Tag
open space
46 Porch Notes tagged “open space,” from counties across Colorado.
Outdoors and wildfire - Jefferson County
Jeffco's open space parks come with their own rules
Jefferson County runs a large county-owned parks and open space system, with rules and seasonal closures that differ from state or national lands nearby.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Douglas County
At Sandstone Ranch near Larkspur, three trail loops trade meadow for red rock and forest
Sandstone Ranch Open Space near Larkspur is a free Douglas County property where three stacked loops carry walkers, riders, and bikers from hay meadows up into red rock and ponderosa pine.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Denver County
Denver's designated natural areas keep prairie inside the city
Denver keeps five designated natural areas of native prairie, wetland, and habitat tucked inside its park system, managed wild on purpose.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - El Paso County
Red Rock Canyon turns old quarry ground into west-side open space
Red Rock Canyon Open Space turns Colorado Springs quarry and mill ground into trails, climbing, and links toward Section 16 and Intemann.
Read note ->Water and land - Arapahoe County
The High Line Canal runs through Arapahoe County, but it is not a backyard water source
The historic High Line Canal is an irrigation and recreation corridor through Arapahoe County, not a water supply that comes with a nearby home.
Read note ->Local rules - Douglas County
Douglas County open space has its own rulebook
County open space sets its own rules for dogs, fires, vehicles, trails, trash, and closed areas, so check before you go.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Denver County
Heron Pond ties north Denver back to the South Platte
Heron Pond stitches north Denver's old industrial river edge back into open space, linking natural area, park, habitat, and the South Platte corridor.
Read note ->Water and land - Douglas County
Protected Douglas County land is not always public trail land
Protected open space can be county-owned, partner-owned, or a private easement, and only some of it is open to the public.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Arapahoe County
The High Line Canal Trail is a 71-mile cottonwood corridor for walking and riding
Beyond its old irrigation role, the High Line Canal is a long, tree-lined recreation trail that threads Arapahoe County and stitches the south metro together for walkers, riders, and cyclists.
Read note ->Local rules - Adams County
Adams park commercial activity needs a vendor permit
Charging money in an Adams County park, from fitness classes to food service, calls for a county vendor permit first.
Read note ->Local rules - Adams County
Adams park fireworks and weapons are not allowed
Fireworks, firearms, projectiles, and explosives can't be set off in Adams County parks, trails, and open space unless law allows it.
Read note ->Local rules - Adams County
Adams special use permits cover larger park groups
In Adams County, a group of 25 or more at a park, trail, or open space needs a special use permit, with dates and areas spelled out.
Read note ->Local rules - Arapahoe County
Arapahoe open space dogs need leashes unless posted otherwise
Keep dogs leashed on Arapahoe County open space and in county parks unless a posted sign sets a different rule.
Read note ->Local rules - Arapahoe County
Arapahoe open space wheels have to share the trail
Bikes and some electric mobility devices are allowed on Arapahoe open space unless posted, but wheels must yield to walkers and horses.
Read note ->Local rules - Boulder County
Boulder County open-space research needs permission first
Research and biological collection on Boulder County open space need a permit before any fieldwork begins.
Read note ->Money and taxes - Boulder County
Boulder taxed itself to buy open space and drew a 'blue line' on the map
In 1967 Boulder voters approved a sales tax dedicated to buying open space, and an earlier charter 'blue line' limited city water service up the mountainside, both shaping the city you see today.
Read note ->Local rules - Jefferson County
Jeffco open space drones are not casual park toys
Flying a drone over Jeffco Open Space is restricted unless law or county policy allows it, and each land manager keeps its own rules.
Read note ->Local rules - Jefferson County
Jeffco open space e-bike class matters
On Jeffco Open Space, e-bike access turns on the bike's class, the trail surface, and whether bicycles are allowed there at all.
Read note ->Local rules - Jefferson County
Jeffco open space events and businesses need permits
Many events, organized activities, and commercial uses on Jeffco open space need a permit before the date is set.
Read note ->Local rules - Jefferson County
Jeffco open space trails have a yield order
On Jeffco open space trails, wheels yield to walkers and walkers yield to horses, with safe passing the rule on blind curves.
Read note ->Local rules - Boulder County
Large Boulder County open-space groups need permit homework
Big group gatherings on Boulder County open space need a special-use permit, and commercial activity is mostly off the table.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Adams County
Pelican Ponds is a South Platte open-space stop in Thornton
Pelican Ponds is a 200-acre open space on the South Platte's west bank in Thornton, with trails, fishing, nature play, and disc golf.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Arapahoe County
Richmil Ranch keeps a windmill and prairie edge near Deer Trail
A half mile northwest of Deer Trail, Richmil Ranch Open Space keeps 352 acres of prairie, soft trails, and a restored windmill from its ranching days.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - El Paso County
Ute Valley Park protects a rocky hogback on the northwest side
Northwest Colorado Springs holds a rocky hogback at Ute Valley Park: tilted rock spines, wildlife habitat, and trails for hiking, biking, and running.
Read note ->Local rules - Adams County
Adams park objects stay where they are
In Adams County parks and open space, leaving plants, rocks, signs, and fixtures untouched is a rule, not just trail manners.
Read note ->Local rules - Adams County
Adams park trash rules include what you bring from home
Adams County park trash cans are for park use; hauling household or business garbage in to dump is off limits.
Read note ->Money and taxes - Arapahoe County
Arapahoe building permits can include open-space use tax
When you pull an Arapahoe County building permit, Public Works collects an open-space use tax based on the project's valuation.
Read note ->Money and taxes - Arapahoe County
Arapahoe has its own open-space sales and use tax layer
A voter-approved open-space tax is one of the sales-tax layers in Arapahoe County, and it is remitted to the state.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Jefferson County
Centennial Cone gives Jefferson County a near-backcountry foothills park
Centennial Cone Park northwest of Golden trades city-edge convenience for long trails, open slopes, and a near-backcountry feel.
Read note ->Local rules - Jefferson County
Jeffco open space camping and after-hours use need a check
Jeffco Open Space closes outside park hours and allows camping only by advance permit in designated spots, so a trailhead is not a campsite.
Read note ->Local rules - Jefferson County
Jeffco open space wildlife is not for feeding
Feeding wildlife and releasing animals are both off-limits on Jeffco open space, because fed animals turn into problem animals.
Read note ->Local rules - Adams County
Adams park research needs county approval
Any study in an Adams County park or open space needs the Parks director's approval before fieldwork begins.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Boulder County
Betasso Preserve is where Boulder County open space got its start
Betasso Preserve, west of Boulder, began as the county's first open-space purchase: ranch land bought from Ernie Betasso in 1976.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Boulder County
Hall Ranch is Boulder County's sandstone-and-grassland classroom
Near Lyons, Hall Ranch trades dark high forest for rolling grassland, sandstone buttes, wildflowers, and wide foothill views.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Boulder County
Heil Valley Ranch layers foothills, ranch history, and recovery
Heil Valley Ranch holds prehistoric sites, old ranch buildings, a meadow silo, and the scars of the 2020 Cal-Wood Fire in one place.
Read note ->History and culture - Adams County
Historic Splendid Valley keeps Brighton's farm edge visible
Historic Splendid Valley is a Brighton and Adams County effort to keep working farmland south of Brighton, with its history intact.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Denver County
O'Fallon Park helps stitch together the Bear Creek corridor
O'Fallon Park's 860 acres link Corwina and Pence parks into one protected Bear Creek corridor of trails, habitat, and foothills shade.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Arapahoe County
Tsistsistas-Hinono'ei Park has a council ring and shaded paths
Tsistsistas-Hinono'ei Park, also called Cheyenne-Arapaho Park, pairs a quiet neighborhood green with a tribute sculpture and council ring.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Broomfield County
Broomfield County Commons is the city's central prairie open space
Broomfield County Commons Open Space is a flat prairie loop in the middle of the city with reservoir overlooks and Front Range views.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Arapahoe County
Mule Gulch is part of Arapahoe County's West Bijou conservation story
Mule Gulch Open Space is a 929-acre conserved property near Byers tying dryland wheat, shortgrass prairie, and cottonwoods to the West Bijou drainage.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Larimer County
Hermit Park is the quiet open-space edge of Estes Park
Hermit Park Open Space is county-owned forest and wet meadow southeast of Estes Park with camping, cabins, and trails, and its own permits and rules.
Read note ->Water and land - Boulder County
Walker Ranch sits on billion-year-old rock above a fishing creek
Walker Ranch open space southwest of Boulder is built on ancient Boulder Creek granodiorite and offers fly fishing along South Boulder Creek.
Read note ->Water and land - Larimer County
River Bluffs is a small Poudre River window near I-25
River Bluffs Open Space is a small Poudre River stop in southeast Fort Collins, tied into the longer regional trail.
Read note ->History and culture - Larimer County
Ramsay-Shockey protects a quiet buffer above Pinewood Reservoir
A 177-acre Larimer preserve above Pinewood Reservoir, bought in 1997 for habitat, a water buffer, and a quiet four-mile trail.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Larimer County
The Devil's Backbone is a tilted rock fin west of Loveland
Devil's Backbone Open Space protects a hogback, a wall of sedimentary rock that the same forces that built the Rockies tipped on edge, and it is a popular trail area close to town.
Read note ->Water and land - Adams County
Riverdale Regional Park ties the fairgrounds to the South Platte River Trail
Riverdale Regional Park near Brighton is the county's main fairgrounds and open-space hub, with golf, disc golf, and a link to the South Platte River Trail.
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