Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks
Department Information and History
Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks are a very special place. The lands teem with native plants and wildlife and are home to threatened and endangered species. They serve as a buffer between Boulder and nearby development. They sustain agriculture uses and add untold benefits to the natural environment - clean air, water, and earth.
The lands shape the urban mosaic of the Boulder Valley and provide citizens with passive recreation opportunities. Trails are used by walkers, hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, dog walkers and other passive recreational uses.
Some Facts About Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks
What: Over 45,000 acres of land has been preserved and protected. Wildlife habitat, unique geologic features, greenways and 146 miles of trails are all part of Open Space & Mountain Parks.
When: Open Space preservation began in 1898 – see the full history below!
Where: Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks form a buffer around the city, helping to establish its own, separate identity from neighboring communities. Agricultural lands along the Boulder/Denver Turnpike and the Diagonal Highway provide a scenic entry into Boulder. Mountain backdrop and riparian greenways are also part of OSMP. The system forms the framework within which development occurs in the Boulder Valley.
How: Through sales tax revenues, bond issues, private donations and development dedications. Acquisitions are approved by the Open Space Board of Trustees and City Council with opportunity for public input.
Why: To preserve land for scenic, agricultural and buffer value.
Who: You! The people of Boulder, by their support of Open Space & Mountain Parks for over a century.
History of Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks
The OSMP program is the product of a long history of actions taken by the citizens of Boulder to preserve buffer areas, natural areas, and the mountain backdrop.
Innovation at the Grassroots - Land Preservation History:
1898 – Residents purchased the alfalfa fields and apple orchards of Bachelder Ranch (present site of Chautauqua Park). That purchase was paid for with a bond issue.
Photo - Batchelder Ranch prior to 1898. Note the entrance to Gregory Canyon behind the windmill. The Batchelder ranch house still stands next to the fountain garden at Chautauqua.
- 1907 – A federal grant of 1,600 acres of land on Flagstaff Mountain.
- 1912 – Boulder citizens purchased another 1,200 acres of Flagstaff Mountain for $1.25 an acre.
- 1959 – PLAN Boulder County formed; the group has successfully campaigned for many land preservation issues.
- 1959 – A charter amendment was passed, establishing a "blue line" above which city water would not be supplied.
1964 – Citizens organized to protest the planned development of a luxury hotel on Enchanted Mesa, and the City Council voted to condemn the land and force its sale. Activists raised small donations from the community until they reached the purchase price.
Photo - Orange Arnica in bloom on Enchanted Mesa, which almost became the site of a luxury hotel in 1964.
- 1967 – Boulder voters made history by approving a 0.40 of a cent sales tax specifically to buy, manage, and maintain open space, the first time citizens in any U.S. city had voted to tax themselves specifically for open space. The sales tax measure passed by a 57% majority.
Image - Original 1967 poster for Greenbelts campaign.
- 1971 – A charter amendment passed allowing City Council to issue bonds for the acquisition of open space.
- 1973 – Citizen activists successfully called for the creation of a separate Open Space Department focused on acquiring and maintaining natural land. The City Council created the Open Space Board of Trustees.
- 1978 – The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan was adopted.
- 1989 – 76 percent of voters added 0.33 of a cent to the sales tax for a period of 15 years to accelerate open space preservation; in 1997, voters extended the tax through 2018.
- 1986 – A charter amendment providing more permanent protection for open space lands was adopted with passage by 77 percent of the voters.
- 2003 – Voters added 0.15 of a cent sales tax through 2019 to fund continued land acquisitions and maintenance.
The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the city and county in 1978, recognizes open space as providing the basic structure for the Plan.
Purposes for open space include:
- preservation or restoration of natural areas;
- preservation of water resources in their natural or traditional state;
- preservation of scenic areas or vistas, wildlife habitats, or fragile ecosystems;
- preservation of land for passive recreational use; preservation of agricultural uses and land suitable for agricultural production;
- utilization of land for shaping the development of the city;
- utilization of non-urban land for spatial definition of urban areas;
- utilization of land to prevent encroachment on flood plain's; and
- preservation of land for its aesthetic or passive recreational value and its contribution to the quality of life of the community.
Two Agencies Merge
In January 2001, the City of Boulder Mountain Parks Division—under the Department of Parks and Recreation—and the Open Space/Real Estate Department merged to form one new department to manage the city’s wild recreational lands, Open Space and Mountain Parks. The merger allowed the new department to provide a more consistent range of visitor opportunities and regulations on the ground, save money by eliminating some duplication, and bring the 6,555 acres of Mountain Parks lands—including Boulder’s signature Flatirons—under the strict protections of the Open Space Charter.
OSMP Today
Today, Boulder citizens enjoy over 45,000 acres of city open space land in and around the city. Some of the land is in agricultural production, preserving the historic cultural landscape of Boulder County while keeping the land open for wildlife and passive recreational uses. In addition to the aesthetic pleasure of Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks, an extensive trail system is available for hikers and horseback riders. Bicyclists enjoy riding on designated trails. Picnicking and fishing areas also appeal to area residents, as well as a variety of free educational programs conducted by OSMP staff and volunteers.
With annual visitation of 5.3 million per year, maintenance is becoming increasingly important to preserve the quality of Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks.
View OSMP's Mission and Charter.
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 July 2012 09:09
Open Space & Mtn Parks