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Project Overview

The City of Boulder thanks Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Nations for working with the city to develop a collaborative stewardship plan for a unique city open space site with important historical, ecological and agricultural features and a direct connection to the Sand Creek Massacre. The site is located near Boulder Creek east of 63rd Street and south of Jay Road. It is currently closed to the public while the property management planning process is underway.

Learn more about this unique land through an ArcGIS storymap

Draft Concept Plan
OSMP closely collaborated with Representatives of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Nations to understand their desired long-term relationship with this site and develop a draft Concept Plan with recommendations for how the city – with continuing guidance from Tribal Representatives – will care for the land.

The plan is based on a shared vision for the future: “Heal the Land; Heal the People” and envisions a healing place for all: community members, visitors, wildlife and natural ecosystems.

The Concept Plan includes recommendations for an interpretive, healing trail with educational elements, enhancements to existing agricultural operations and large-scale, ecological restoration along the Boulder Creek corridor.

Community Feedback
The city and Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives thank community members for providing feedback on the draft Concept Plan through an online questionnaire from Monday, March 25, through Sunday, April 14. We received more than 473 completed questionnaires and many written comments PDF. In addition, OSMP staff heard directly from dozens of community members during in-person listening sessions and through emails and long-form comment submissions PDF Written comments received through the engagement period are compiled into a compendium PDF.

Questionnaire results PDF indicate strong community support for the city’s collaborative efforts with Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Representatives (86% strongly support, 6% somewhat support) and the recommendations included in the draft concept plan:

  • Ecological restoration to “heal the land” (84% strongly support, 9% somewhat support)
  • An interpretive, healing trail to “heal the people” (83% strongly support, 8% somewhat support)
  • Continued agricultural operations (54% strongly support, 23% somewhat support)

OSMP staff prepared a written update for the Open Space Board of Trustees PDF with a review of the community feedback received.

Next Steps
Based on the significant support received from the community for the draft Concept Plan and subsequent discussions with Tribal Representatives, we do not foresee any major revisions to the Concept Plan. However, as the design progresses, minor adjustment can be expected. A final Concept Plan will be presented to the Open Space Board of Trustees for their consideration later this summer.

Upon receiving guidance from the Board to proceed with the Concept Plan, we will continue our collaboration with the Tribes. Together, we will focus on designing interpretive elements along the healing trail, carefully considering what information to include and how it should be presented. Additionally, we will initiate the design and implementation of other plan elements, such as ecological restoration and enhancements to the farmstead.

The city recognizes the "Fort Chambers / Poor Farm” name is not consistent with the new vision of creating a healing and welcoming place for all. We look forward to future discussions of possible new names for future trailhead/trails with Tribal Representatives.

Read more about how the city has been working to develop the concept plan in collaboration with representatives from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

Planning Process

Open Space and Mountain Parks staff extend their gratitude to the Tribal Representatives for providing guidance on the future stewardship of the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property.

The planning process includes the following steps. Tribal Collaboration is occurring through all four phases. This project is now in Phase 4 (community and Open Space Board of Trustees feedback).

PhaseStepsTimeline*
Phase 1

Compile Site Information

MOU Development

Q3 2022 - Q1 2023
Phase 2

Identify Opportunities

Develop Alternatives

Q1-Q2 2023
Phase 3

Evaluate Alternatives

Develop Draft Concept Plan

Q3 2023 - Q1 2024
Phase 4
(Current Phase)

Community and Board feedback

Final Plan Development

Final Plan Adoption

Q1-Q3 2024

*Note: Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Contact the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm project team

Site Characteristics

This unique property has important historical, ecological and agricultural features. In March 2023, Open Space and Mountain Parks compiled site information in an online format that includes details on:

City staff also compiled in-depth information about the colonization of lands in Boulder Valley, Fort Chambers, Company D and the Sand Creek Massacre.

A pond on the city's Fort Chambers - Poor Farm property

Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives have provided guidance to prioritize "healing the land" from past uses, such as gravel mining. That work would include restoring the land's ecology, improving wildlife habitat and removing invasive weed species.

City-Tribal Nation Collaboration

The City of Boulder honors Tribal sovereignty and conducts government-to-government consultations with Representatives appointed by elected leaders of Tribal Governments that have historic and enduring connections to the Boulder Valley and share agreements with the city. The city recognizes that Tribal Nations are sovereign governmental entities whose special relationship with the United States is recognized under the Constitution of the United States, treaties, Supreme Court decisions, federal laws and presidential Executive Orders.

Given the land's connection to the Sand Creek Massacre, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) staff have prioritized receiving guidance from Tribal Representatives – including Sand Creek descendants – designated by elected leaders representing the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Throughout this project, the city has collaborated with Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives to:

  • Learn the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe's desired long-term relationship with the land.
  • Understand how best to interpret the land's history and its connection to the Sand Creek Massacre and accurately describe Boulder residents’ role in the massacre.
  • Identify opportunities to incorporate the intergenerational trauma that the Arapaho and Cheyenne Nations have endured from both the colonization of Indigenous lands in the Boulder Valley and the Sand Creek Massacre into Boulder history.
A Sand Creek Massacre marker the City of Boulder plans to reinterpret with Tribal Nations

The city removed this marker – with support from Arapaho and Cheyenne Nation Tribal Representatives – because it inaccurately states that Fort Chambers was used in an “Indian Uprising” in 1864. The city acknowledges it is a false claim because Arapaho and Cheyenne leaders sought peace in the fall of 1864 and Arapaho and Cheyenne Peoples camped at Sand Creek had been promised the protection of the U.S. Army. Exaggerated and false claims of coordinated Indigenous violence helped fan anti-Indigenous hatred in Colorado during the summer and fall of 1864.

City-Tribal Nation Project Development

The city thanks Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Nation for the opportunity to listen to and learn from Tribal Representatives for this project. The timeline below provides a brief overview of city-Tribal Nation consultations for the Fort Chambers – Poor Farm property.

Tribal Representatives toured the land where Fort Chambers is believed to have stood. Staff and tribal representatives discussed the specific open space purposes in the city charter, approved by city voters in 1986, and how those purposes guide day-to-day and long-term stewardship of city open space. Tribal Representatives stressed that staff should not focus only on Fort Chambers but also communicate important historical events that took place before and after the massacre. Representatives also said it is critical to reflect Indigenous perspectives in how the events and stories are told.

Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) shared information on the city-managed Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property to help inform future property stewardship. "Despite its historical significance as the likely location of Fort Chambers, the land is where Boulder County once operated a "poor farm" between 1902 and 1918. The land also has a Queen Anne Victorian house that has been included in the National Register of Historic Places and has significant agricultural and ecological resources.

City staff provided updates on their collaborative work with the Arapaho and Cheyenne Nations to Tribal Representatives from other Tribal Nations during a March 2023 Tribal Consultation. City staff thanks those Tribal Representatives for supporting Arapaho and Cheyenne Nations during the meeting.

The City of Boulder removed an inaccurate and misleading historical marker that marked the location of Fort Chambers, where Company D of the Third Colorado Cavalry trained before participating in atrocities at the Sand Creek Massacre on Nov. 29, 1864. The city removed the marker from city-managed open space – with support from Arapaho and Cheyenne Nation Tribal Representatives – because it inaccurately states that Fort Chambers was used in an “Indian Uprising” in 1864.

Tribal Representatives visited Boulder and participated in a workshop with city staff to discuss their preferences for the site and their desired long-term relationship with the land. A key guiding theme for the land that resonated with Tribal Representatives and city staff was “Heal the Land, Heal the People” through:

  • Prioritizing future stewardship on ecological restoration and exploring opportunities for indigenous plantings and harvesting by Tribal members.
  • Acknowledging its connection to the Sand Creek Massacre through education and interpretation.
  • Providing space for healing, such as a “healing trail” and areas for reflection and offerings.


Tribal Representatives supported continuing agricultural uses on the property and using the Queen-Anne style house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to support agricultural operations. There was interest in exploring potential educational uses as well.

Tribal Representatives said they were not interested in owning the Fort Chambers / Poor Farm property but would like to remain involved long-term by providing meaningful input and advice on future land stewardship and education/interpretive materials.

OSMP used Tribal Representative guidance from the July 2023 consultation to start developing a draft “Concept Plan” for the land. Key elements include:

  • Creating a proposed “Healing Trail” and interpretive areas to provide educational opportunities and support programs with themes that include healing, forgiveness, cultural history, ecology and agriculture. The trail could also provide access to indigenous planting areas, connections to water and views of restoration areas. Trail access would be for hikers only so as not to detract from healing and contemplation.
  • Supporting access with improved visitor infrastructure, such as an improved entrance drive to provide safe access for visitors, along with a small parking lot with a bus pull-out to accommodate visitors and groups.
  • Conducting ecological restoration and conservation work, such as enhancing wildlife habitat and removing invasive weed species.
  • Preserving existing agricultural values on the land, using the house and other structures on the property to support agricultural operations. The city and Tribal Nations can also explore possible educational opportunities as a secondary use.

On March 13, 2024, Tribal Representatives joined Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) staff to present the draft Concept Plan to the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT). Watch the meeting video, where Tribal Representatives shared their comments on the concept plan and their collaboration with city Open Space and Mountain Parks staff.

OSMP staff met with Tribal Representatives to review and discuss the community input received through recent engagement opportunities. There was encouragement by the high level of community support for the draft Concept Plan and general consensus that the plan would not need revisions to support the shared vision and the educational and interpretive elements desired. Tribal Representatives reaffirmed that the site should be a healing place for all, and they would like Boulder County residents to be included in sharing information and healing from past atrocities. They also confirmed that they have felt listened to throughout the process and our collaboration has been a positive experience.

Agricultural operations occurring on the city's Fort Chambers - Poor Farm property

City staff and Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives recognize the importance of preserving existing agricultural values on the land and using the house and other structures on the property to support agricultural operations.

Go Further

Read a broad compilation of timeline information that city staff have developed to provide community members context on colonization of Indigenous lands in the Boulder Valley, Fort Chambers, Company D and the Sand Creek Massacre. We ask community members to go beyond our broad overview and take time to learn more about the Sand Creek Massacre by:

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Related Documents

OSBT Memo - March 13, 2024 pdf
OSBT Memo - Dec. 6, 2023 pdf
OSBT Memo - Sept. 13, 2023.pdf pdf
OSBT Memo - March 9, 2022 pdf
Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution pdf
OSMP Master Plan pdf