Shelter Rentals

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

City Park Shelter Reservations

Park Shelter Rentals for the 2025 season are now closed. We are unable to approve reservations beyond Labor Day.
Fall and Winter = no reservations are available, 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.
Refer to City Park regulations
TIP: you may arrive early to save tables, bring pre-cooked foods only, pack it in/pack it out.
Notes: Park shelters may be reserved for private, invitation-only events. Reservations will not be approved for activities involving financial gain, including ticketed events, fundraisers, or commercial use.

Rental Season: First 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.
Rental Season Fees: $110.00 for Resident, and $135.00 for Non-Resident plus any applicable deposits.

A minimum of two weeks notice is needed for the online process and alcohol requests. 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 the *financial benefit or profit a business, any event that is a paid instructional event, advertised on social media, open to the general public or for fundraising. Third party requests are not allowed.

If this is for an Organization/Business or Company Picnic Please enter address: as % Org/business name,. Address, etc. 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 p.m.

Please refrain from the use of water balloons, piñata and other items that leave small pieces in the area to protect birds and wildlife. Suggestions: 3 legged race, Ring or frisbee toss, puppet shows or face painting, bubble soccer is fine.

Shelters available for reservation:

  • Foothills Community Park (Shelters A, B and C) - Max capacity per shelter is 50
    • If your party is between 50-99 people, please reserve shelters A and B
    • If your party is 100 people or larger, please reserve shelters A, B, and C
  • Harlow Platts Park - Max capacity is 250
  • Martin Park - Max capacity is 100
  • North Boulder Park - Max capacity is 250. (from North Boulder Park page - find the Projects page for updates)

Fees (+ deposits are due upon reservation)

  • Boulder residents - $110
  • Non-residents - $135
  • 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. Electrical outlets are available at some shelter sites; however, their functionality is not guaranteed.

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.

  • Parks general rules and guidelines Call 303-441-333 - general dispatch.. ask if Urban Park Rangers are available about increased patrols, complaints or concerns, questions, and to report non-emergency offenses
  • Spread awareness of Leave No Trace principles and encourage park users to reduce, reuse and recycle.
  • Plan to bring your own bags to pack out your trash and recycling due to reduced park service levels.
  • Be aware of safety conditions and fire bans. Check the Boulder Office of Disaster Management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chautauqua Park is the open Park 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 on the park lawn area is between 50 and 100 people, a Rite of Life event (wedding/memorial) you will need a large group gathering permit and your event must end by 5 p.m. No part of the park lawn is reserved.
You must have a additional alcohol permit to have alcohol at Chautauqua park lawn area for any size group, Alcohol must stay on the "green". The permit has a fee and requires a deposit of $100 to $200. An alcohol permit may not be given if a Large Group permit has already been issued = at no time will 2 permits be issues for the same time frame.
Requests for the Chautauqua Park lawn are not available online. Please contact by email: Kim Moore at moorek@bouldercolorado.gov.
Again.. 50 people or less - no permit is needed, follow the general public guidelines.

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

The City Code on alcohol does not allow any alcohol or open containers on public land without a permit. You will need to reserve a shelter during the rental season in order to bring alcohol.
Other locations that allow alcohol without a permit are: Boulder Reservoir, Flatirons Golf Course.

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.
If paying with Cash or Check - then please contact Kim Moore by email: Moorek@bouldercolorado.gov

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.

Electrical use is not guaranteed for a shelter reservation, You may find the GFI outlets and use them if available. Please try pressing the small button to reset the plugs if they are not working.
If the GFI outlet does not reset, no staff will be available to assist with electrical use during your reservation.
Electrical outlets are turned off during the fall/winter 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 or over-crowded for food truck vendors, such as Eben G Fine park and Martin Park.
Parks approved are considered Community Parks: East Boulder Community Park, Foothills Community Park, Harlow Platts Park, and North Boulder Park.

No.. Any structure provided by a 3rd party vendor that requires stakes and/or a generator is not allowable at neighborhood or community parks unless under a Special Event permit which may take up to 90 days to approve. Please provide ground friendly games, puppet shows, face painting, ring or frisbee toss, bubble soccer and a small wading pool (bring your own 5 gallon water to fill it up- water is only available in the restrooms/water fountains.)
Refrain from egg toss, water balloons, and pinatas - unless you place a tarp and will pick up all the pieces left behind.

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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