Boulder’s system of Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is a powerful and enduring reflection of Boulder’s values. The Boulder community has spent decades protecting natural lands, and in 1986, voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to define open space purposes and guide management.
The City Charter states that open space shall be acquired, maintained, preserved, retained and used only for the following purposes:
- natural areas with features or species of special value
- water, landscapes and ecosystems
- passive recreation
- agriculture
- limiting sprawl
- urban shaping
- floodplain protection
- aesthetics
- quality of life
