Category Archives: Hot Topics

Recruitment now underway for Parks & Open Space Advisory Board

Posted on December 7, 2018 by batco

Boulder County invites residents to voice opinions, share expertise, and provide guidance on open space issues

Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County is seeking volunteers who would like to voice their opinions and help guide staff decisions on Parks & Open Space issues, including new land acquisitions and the management of existing properties.

The county is recruiting residents for five open at-large POSAC positions. Advisory boards and commissions provide recommendations to the Boulder County Commissioners and give residents the opportunity to have their voices heard within Boulder County government. The county, in turn, benefits from this citizen input.

If you have an interest or expertise in Boulder County Parks & Open Space issues, please consider applying!

To view descriptions and requirements for various boards and commissions now recruiting or to fill out an application, visit the Advisory Boards and Commissions Vacancies page of the Boulder County website.

The deadline to submit applications for the winter recruitment session is Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. 

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Eldorado Canyon State Park to Walker Ranch Trail Connection — please participate!

Posted on November 26, 2018 by batco

Open House Scheduled for Nov. 28

Boulder County Parks & Open Space, the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will host an open house to present the findings of the feasibility study and the preliminary recommendations of the partner agencies for a preferred trail alignment between Walker Ranch Open Space and Eldorado Canyon State Park.

What: Eldorado Canyon to Walker Ranch Connection Open House
When: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – presentation at 6 p.m.
Where: City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, 2520 55th St., Boulder

Laptops will be available for members of the public to submit comments on site at the open house, or they can be submitted via the online form beginning Wednesday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 9.

The Feasibility Study and supporting materials will be posted on the project webpage in advance of the open house.

 

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Help Preserve Passive Recreation on Boulder’s Open Space & Mountain Parks for the Next 50 Years: Your Input Matters!

Posted on November 16, 2018 by batco

Now is the Time to Make Your Voice Heard!

Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is working feverishly to create a new “Master Plan” that will guide all aspects of the program for the next 50 years.  No kidding.

This project will attempt to balance passive recreation (including hiking, biking, horseback riding, dog walking, and nature viewing) on 50,000 acres of open space around the City of Boulder, from close to the Peak-to-Peak Highway to the East County Line, and from Rocky Flats to close to Rabbit Mountain.

While the area contains many wonderful trails, there is the potential for so much more access — without compromising environmental quality.  But if they don’t hear from you, we may never be able to appreciate it.

Here’s how YOU can help.  Please take this short online survey and make sure your vision of public access to public lands is included.

http://bit.ly/2F2pISl

Remember to address issues that are important to you personally and how you enjoy (or want to enjoy) our shared public lands in the future.

If you want to protect your access to public lands, these are some of the issues of concern:

–Night time access to trails
–Off trail travel
–Multi-use trails
–Regional trail connections
–Strategic new property acquisitions

Suggestion: Make a brief PERSONAL statement of how, when, where & why you use currently use Open Space and what you desire in the future, for example: “I run with my dog at Joder Ranch each morning at 5AM to maintain my health and sanity. I want to see more opportunities to do this on other Open Space areas in the future!” or “I want to see new, high-quality trails that link existing OSMP properties to create a world-class trail system in Boulder!”

Please like & share this post on social media … and urge your friends to weigh in as well.  We need to get our collective message heard far and wide!

You may add more comments in a separate email if you wish: osmpmasterplan@bouldercolorado.gov

**** Deadline for comments is Tuesday November 20
so don’t procrastinate!  Do it now! ****

 

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Please respond to the OSMP Master Plan Survey

Posted on November 7, 2018 by batco

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is seeking YOUR input regarding your use of and desires for OSMP into the next decade and beyond.  Please let them know that you support better trails and access for passive recreation by filling out and returning the survey below.  Thanks!

https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4669180/b26f7389918e

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Recreation Changes at Gross Reservoir

Posted on October 3, 2018 by batco

In case you’ve been wondering about recreation opportunities at Gross Reservoir during construction of the expanded dam, here’s a brochure that Denver Water wants to share with you.  For more information, please contact:

Britny Kalule
for Denver Water

303-6286348
grossreservoir@denverwater.org

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On Trails — by Robert Moor

Posted on July 1, 2018 by batco

Not since Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods” (about the Appalachian Trail) has a book about trails been on the New York Times Bestseller List — but this new one is.  It’s a great read — here you go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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UPRR- Rail Trail

Posted on January 11, 2018 by batco

Hey, trail advocates — this amazing interactive map shows some of the abandoned rail lines in the US, including the UPRR in Boulder County.  Anybody out there interested in helping us get this rail-trail conversion underway??

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mapping-ghostly-traces-abandoned-railroads-interactive-crowdsourced-atlas?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=e81fd9b38a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_01_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f36db9c480-e81fd9b38a-65758973&ct=t()&mc_cid=e81fd9b38a&mc_eid=9d8668ef1e

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BATCO “Harvest Party” and Meeting Monday, Nov. 13, 2017

Posted on October 24, 2017 by batco
Monday 7-9pm

Alfalfa’s Boulder, Community Room

Refreshments will be served 🙂

It’s been an exciting summer for trail fans!

Join us for an informal discussion of what we’ve accomplished and what we plan to do in 2018.

Topics include:

  • Magnolia Trails
  • Lagerman Trails
  • Rabbit Mtn Elk Management
  • Trailbuilding at Heil 2
  • New Trails at Heil 2
  • What would you like to talk about? Let us know ahead of time (info@bouldertrails.org) or just come to the meeting and join the conversation.
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Posted on September 27, 2017 by batco

Greetings, Trail Users!   

                                                               
What:
It’s National Public Lands Day!  

This is YOUR INVITATION to participate with BCHA, BATCO and Boulder County Parks & Open Space in a fun morning of building a NEW PEDESTRIAN/EQUESTRIAN TRAIL at Heil Valley Ranch.  This new trail will connect the new  parking / trailhead at Heil and two other new trails with the existing trail system. Show your appreciation for public lands by joining up with the project!

Date:
Saturday, September 30th from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Overview:
We will be fine-tuning the new pedestrian/equestrian connector at Heil Valley Ranch. The work will be moderately strenuous and will include the use of hand tools such as McLeods, pick mattocks, and your brawn.

We will be about a 15 minute walk away from the parking lot and your vehicles, so it is a good idea to bring a backpack to carry water, snacks, clothes, etc.

Schedule:
Meeting time: 9:00am        Project End time: 12:00 pm

Location:  
“The Corrals” at Heil Valley Ranch.
2-1952 Geer Canyon Dr, Boulder, CO 80302.
Click for Map

Directions to the “Corrals” at Heil Valley Ranch:

  • From Boulder:  Travel north on Foothills Highway 36.  Turn left on Lefthand Canyon Drive.  Turn right on Geer Canyon Drive, and drive 0.3 miles.  Meeting location and parking will be on the left just before the road turns from paved to dirt.
  • From Longmont:  Travel west on Nelson Road, then turn left on Foothills Highway 36.  Turn right on Lefthand Canyon Drive.   Turn right on Geer Canyon Drive and drive 0.3 miles.  Meeting location and parking will be on the left just before the road turns from paved to dirt.

Weather:
Weather in Colorado is unpredictable no matter the time of year.  It is important that you bring warm and waterproof clothing that you can work in, as we will try to complete the work in slightly inclement weather (cold temps, light rain/snow).  I would suggest checking the forecast before the project at NOAA and search Longmont, CO.  I will let you know as soon as possible if we need to cancel/postpone due to more severe weather predictions.

What You Should Bring:
Water bottle and water
Snacks
Sturdy shoes/boots – no sandals please (yes, people have shown up in sandals)
Pants – recommended
Sunscreen
Work gloves (if you have a special pair) otherwise we will provide
Layers of clothes
Rain gear
Backpack – for carrying clothing, food, ect.
Binoculars or camera (optional)

We will provide:
Snacks
Work gloves
Extra Water
First aid kit
All necessary tools
Corny jokes

Your contribution toward this project will be greatly appreciated.   We look forward to seeing you.  Please feel free to contact Ari if you have any additional questions.  Thanks again for volunteering with BATCO, BCHA and Boulder County Parks & Open Space!

Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel, for BATCO / BCHA
Ari Addes, for BCPOS

RSVP:
Ari Addes | Recreation & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator
Boulder County Parks and Open Space
5201 St. Vrain Rd. Longmont CO 80503
Office: 303-678-6344 | Cell: 720-597-0898
aaddes@bouldercounty.org
Twitter | Facebook | Wildwork

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The Open Sky Trail is Open (where?)

Posted on July 4, 2017 by batco

Come check out the wonderful new 5.5 mile trail north of Lagerman Reservoir, west of Longmont!  BATCO helped sponsor this trail with a $10,000 grant from the sales of our Trails and Recreation Map of Boulder County.

(scroll down for map)

 

 

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