Shelter Rentals

Reserve a park shelter for your next party, potluck or picnic!

City Park Shelter Reservations

Park Shelter Rentals online reservation-Completed for 2023. Last day of season is Labor Day...see General Park guidelines below
Reservations are open Mid-January of each year.
Rental season: 1st weekend in May and ends on Labor Day. You must be 18 years old to request a reservation and 21 years old to add on an alcohol permit.
A minimum of two weeks notice is needed for the online process and Alcohol request.
For shorter notice, neighborhood community permits or other questions, including changes to a reservation, contact the park reservation clerk at Main Phone: 303-413-7200, option #3, then option #2. You may also send an email to moorek@bouldercolorado.gov.

Park shelters may not be reserved for any event that is a paid instructional event, advertised on social media, open to the general public or for fundraising.
Third party request are not allowed.
If you are a Organization/Business or Company Picnic Please enter address: as % Org/business name, 1111 ANY St, when creating an Account for the Reservation.
Shelters reservation time block is: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with one group allowed to reserve per day. Use what you need during this time block, clean up and take photos as needed if you leave the area earlier than 8:00 pm
Please refrain from the use of water balloons, pinata and other items that leave small pieces in the area, protect birds and wildlife. Try 3 legged race, puppet shows or face painting.
Shelters available for reservation:

Fees (+ deposits are due upon reservation)

  • Boulder residents - $100
  • Non-residents - $125
  • Alcohol permits - $25

Deposit is $100 or $200 with alcohol permit requests. Deposits are returned after the event provided the area is clean and undamaged..

Eben G Fine Park and Tom Watson Park shelters are not available for shelter reservation. Eben G Fine Park is not available due to public use at capacity. Tom Watson Park is not available and is under discussion for improvements.

City review of online requests

Your online reservation may be reviewed by city staff and you will be contacted in the event of any questions or city programs that may interfere with the reservation site, purpose of use or date of use.

How to Make a Reservation, pay fees and deposits

Create an account or login

Get started by either logging into your account or creating one with City of Boulder Parks and Recreation.
Note: if you require translation to another language the final permit will not convert and you may need Translation Software. Or you can contact our office to make a translation for you.

Choose a park shelter

Once you're logged in, choose a park shelter and click on the one you'd like to reserve.

Finalize your reservation

  • Choose your date from the calendar
  • If there will be alcohol, select it in "event type."

General Park guidelines (visiting the park without a reservation)

Park shelters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, unless they are reserved. Groups with a park shelter reservation will have priority use of the shelter.

We ask all park visitors to be mindful of others and share our public lands for the benefit of all to create an inclusive and welcoming park system. Groups must be limited to 50 people or fewer. All participants must follow local and state public health guidance. Glass containers, amplification, bounce houses, alcohol and private grills are prohibited. Electrical access is not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chautauqua Park is the open lawn area north of the Chautauqua buildings to Baseline Road within the circular drive. The shelter located behind the Dining Hall is a Chautauqua Association rental.
If your group in the open lawn area is between 50 and 100 people you will need a large group gathering permit and your event must end by 5 p.m. No part of the open lawn is reserved.
You must have a additional alcohol permit to alcohol at Chautauqua park open lawn area for any size group. The permit may have a fee and requires a deposit of $100 to $200.
Requests for the Chautauqua Park lawn are not available online. Please contact Kim Moore at moorek@bouldercolorado.gov.

NOTE: The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department manages the trail system. The Chautauqua Association owns and manages the buildings and lodging. The Chautauqua Dining Hall is a private business.

If your event is open to the public or for fund raising, you must apply for a Special Event Permit

In order for a park shelter to be approved for the reservation process it must not have any risk factors/concerns for the public; have running water restrooms, a covered shelter area with dedicated/stationary picnic tables, be handicap accessible.

Your name, business or organization name (if applicable), address, phone number, birthdate, park location, and maximum number of people expected. The process can be completed by using the Shelter Rental Reservation Process and payment made by VISA, MC, Discover or AmEx.

The deposit will be returned within 14 days or sooner after your event. If you paid with a credit card the refund will be credited back to the same credit card, if this card is still active. If you paid with cash or check you will receive a check from the City of Boulder finance office.

At this time the use of Electrical outlets is being reviewed for 2024 season. All outlets have been turned off during the off season to avoid any unauthorized use..

You may bring a battery-operated portable player, waist-band type microphone or have acoustical music only.
For amplification and/or live bands please apply for the Central Park/Civic area under the special event permit or at the Boulder Reservoir.

Only a few parks will allow Food Truck Vendors, other parks need to have them drop off the food and leave: such as Chautauqua Park - as Chautauqua has brick and mortar restaurant and cafe established in the area. Some parks are too small for food truck vendors.
see more here

Cancellation Policy: One-half (50%) of the fee will be refunded if cancellation is 15 days or more before the scheduled date. If your reservation is canceled 14 days or less before scheduled date, no refund will be issued.

Changes and Rescheduling Policy: Reservations may be changed ($15.00 Admin Fee is applied), providing the date(s) are in the same rental season, the date(s) are available and do not interfere with any other functions.

Inclement Weather Policy: No refunds are given due to inclement conditions. However, if there is space available, we will be happy to reschedule your reservation during the same rental season. Email moorek@bouldercolorado.gov OR call our main office 303-413-7200 Option 0 for operator, within 24 hours of your scheduled event and leave a message if after business hours.

To learn more about what is allowed in parks such as: metal detecting, camping, plant protection, etc. go to Urban Ranger Program page. And you can check under the City Attorney's page, under the Boulder Revised Code in Resources listed there.

Alcohol Rules 5-7-5.A(21)

The Manager may revoke the permit and evict participants from the facility or park for unruly, drunken, or other behavior which creates a public disturbance, or for violation of these rules or any condition of a permit. No person shall consume or dispense any malt, vinous, or spirituous liquor or fermented malt beverage in violation of these rules or of any condition of a permit issued pursuant to them.

CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

  1. City Alcohol Permits will be issued on a first-come/first-served basis. No more than one permit shall be issued for any location at any one time.
  2. City Alcohol Permits will be issued for use at specified locations only.
  3. Glass containers are prohibited.
  4. All participants must be 21 years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  5. Alcohol is not for sale at this event and may not be provided by catering service, or vendor.
  6. Promotion of this event with media, social or otherwise opening to the public, is prohibited.
  7. All malt, vinous, or spirituous liquor or fermented malt beverage shall be served and consumed within 25 feet of the shelter/area. Persons shall not leave the approved location with alcohol in open containers.
  8. All state and local alcohol laws must be obeyed.

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