Georgetown as a fun place to check out this summer. Reader Jeff G. agrees:

• “When you go to Georgetown, be sure to visit the Paris hotel. It was built with indoor plumbing and rated the best hotel west of the Mississippi in the 1890s. It is an active museum with cool exhibits. It was opened by a French chef so the miners got gourmet food.”

🛫 As someone getting ready to head to the airport this weekend, I was glad to hear Elise G.’s review of the new DEN Reserve program:

• “Thank you so much for mentioning the DEN Reserve program in an earlier email! I flew out of DIA for the first time in years and was nervous about Covid / security lines / everything, and instead it was all quick and easy thanks to reserving my spot. I deeply deeply hope it will graduate from a pilot program to forever use.”

🦊 Last week, I featured Wash Park in our neighborhood guide. Reader Tonia J. says the wildlife is her favorite part of the area:

• “Almost every time I go there, which is two or three times a week, I see wildlife. Ducks, ducklings, geese, squirrels, all kinds of birds, a bald eagle, and even a fox!”

🏞️ Generation Wild Day | Wednesday | All Day

Look for free hopscotch courses across Colorado today to celebrate Generation Wild, the state’s leading organization for promoting youth in the outdoors. [Across Colorado; Free]

☀️ A Strange Solstice Party | Wednesday | 6:30-10 p.m.

Part dance party, part drag show, all to celebrate the longest day of the year. [Baker; Free, Donations Encouraged]

👩‍🎨 Artful Reflections | Wednesday | 6:30-8:30 p.m.

This event from the Athena Project encourages local women artists to connect with each other and share their work with the community. [Union Station; Free, Donations Encouraged]

♻️ $ave Green Be Green Conference | Thursday | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Local nonprofits and faith-based organizations are invited to come learn more about how they can receive funds for their conservation efforts. [Clayton; Free]

Inside the Democrats’ Plans to Unseat Lauren Boebert

Today on the City Cast Denver podcast, producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Shad Murib of the Colorado Democratic Party to talk about “The 546 Project,” a massive new effort to unseat Colorado’s most infamous Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert.