Commercial activities on Boulder Parks and Recreation properties fall into two categories: Exclusive Use Renters and Non-Exclusive Users. All commercial activities require an approved Annual Customer Application (ACApp). However, reservation processes and payment requirements vary depending on the type of use.
Exclusive Use Renters reserve a specific property, area, or facility for their sole use during a scheduled time. Examples include reserving Pleasant View Fields, picnic shelters, pool lap lanes, or meeting rooms in recreation centers.
Non-Exclusive Users conduct commercial activities in park or facility spaces that remain open to the public. Examples include summer camps, group fitness classes, running clubs, and other business operations that use parks or facilities without reserving the space exclusively. See below for more information.
This program covers use of park spaces for commercial gain such as summer camps, group fitness instruction, running clubs and other operations that use Boulder Parks and Recreation (BPR) parks and facilities for business purposes.
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) has a separate Commercial Use Program for operators on OSMP land.
Commercial activities have an impact on BPR department spaces like parks. When someone uses department spaces to conduct their business, particularly those that are open to the general public, the department needs to recover costs to support maintenance and keep these spaces accessible for free, non-commercial public enjoyment.
Program participants must have an Approved Customer Application (ACApp) and may be required to complete year-end billing. See details below for the process and all requirements.
Applicants submit an Annual Customer Application. BPR uses the application to confirm that the organization agrees to the terms and conditions and to collect all required documentation before approving space reservations.
Once your ACApp is approved, you are eligible to submit reservation requests.
Conduct your activities according to the approved terms and conditions.
At the end of your operating year, submit records showing the gross receipts generated from activities held on BPR property. See below for more details.
It’ is important to us that these spaces are fairly distributed, so please make sure the records you submit clearly show what portion of programming took place on BPR sites.
For example:
Gross receipts include all costs participants pay to take part in an activity. This usually means the participation fee or donation. If the program charges an equipment fee, that is also included. Merchandise sales are not allowed on BPR property.
The department calculates fees based on the percentage of programming that takes place at BPR parks and facilities. If programs also occur at Open Space or other county locations, applicants must provide a list of all dates and locations so the department can prorate the fees accurately.
At the end of the season or year, applicants provide records showing gross receipts from activities held in BPR spaces. If all activities occur on BPR property, receipts are sufficient. If only part of the program occurs on BPR property, applicants must clearly show which activities took place at which locations.
The department recognizes that reporting formats may vary. Larger programs are expected to provide records from a bookkeeping system, while smaller programs may submit spreadsheets or other simple formats.
Applicants must submit their year-end reconciliation within one month of completing their operations, based on the dates listed in their approved requests. If operations extend into December, the department will estimate and reconcile any remaining amounts in the following year.
The department follows up with applicants twice by email and once by phone. If applicants do not respond or fail to submit required reports or payments, the department may deny their ACApp for the following year.
