…is now available online. You can download a copy of Preservation in Progress 2014 from the JCOS website http://jeffco.us/open-space/reports/annual-report/ or you can read it online at www.issuu.com/jeffcoopenspace .
For additional information or questions, please contact Thea Rock, JCOS Manager of Communications, directly at tr***@*************co.us, D 303-271-5902, C 720-556-3354.
Seasonal closures will be implemented at Jeffco Open Space Parks on March 1 through July 31. Parks where closures will take place are Crown Hill Park in the Wildlife Sanctuary, North Table Mountain Park along Rim Rock Trail, and Cathedral Spires Park climbing area. These annual seasonal closures allow wildlife to successfully nest, rear young, or survive a critical time in their lifecycles with minimal human disturbance.
In addition, four rock-climbing crags in Clear Creek Canyon Park are currently closed to protect nesting golden eagles. The areas known as Stumbling Block, Bumbling Block and Skinny Legs/Blonde Formation are all within one-quarter mile of an established nesting area with bolted climbing routes directly blow it. These crags are located west of Tunnel One in Clear Creek Canyon and will remain closed through mid-May.
Jeffco Open Space monitoring volunteers, natural resources staff and park rangers will monitor these sites and enforce the closures. Help us protect the wildlife that make Jeffco Open Space Parks and Trails the extraordinary places that enrich our lives.
For questions or additional information, contact Jeff Golden, Communications Assistant, Jeffco Open Space:
303-271-5903 direct
720-556-3354 mobile
View of the Arvada off-leash dog park, between Leyden Road and West 64th Avenue, near where the proposed public shooting range may be developed.
Jeffco Open Space is working with the city of Arvada in hopes of creating a county shooting range on property owned by the municipality. The Arvada site was designated as the most acceptable location for an outdoor facility, after months of study by a working group, which included Jeffco Open Space.
To read the entire story, go to http://www.canyoncourier.com/content/jeffco-open-space-working-arvada-develop-public-shooting-range
White Ranch Park. Wrangler’s Run Trail reopens, but the Mustang Trail (in red) remains closed until July 2015.
News release from Thea Rock, JCOS Communications Manager, tr***@****co.us or 303-271-5902
Wrangler’s Run at White Ranch Park will reopen to recreation by the end of the day on
Tuesday, February 10. The 0.5-mile trail was heavily damaged in the September 2013 floods
and is reopening thanks in part to support from Jeffco Open Space Trails Volunteers. About 400
feet of the trail has been rerouted to better withstand future storms.
Volunteers work on the trails at White Ranch Park.
Mustang Trail remains closed. This 2.2-mile trail will be rerouted and open to the public by July 2015.
Throughout flood recovery, Jeffco Open Space has benefited from funds from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) and Great Outdoors Colorado.
A giant chair built on the Journey Ranch property by members of the Journey Church, circa 2013. The Journey Church has since left the Conifer area.
From the Canyon Courier, Feb 10th 2015
by Gabrielle Porter
“The Conifer Area Council has asked Jeffco Open Space to consider buying the 45-acre ranch owned by the now-defunct Journey Community Church to complete CAC’s goal of connecting Conifer’s trails…”
Read the entire article at
http://www.canyoncourier.com/content/conifer-area-council-asks-jeffco-open-space-buy-journey-ranch
Beginning February 15, 2015, Jeffco Open Space will implement a climbing closure in Clear Creek Canyon Park. Four crags and 12 routes used for climbing in Clear Creek Canyon Park will be closed for the protection of nesting golden eagles. This seasonal closure through July 31, 2015 will ensure compliance with the Federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
To minimize disturbance to golden eagles, the following areas will be closed: Stumbling Block, Bumbling Stock, and Skinny Legs/Blonde Formation. These crags are all within one-quarter mile and within sight of a nesting area that has a bolted climbing route directly below it. These areas are located west of tunnel one in Clear Creek Canyon.
Jeffco Open Space raptor monitoring volunteers, natural resources staff and park rangers will monitor this site and enforce the closure. If the pair of eagles does not show signs of nesting in the identified areas by May 15, 2015, the seasonal closure will be lifted so that climbing can take place in this area.
Violations of this closure may result in a fine of $100,000, imprisonment, or both. For more information on The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c), enacted in 1940 visit: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwestbird/eaglepermits/bagepa.html
Jeffco Open Space was founded as a land conservation organization in 1972 to preserve land, protect park and natural resources and provide healthy nature-based experiences. We are funded with a one-half of one percent sales tax that has preserved over 53,617 acres and created 28 regional parks and 230 miles of trails in Jefferson County.
For questions or additional information contact Thea Rock, tr***@****co.us or 303‐271‐5902
From observing wildlife and assisting visitors to bringing history to life, volunteers find many ways to contribute to Jeffco Open Space. Learn about all the opportunities by dropping in at a Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Thursday, February 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jeffco Open Space Administration Building, 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401. For more info, visit http://jeffco.us/open-space/volunteer/job-descriptions/.
Many Thanks,
Will Lebzelter
Communications Associate
Jeffco Open Space
303.271.5961
Apex Park is scheduled to be closed starting at 5 p.m. Wed., Nov. 19 and continuing all day on Thurs., Nov. 20. The closure will allow for safe and efficient staging and delivery of materials for new bridges along several sections of heavily damaged lower Apex Trail. Also on Nov. 20, from 7 a.m. to noon, portions of trails in the southwest section of White Ranch Park—Sawmill, Mustang and Upper Belcher Hill—will be closed for staging and delivery of materials to repair trail damage along Mustang and Wrangler’s Run. See map. The historic floods of September 2013 caused severe damage at both Jeffco Open Space Parks.
Jeffco Open Space plans to reopen all Apex Trail by November 26. Closed trail sections at White Ranch Park will be reopened in 2015. Since September 2013, there have been months of planning, labor by staff and volunteers, and a required review of major trail repair plans in order to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood recovery funds. When Apex Trail reopens in its entirety, directional travel for mountain bikers—one-way travel on odd dates—will be reinstated.
Tim Sandsmark
Lookout Region Supervisor
Jeffco Open Space
720-497-7602 direct
303-916-6553 mobile
The long anticipated connection from Reynolds Park, which is near Conifer, to the Colorado Trail opened October 11. The 9.3 miles of natural surface trail is open hikers, bikers and equestrians. For details see the news release at the Jeffco Open Space site, http://jeffco.us/parks/news/2014/north-fork-trail-opens-saturday,-october-11-in-south-jeffco/
Jeffco Open Space & Parks has recently earned National Agency Accreditation from CAPRA, the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. This accreditation is in recognition to JCOS’ commitment to excellence.
The accreditation process is a self-assessment which is then reviewed during a CAPRA on-site visitation, which was done last July. The CAPRA Commission rendered their decision on October 13, based on their assertion that JCOS met 143 of 144 established CAPRA standards. Jeffco Open Space and Parks is now CAPRA Accredited through 2018 when the agency must seek re-accreditation.
Read the full story at http://jeffco.us/parks/news/2014/jeffco-open-space-and-parks-receives-national-agency-accreditation/
