Show/Hide

The City of Boulder welcomes your feedback. Use our Inquire Boulder customer service tool to tell us what’s on your mind.

  • Parks and Recreation
  • Recreation Guide
  • Parks and Recreation Master Plan
  • Parks
  • Plans and Reports
  • Forestry and Horticulture
  • Recreation Programs
  • Recreation Facilities
  • News and Events
Home » Parks Rec » Park and Shelter Rentals

Park and Shelter Rentals

Park and Shelter Rentals

2017 Shelter Rental Season: May 5 to Sept. 4

Save drive time and the environment by processing the rental agreement by email: use REQUEST link on the right side of this page.  Request your date 9 months in advance.
        2018 season is first Friday in May to the day after Labor Day in September.

Deadlines for reservations - min notice

  • Seven  (7) calendar days - one week:  before the date of your event for park and shelter reservations.
  • Fifteen (15) calendar days:  before the date of your event submit your alcohol permit request (must be a City of Boulder resident).

Other types of park permits

A) Off-Season Park Use (Sept to April) - first come/first serve for 50 people or fewer. 
Prohibited: Glass containers, alcohol, private grills and amplification.  
Note: Restroom with limited hours during the fall/winter are at Eben G Fine, Foothills Community, Harlow Platts and Tom Watson parks.

B) Parks without shelters and off-season groups of 50 people or more will need a Large Group permit. 

C) Bringing your own gas grill to a park:  to bring a gas grill to any city park you must have a permit from our office. It requires a week notice for the permit to be approved and a $100 deposit.   No private  charcoal grills are allowed.  A Gas grill at any park with a shelter requires the rental of the shelter during the summer season.

Picnic shelter and park descriptions - Time blocks 10-2 pm or 5-9 pm, Fees generally $100/$125.  For more detail use the link: Park and Shelter Rental Reservation Process. 

Shelter Name Location   Description
Eben G Fine Park Shelter 3rd St and Arapahoe Ave No City grills
Gas Grill ok
with permit

maximum group of 100
Foothills Community Park 800 Cherry Ave No City grills
Gas Grill ok
with permit		 maximum group of 50 each for Shelter A, B max of 25 for Shelter C
Harlow Platts Park Shelter 3160 Gillaspie City grills
provided		 maximum group of 250
Martin Park Shelter 36th St and Eastman City grills provided maximum group of 100
North Boulder Park Shelter 9th St and Dellwood City grills provided maximum group of 250
Tom Watson Park Shelter 6180 N 63rd St City grills provided maximum group of 250

Parks Without Shelters - allowing alcohol year round with a  permit (15 days needed)

  • Chautauqua (some restrictions on time/group size)
  • Scott Carpenter Park

Large Group Permits for Private Events

  • Groups with 50 or more people at city parks (excluding reservable Shelters during the summer)  must obtain a Large Group permit prior to gathering.
  • Code 8-3-14. Group permits for private events will not reserve a specific area at the park.
  • Parks will remain open to general park visitors. A $100 to $200 deposit is due for this group permit.

To request a large group permit call 303 413-7200 or email moorek@bouldercolorado.gov.

Popular parks for private events such as weddings, birthday and graduation parties, family reunions, etc., include:  Chautauqua Lawn and Scott Carpenter Park.  These two locatioons are approved for an Alcohol Permit.
(No availability calendar on website for general parks)

Shelter Name Location   Description
Chautauqua Lawn 900 Baseline Rd

City grills not available

Gas Grill with permit

 maximum group of 100
permit ends 5:00 pm
Scott Carpenter Park 1505 30th St City grills not available
Gas Grill with permit		 maximum group of 100

Shelter and facility rentals on Flagstaff Mountain see Open Space and Mountain Parks Department.

View Full Site