Parks Archives - Page 4 of 6

Open Space Update – April 2021

May 6, 2021/0 Comments/in Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

If March saw a lot of snow, it seems like April saw just as much if not more! However, that didn’t seem to slow down the teams at our Jeffco Open Space Parks:

North Table Mountain Park – West Trailhead

The entry sign received a new sign face with updated trailhead name and new timbers.

Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Segment

The Gateway Segment is getting some new steps leading down to the Peaks to Plains Trail. The contractor is installing steel stairs, steel shade structures, and pavers, while the Trails Team is constructing timber stairs.

The Buildings & Historic Sites Team has installing interior plumbing and a snow melt system, while the contractor has installed concrete in front of the restroom.

Peak to Plains Trail

JCOS staff is currently in the midst of a listening tour with Peaks to Plains Trail partners and stakeholders for the Plains Segment from Golden to Adams County. The objective of the effort is to identify and act on opportunities for improvement in this trail corridor of statewide significance. Download the Peak to Plains Collaborative Fact Sheet for more detailed information.

The Buildings & Historic Sites Team repaired railing along the trail damaged from a rockslide.

Van Bibber Park

The Trails Team prepared for the Earth Day volunteer project on Saturday, April 24. The focus of the project was natural surface trail construction, unauthorized trail restoration, fence installation and shrub/forb plantings.

Beaver Ranch Park

Through an extensive community engagement process, the Beaver Ranch Park Master Plan was completed in 2017 and includes an outline for park-wide improvements. The primary focus of the proposed improvements is to create a main trailhead at the Park’s entrance and limit the vehicular access beyond this new space. The trailhead will become the primary parking destination for most visitors and most amenities not included in the new trailhead design will be accessed on foot.

As a part of park-wide improvements included in the Master Plan, Jefferson County Open Space is considering a relocation of the dog off-leash area. To get a better understanding of the community needs, a Beaver Ranch Dog-Off Leash survey has been issued. The survey can be accessed by scanning the QR code with the on-site signage or by clicking the link to the Beaver Ranch Park page. The survey ran from April 1 – April 30.

Wednesday Forums Are Back

For the first time in more than a year, the Planning Team hosted the first of the virtual Wednesday Forums of 2021 in early April. More than 70 attendees joined the forum to learn about the South Table Mountain Park Land Exchange and park improvements, as well as the work that’s happening at Beaver Ranch Park. The following week the Planning and Projects Teams discussed the latest developments for Alderfer/Three Sisters and Tincup Ridge Parks. Want to get notifications prior to the meetings? Go to the Open Space Calendar Page and click the “Notify Me” icon at the top of the page.

South Table Mountain Park – Department of Energy (DOE) Land Exchange

On April 8, JCOS held a virtual community meeting to discuss the proposed DOE land exchange and planned access and trailhead updates to South Table Mountain Park. Over 100 community members attended the live virtual meeting, which is available for viewing on our STM park page. The public comment period runs through May 12. If you are interested in providing feedback, please send comments to ST*@****co.us.

Trails Partnership Program 2021 Success!

As a part of Conservation Greenprint Goal #8, Easy and Equitable Access, JCOS created the Trails Partnership Program to help support our partners who are interested in building and improving the greater Jefferson County Trail System. Partners were required to apply for funding, and a review team of JCOS staff and Open Space Advisory Committee members decided on the following projects to receive funding:

City of Arvada – A new trailhead at Standley Lake Library providing an outdoor classroom for the library and an ADA accessible connection from Kipling Parkway to the Rocky Mountain Greenway.

Buffalo Park Improvement Association – A permanent vault restroom will replace the current port-o-lets at the Buffalo Creek Trailhead.

City of Lakewood – Maintenance to Bear Creek Trail and the construction of a parallel crusher fine trail to relieve visitor conflict.

Leawood Metro Rec & Park District – Bridge maintenance at Weaver Park.

City of Wheat Ridge – The addition of two trail connections from the sidewalks on either side of Wadsworth Boulevard down to the Clear Creek Trail.

All of these projects will add great value to our Jefferson County community, and we are looking forward to the next four years as we continue the Trails Partnership Program and help more of our partners achieve their goals.

Abandoned Mine Closures

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has begun an abandoned mine reclamation project on JCOS properties, which will run through the end of June. There are 14 stopes or adits that will be closed and/or fenced at no expense to JCOS. All of the sites have been evaluated for bat habitat and will be remediated accordingly. Please note that the conditions when mines may open, enlarge, or reopen continue to change, so operate with extreme caution when in the vicinity of former mining locations. Just to be on the safe side, please report any unsecured mine openings to the closest Park Ranger or Volunteer.

First Quarter Camping Reservations

With camping reservations already being scheduled through the beginning of July at all three Open Space campgrounds, the word is out. Below are the year-to-date camping reservation totals and the 10-year comparison for the first quarter of 2021.

Land Acreage Verification Project – Complete!

The Land Acreage Verification Project (LAVP) began with the need to understand the different types of acreage Jefferson County Open Space has contributed to preserving. Through an exhaustive and meticulous three-year collaboration between the Real Estate and GIS Teams, each JCOS land record was examined and its acreage verified which has led to an accurate count of the preserved acreage: 54,318 acres. Moving forward, the Real State and GIS Teams will work together to ensure this number is accurate and up-to-date and have developed processes to ensure that whenever someone asks how many acres JCOS is preserving, that question can be answered with confidence.

Partners in the Outdoors 2021 Virtual Conference Details and Registration

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors Conference unites partners in the outdoors community as we continue to explore the complicated relationship between conservation and recreation in our state. This year’s virtual conference will continue efforts to advance the priorities identified in Colorado’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) while also supporting Colorado’s Outdoor Principles. Consider registering (required) for a session to learn about key issues in the industry while generating innovative solutions to advance and balance both recreation and conservation in Colorado.

Conference sessions began April 22 (Earth Day) and will continue through June 3. JCOS is a conference sponsor and we are specifically highlighting the May 20 session, “Effectively Managing Increasing Visitation to Colorado’s Public Lands”. Expanded conference details can be found here: Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Partners in the Outdoors Conference (state.co.us)

There’s always a lot going on in our Open Space Parks! The to-do list must be longer than any of us could imagine!

Miss Mountain Manners wants to let everyone at JeffCo Open Space know how proud we at PLAN Jeffco are of the terrific work that they’re doing. The next time you’re in one of our Parks and you see a JCOS Staffer or Volunteer, introduce yourself and say “thank you”.

Open Space Update – Feb-Mar 2021

April 1, 2021/0 Comments/in Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

February was a short month, and with all the snow that fell in March, it seemed reasonable to pair the reports for these two months together. Despite the time limit and the weather interruptions, JCOS got a lot done!

Centennial Cone Park – 2020-2021 Hunting Numbers

During this past hunting season, there were a total of 225 unique hunter sign-ins, the majority of whom had a companion with them. A total of 15 deer and two elk were harvested. Two hunters called to report that their harvested deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. Based on hunter observations, as many as 50 elk were observed in the Park at one time during the two month period.

Clear Creek Canyon Park Improvements – Gateway to Huntsman Trail Segment

In preparation for design of the next trail segment in Clear Creek Canyon, a drone flew through the Canyon in early February to collect more accurate survey data to help with the design phase of the project. The steep canyon walls, dense trees and rocky overhangs led to some inaccuracies with the plane-based LiDAR survey data which was originally gathered for the project. The weather and the light were so perfect that the drone survey was finished in two days instead of the four that was originally planned.

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Segment

The Gateway Trailhead is inching closer to completion. The crews continue to make great progress as they get closer to opening this summer.

Restroom Update

The Building & Historic Sites Team has completed installing drywall and the drywall has passed inspection. HVAC layout and installation has begun, with lots of piping and a boiler for in-floor heating. The roofing was completed just before the big March snow. Interior wall finishes are being completed. Way to go Buildings & Historic Sites Team!

Stairs

The Trails Team completed the timber stairs and retaining walls that connect the Peaks to Plains Trail to the east side of the wooden flume.

Permeable Paver Install

Installation of the interlocking concrete permeable pavers at the Gateway Trailhead began in early March. These pavers are very similar to the trailhead surface at Hildebrand Ranch Park and allow surface water to seep back into the ground instead of being carried into a traditional storm water system. This not only eliminates the need for a storm water quality pond and frees up space for more parking, the pavers are a key piece in low-impact development. Check out the latest update video to learn how interlocking concrete permeable pavers are installed. https://youtu.be/4M0XVveM35o

Board of County Commissioners Approves Design Contract for Next Segment

The next segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail and the continued development of the Clear Creek Canyon Park cleared a major hurdle in early March. The BCC approved the contract with the Design-Build team led by Concrete Express and Muller Engineering. This 3-mile segment is funded by $10.25M from the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Transportation Improvement Program, and will run from where the Gateway Segment ends at the west portal of Tunnel 1 to Huntsman Gulch. It will include two new trailheads, multiple bridges and numerous creek access points. Design has begun, with construction to commence in 2022. The entire project should open to the public in 2024.

Mount Falcon Park – Entry Sign Update

The entry sign at the West Mount Falcon Trailhead has been updated to provide clear direction to Park visitors.

Matthews/Winters Park – Dakota Ridge Trail Fencing

Thanks to the collaboration of the Trails and Park Services Teams, 56 feet of high tensile fence was installed on a portion of the Dakota Ridge Trail for visitor safety and resource protection.

Preparation for Unauthorized Trail Restoration – Log Harvesting

The Trails Team has finished harvesting and peeling lodgepole pine for buck-n-rail fencing material used to close unauthorized trails.

Snow Removal Operations

Great pride, appreciation and respect towards the field staff and the efforts taken toward an efficient response to Winter Storm Zylia. Without hesitation the Park Services, Ranger, Trails, Community Connections, Buildings & Historic Sites and Natural Resources teams collaborated to both prepare for and respond to the Metro Area’s fourth largest snowstorm in recorded history. This effort enabled JCOS to restore access to all of the main trailheads, provide at least 50% available parking at those locations, clear the paved trails and ensure the functionality of the facilities in just two days! Huge thanks and appreciation to Jeffco Road and Bridge and local transportation departments for maintaining the roads and assisting with some of the more challenging trailhead locations. Same for the Facilities Department who worked towards having the JCOS office open and available. Following on the heels of Zylia, additional snowfall has pushed full recovery into subsequent weeks as JCOS staff continues to open trailheads, improve access and further clear parking lots and other trailhead amenities.

Beaver Ranch Park – Jeffco Open Space Foundation/Hanna Trust Property

Thanks to the persistence of the Real Estate Team and a little help from the Jeffco Open Space Foundation, JCOS can finally provide legal access to the south entrance of the Valley Trail at Beaver Ranch Park! The addition of this 0.44-acre property eliminates the gap between the Park and neighborhood access from Black Hawk Drive and will enable JCOS to install visitor information at this entry point.

North Table Mountain – Spring Snake Emergence

With the official start of spring just around the corner and two feet of snow on the ground, the Front Range is sending its usual mixed seasonal signals, including the first reported snake sightings of 2021. Garter snakes have been observed crossing trails at a few locations along the Front Range, and JCOS herp volunteer Ryan Borgmann photographed this bull snake parked at the entrance of its hibernaculum on March 7^th at North Table Mountain Park. Snakes are not likely to venture far from the shelter of their wintering den, but warm, sunny spring days may bring them out for a healthy bask.

Apex Park – Mountain Lion Encounter

March 13, 2021: From the HWI (Human-Wildlife Interaction) reporting app: “I (adult female) was hiking down Paydirt Trail and noted an adult mountain lion walking down the hill, about 50-75 yards away. It heard me, turned and looked at me, but continued to descend towards Magic Mountain Trail. I took a short video since it appeared uninterested in me. I was still and just watching, and when it disappeared from view, I noticed a trail runner above me on the Hardscrabble. I yelled “mountain lion, mountain lion, cougar, puma! Careful! I just saw it go down this hill!” and the runner turned around. I continued to descend slowly and saw another trail runner coming up the Apex/Magic Mountain towards where I had last seen the lion, yelled to alert them, and they also turned around. I was afraid I’d see it as I got on Magic Mountain back to the trailhead and walked slowly backwards on the trail until it curved. I did not see the lion again. A few minutes later two trail runners were coming up the trail towards me. I warned them I had just seen it disappear in this area, they said they knew about it, and (foolishly) decided to continue running onwards towards where I had last seen it. I got to the parking lot, saw a ranger’s truck and told Adam Campbell about it. He gave me his business card and I emailed him the video.”

Stormwater Operations and Cartegraph

Storm water operations are evolving thanks to leadership, team effort and Cartegraph. JCOS is starting to get a bird’s eye view of its assets and a good overall understanding of their condition. The Park Services Team completed their first round of field collecting and test inspections, entering assets and essential details into the asset management system, Cartegraph. The GIS Team has done an amazing job giving teams the tools needed to inventory the system, discover concerns and plan strategic repairs. This improves collaboration with Planning and Zoning, supporting MS4 permit compliance. It also improves the ability to prepare for and respond to disasters. It may not seem important to know how many culverts there are and where they’re located, until a catastrophic flood happens.

Colorado Front Range Trail

A Request for Proposal was advertised last week to find a design team to complete a Feasibility Study for the northern Jefferson County segment of the Colorado Front Range Trail. This multi-modal segment will connect North Table Mountain Park to the border with Boulder County. The Feasibility Study will identify the most feasible trail alignment, develop a preliminary design of this alignment, and create design/construction cost estimates. The Study is funded by the Trust for Public Land, City of Arvada, JCOS, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Transportation Improvement Program. More to come in the near future as the selection process moves forward!

JCOS Fun Fact – Pavement

Thanks to recent GIS and Cartegraph efforts JCOS has been able to quantify many assets, including pavement. JCOS maintains 3.8 million square feet of paved surfaces including concrete, asphalt, recycled asphalt, road base, crusher fines, and pavers. That is equivalent to 89.7 acres or 31 miles of a two-lane roadway.

Forest Health Successful Grant Award

JCOS received notice in February that they had been awarded $47,653.70 to help purchase a second masticator (also called a forest brush cutter). For those who are keeping track, the Natural Resources Team is 2-for-2 on grant applications this year.

Invasive Species 101 Webinar Series Receives More Than 430 Registrations

Jeffco Invasive Species Management and Jeffco CSU Extension have partnered with Boulder and Larimer County CSU Extension to present a webinar series focused on invasive species issues along the Front Range. This four session speaker series aims to educate and inform landowners on invasive species terminology, identification, treatment, and latest trends. Sessions are held virtually from 6:00–7:30 pm from late March until early May. The first session had 181 attendees and to date, a total of 432 registrations. More information can be found on Jeffco CSU Extension’s webpage https://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/2021/02/03/upcoming-webinar/

Whew! Despite the short month of February and the very snowy month of March, it’s readily apparent that JCOS has been busy!! Even throughout the winter and all this construction, visitor numbers in the Parks are above what they have been historically, so keeping the Parks maintained for everyone’s enjoyment has been a priority. And JCOS has risen to the challenge!

MISS MOUNTAIN MANNERS INVITES YOU TO GO BIRD WATCHING

March 25, 2021/0 Comments/in Articles That Educate, Calls to Action, Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

Are you looking to try something new to fill these long COVID days?

MISS MOUNTAIN MANNERS INVITES YOU TO GO BIRD WATCHING

But it’s the middle of winter, why would I do that now?

With fewer leaves on the deciduous trees and bushes it makes it easier to spot the birds.
Many ducks and geese are at their most colorful in the winter, in preparation for the coming mating/nesting season.
Birds are everywhere, from your backyard and neighborhood, through the flatlands, and into the foothills and mountain parks. Note that bird species—in fact all species of flora and fauna—are most numerous near water. The riparian areas (along streams and lake shores) provide the lushest vegetation, satisfying birds’ needs for sustenance, and cover for their nests.
Birding satisfaction merely requires a little patience and time to watch and listen for them, while being quiet and mindful of the area. You’ll be amazed at how many of the sounds of birds—and in fact the natural world in general–are revealed when you stand quietly. Eventually, you’ll be able to identify different types of birds not only by sight, but also be their calls and songs.

Mountain Chickadee, photo courtesy of eBird

The Jeffco Open Space Bird Species Checklist lists 388 possible species present in Jefferson County. For example, in September, 2015, 195 individual birds, representing 31 species, were sighted over four and one-half hours by a small group of bird watchers at the West end of Mount Falcon Open Space Park. Go to the ebirdhotspots website for lists of birds currently being viewed in various park areas in Jefferson County.

So, has Miss Mountain Manners tweaked your interest? If so, here are some of the many birds you might find as Spring progresses in the following parks:

Crown Hill–in the lake: Ring-billed Gull, Common Merganser, Mallard, Coot, Goldeneye; in the reeds at the water’s edge: Red-winged Black Bird; in the trees: American Kestrel, Red-Tailed Hawk.

Stellar’s Jay, photo courtesy of Boulder Audubon

South Valley Park: Mallard (in the pond near the main entrance), Mountain and Western Bluebird, Red-tailed Hawk, Magpie, Prairie Falcon, Scrub Jay, Towhee.

White Ranch: Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco.

Mount Falcon: Pygmy Nuthatch, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, Common Raven, Townsend’s Solitaire.

Walk a mile: the paved path that circles the lake at Crown Hill is 1.2 miles long, while the Coyote Song/Swallow trails loop at South Valley is 2 miles. Miss Mountain Manners says, “Get out there and watch for our feathered friends,” you will not be disappointed! Be sure to stay on designated trails to protect the habitat and animals.

How do you identify a bird? First, get your general impression, the size and shape of the bird (“giss” in bird watcher talk). Then, look for the color of the bill, marks around the eyes, breast color, wing bars, and tail markings. Now refer to your guide book.

As it warms up: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s Hawk Watch is a volunteer program to monitor the migration of raptors along the Dakota Hogback of Dinosaur Ridge in Jeffco, from mid-March through mid-May. Visitors are welcome. Parking is across the road from Mathew-Winters Park.

Pygmy Nuthatch, photo courtesy of eBird

Portions of several JCOS parks are closed to protect ground-nesting bird habitats, nesting birds of prey, and nesting and brooding waterfowl: Clear Creek Canyon Park, Deer Creek Canyon Park/Hildebrand Ranch Park, North Table Mountain Park, South Table Mountain Park, and Cathedral Spires Park (generally from February 1 – July 31, but check each park site for specific details). Miss Mountain Manners reminds you to respect the closures, they mean more birds in the future. (Parks may also be closed due to mud.)

Grab your binoculars, a bird book (David Sibley’s “Field Guide to Birds of Western North America” is recommended), and maybe a bird app for your phone (Merlin, eBird, Audubon Birds, iBird Pro, National Geographic), then enjoy the quietness of the natural world and a new sense of connection with the wild.

Open Space Update – January 2021

February 4, 2021/0 Comments/in JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

It’s been a busy start to 2021, let’s take a look at what’s been happening at Open Space during January…

Crown Hill Park – Kestrel Pond & Park Plans

A collaborative effort between Park Services, Natural Resources and the Trails Teams started the process of removing two of the three old, deteriorated wildlife viewing blinds in the Kestrel Pond area of Crown Hill Park.

Elizabeth O’Brien, JCOS Planner Extraordinaire, narrates an update on the Park Plan & 2020-2023 actions at Crown Hill Park. Sincere thanks to all staff involved in the improvements to this much-loved Park. Check out the video for details! https://youtu.be/dZINHajMMM8

Clear Creek Canyon Park: Gateway Segment Update – Stairs, Restrooms & Park Video

The Trails Team is constructing timber steps leading from the Peaks to Plains Trail to the east side of the wooden flume.

The Building & Historic Sites Team is installing siding, roofing and plumbing and electrical to the restroom during the month of January.

Check out the great progress being made in Clear Creek Canyon in this month’s video update. https://youtu.be/QgPYGt0g2C0

Dinosaur Ridge – Rockfall Mitigation

Rockfall mitigation at the upper curve of Dinosaur Ridge began during the week of 1/18 and continued through nearly the end of January. Mitigation efforts at the project area included removal of loose rock on the rock slope and installation of rock mesh, which is now draped over the rock face and secured with a steel cable and steel bars which are anchored five feet into bedrock. This mesh is meant to direct future rockfall to the toe of the slope, improving overall visitor safety.

Pedestrian and cycling traffic on the Ridge did remain open during construction but the Arthur Lakes Lookout was temporarily closed during construction.

Reynolds Park – Fuel Break

This project began in the spring of 2019, with the JCOS forestry team operating large equipment and the youth contractor, TeamWorks, providing most of the labor. We created a 10-acre, 200-foot fuel break along Foxton Road. The 10 acres managed in this project were identified as the most hazardous section of JCOS property along Foxton by our partners at Elk Creek Fire Protection District. The fuel break is part of a larger effort to create safe ingress and egress for emergency response and evacuation for residents along the entirety of Foxton Road. Jefferson Conservation District, the Colorado State Forest Service, Denver Mountain Parks, Beaver Ranch Community, Inc., and several private residents have worked together on this landscape-scale effort.

South Table Mountain – Russian Olive Removal

Natural Resource Team members will complete Russian Olive removal work along the Welch Ditch on the north side of South Table Mountain this week. The team is timing this important invasive species removal work to be completed before the Golden Eagle nest protection closure. Russian Olive is native to Eurasia and is a Colorado List B noxious weed; containment is required in Jeffco.

Elk Meadow Park Improvements Planning – the Open Space Planning Team has been hard at work for the last year, putting together a proposed series of improvements for Elk Meadow OS Park, which are detailed in this memo, Greenprint Implementation Details. If you’re familiar with the Jeffco Open Space 2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint, this memo falls in line with implementing Goal 10, trailhead improvements to help improve the visitor experience. 2021 will be the design year, 2022 the implementation and construction year.

On December 8, 2020, the Planning Team proposed series of improvements to Management Team for Elk Meadow Park. These improvements were proposed after a series of meetings, site visits and discussions with Open Space staff throughout 2020 and can be found detailed in this memo. The recommendation included is the culmination of that work related to enhancing the visitor experience through trailhead improvements. Design is planned for this year and construction in 2022.

Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Restroom Update – the electrical work for the restroom has passed rough-in inspection and drywall installation has begun.

Undesignated Trail Restoration Preparation – You know that spring is on its way when the Trails Team starts harvesting and peeling logs for new buck-n-rail fencing, which will be used to help with restoration of all the undesignated trails in all the Open Space Parks.

Miss Mountain Manners wants to let everyone at JeffCo Open Space how proud we are of the terrific work that they’re doing. The next time you’re in one of our Parks and you see a JCOS Staffer or Volunteer, introduce yourself and say “thank you”.

Open Space Trail Closures 2021

February 2, 2021/0 Comments/in Calls to Action, Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails /by BlogMaster

Regular followers of Open Space news have seen the notices about the recent trail closures at various Open Space parks. These closures are to protect birds of prey (eagles, falcons) and other wildlife (elk, deer) during their birthing and nesting seasons. Park visitors are strongly encouraged to adhere to these restrictions, as violators will face fines of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment.

As of Monday, February 1, 2021, the following trails will be closed until further notice:

Centennial Cone Park – Elk Range Trail at Centennial Cone Park, including the interior of the park, is closed from February 1 through mid-June to protect elk during their calving season. All other trails remain open.

Clear Creek Canyon Park – portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park near Mile Marker 270 are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Bumbling Stock, Stumbling Block, Skinny Legs, Blonde Formation, and Ghost Crag. The Fault Caves are also included in this closure.

Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park, near Tunnel 2, are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect nesting eagles. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Highlander, Evil Area, and Tetanus Garden.

Deer Creek Canyon Park/Hildebrand Ranch Park – the entirety of Black Bear Trail, which connects Deer Creek Canyon Park and Hildebrand Ranch Park, is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect nesting birds of prey.

North Table Mountain Park – Rim Rock Trail at North Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect ground-nesting bird habitat and nesting birds of prey.

South Table Mountain Park – Lava Loop Trail at South Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect ground-nesting bird habitat and nesting eagles.

Cathedral Spires Park – The entirety of Cathedral Spires Park is closed from March 1 through July 31 to protect nesting birds of prey.

Crown Hill Park – The Crown Hill Park Wildlife Sanctuary in the northwest quadrant of the park is closed from March 1 through June 30 to protect nesting and brooding waterfowl.

Miss Mountain Manners advises you respect these trail closures, and to report violations of these closures by calling the Jefferson County Dispatch at 303-980-7300.

For more information go to Jeffco Open Space.

Open Space Update, 1/7/2021

January 12, 2021/0 Comments/in Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails /by BlogMaster

Miss Manners wants to apologize to her readers and to Jeffco Open Space for not reporting on the amazing work done in our Open Space Parks during the month of December. Too much Holiday, too many thoughts to process as 2020 winds down to an ignominious end. There’s been so much happening at Open Space, so let’s start 2021 with a recap of last December’s accomplishments and those of the first few days of January!

Apex Park – SWITCH GEARS for Winter Conditions

In the case of snow and ice conditions, a SWITCH GEARS announcement temporarily lifts the directional requirement on Enchanted Forest and Magic Mountain Trails. This will allow mountain bikers to ride up the gut in winter conditions. ALL OTHER TRAIL USE DESIGNATIONS REMAIN IN PLACE. Visitors who wish to be informed of the SWITCH GEARS condition can sign up for text alerts or check the JCOS alerts and closures web page. The SWITCH GEARS is in response to stakeholder feedback collected during the 2020 trail management process.

Clear Creek Canyon

Annual Bighorn Survey: three Natural Resources team members conducted bighorn sheep surveys in Clear Creek Canyon as part of Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s annual sheep survey. Twenty-eight individual sheep were observed on Open Space property.

Tunnel 1 kiosk construction begins this month. Stay tuned for regular updates.

In the Gateway Segment: Check out the latest video update with a special guest appearance by Hank Mifflin. https://youtu.be/O5vBFpqTmZE

Also in the Gateway Segment, the suspension bridge crossing Clear Creek in the Tunnel 1 oxbow is coming together. This 69-foot-long pedestrian bridge is 4-feet wide and will connect visitors from the from the concrete Peaks to Plains Trail to the historic wooden flume of the Welch Ditch.

Crown Hill Park

Crusher Fine Installation: JCOS’ partners at Road & Bridge started to install a crusher fine trail along the eastern side of the Park next to the cemetery. Many visitors were eager to experience the new trail surface, ignoring closure and warning signs, and walking next to heavy equipment while the new material was being applied. However, snow earlier in the month of December put a halt on the crusher fines installation project. The weather improved and work resumed toward the end of the month.

Hiwan Heritage Park

Hiwan from the Hearth: The Hiwan team made an innovative adjustment to Hiwan on the Porch for winter conditions. They have one tour guide on duty from noon – 4:00 p.m., Friday-Sunday. They can greet visitors at the front door and provide basic information about Hiwan and the Hiwan story. If weather permits, they can offer an outside tour. For COVID safety reasons, visitors are not permitted inside the building, but visitors can peer into the front/sitting room, the great room and dining room through open doorways to see the holiday decorated rooms and furnishings.

Mount Galbraith Park

Multi-modal Trailhead Arrival and Congestion Management Pilot: On Tuesday, December 15, the JCOS Management Team approved a pilot project intended to study, and test the feasibility, logistical considerations, technology applications and effectiveness of multi modal trailhead arrival and other congestion management strategies at a new trailhead for Mount Galbraith Park (GAL). JCOS is working on alleviating parking and access concerns for GAL. As a part of this process, JCOS plans to relocate the existing main trailhead to improve visitor experience and visitor safety. Possible multi-modal and congestion management strategies the team will explore for the new trailhead include, but are not limited to: a shuttle, parking reservation system, carpool campaign, time-limited parking, ride-hailing partnerships, etc.

South Valley Park South

Earlier this year, the new South Visitor Center trailhead opened to much joy and appreciation. In December the team applied a concrete stain to reduce the glare from the new, bright white surface and to better blend in with the surrounding landscape. This will be a great addition to the trailhead.

Welcome Center Operations

Beginning December 14, the front doors to the Welcome Center will remain locked throughout the day. To assist any walk-up visitors, Welcome Center staff will remain “On Duty” within the building and accessible by phone. The phone number will be posted on the door during regular business hours. This will allow the staff to meet the needs of our visitors, but free them up to accomplish tasks not easily performed while being at the Welcome Center.

Jeffco Board of Commissioners – Approvals

The Jeffco Commissioners approved Tincup Ridge Park and Internal Land Exchange. This exchange will enable Open Space to develop a new regional park at Tincup Ridge.

The BCC also approved the IGA for the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail Crossings. This extension links the Greenway from where Phase One currently terminates in Broomfield’s Great Western Open Space, through Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and into Boulder County. The FLAP grant provides funding for trail crossings at Indiana Street and Colorado Highway 128.

Get to Know Our JCOS Staff…

Congratulations to Sean Perkins for passing the Cartegraph Administration Certification test. Passing this test means that Sean understands all the ins-and-outs, tips and best practices for managing our Cartegraph Asset Management Software.

Welcome North Region Coordinator, Dillon McBride, to the Visitor Services Team. Dillon reported to the Visitor Services Team Manager effective December 17.

Stewardship Changes: Kyle Andrews was hired as the Trails Team Senior Specialist, and his main focus will be the Trail Stewardship Team and the Annual Trail Assessments. In January ,the Trails Team will be divided into a Trail Construction Team and a Trail Maintenance Team. This move is intended to have team members focus on trail construction projects associated with Goal 9 of the Conservation Greenprint, while having separate team members focus on trail maintenance (taking care of what we have) and restoration projects to support Goal 7 of the Conservation Greenprint.

Evergreen Famous – Ranger Billy Hall: according to the December 2020 issue of Serenity Magazine, Colorado’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine, Ranger Billy Hall is most frequently sighted on the trails in Jeffco Parks. Fun fact: his favorite animal is a squirrel. Even more fun fact: Billy met the photographer while on duty. He introduced himself and checked to make sure she had a current JCOS commercial activity/photography permit. She did have a current permit and she offered to take a photo of Billy. This is how our rangers and volunteers turn a Stewardship Education Contact into positive press.

… and Our Invaluable JCOS Volunteers

Volunteer Training on Stewardship Contacts: On Tuesday, December 8, the Ranger and Volunteer Services Teams hosted more than 100 volunteers and gave them training on how to turn a greeting into a stewardship education contact. This is one of many steps taken to help achieve Goal #1 of the Conservation Greenprint.

Last But Definitely Not Least

We all loathe the unattended poop bag carelessly left along the trail. Some visitors have the best intentions to pick it up and pack it out on their way back. Others assume the poop fairy will pick it up and pack it out for them. Either way, unattended poop bags are aggravating, visually awful, and against park regulations. To get a better understanding of how bad the problem is, rangers elected to track the number of unattended poop bags they collected along our trails and at our trailheads in 2020. The grand total was 2,996. Before you become completely disgusted and depressed at this number, be sure you consider it in context. We have an estimated canine visitation of at least three million dogs annually. Say each one poops and there is an associated bag. Because we are not seeing three million bags, but rather three thousand, it seems the norm is to doo the right thing and pack the bag out and dispose of it properly in a trash receptacle. Now, if we can just get that last, stubborn .1% to doo the right thing….

If you’ve made it all the way to the end of this report, give yourself an ‘atta-person’, and another one to our Jeffco Open Space for the amazing job that they’ve done in just over one month! Keep all this mind when you next visit our Open Space Parks, and let’s give a (socially distanced) high five to the next Ranger or Volunteer you meet when you’re there!

As always, ladies and gents, friends and comrades, stay safe!

Take Photos, Leave Only Footprints

January 11, 2021/0 Comments/in Featured, Park & Trail Courtesy, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

Photo credit: Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Miss Mountain Manners has a question for you: have you ever heard of a “cursed rock”? One person who was gifted with a “keepsake rock” from Colorado believes that the rock is cursed. Last July, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a handwritten letter claiming that a stolen Colorado rock, brought back as a souvenir three years ago, has been responsible for “bad things happening ever since.” The rock was included with the letter.

Whether or not you believe the legend that if you remove rocks from their natural outdoor location you’ll bring bad luck to yourself, it’s a good idea to leave no trace when you’re in the Great Outdoors, and that includes leaving rocks where you found them. You’ll find breath-takingly beautiful rock formations in our Clear Creek Open Space Park, and thankfully, most of the rocks are far too large (and heavy) to end up in anyone’s collection. But even when you find small rocks, look at them, study them, take pleasure in their beauty, and then leave them behind for others to enjoy.

As Colorado Parks & Wildlife tweets, ““The best practice when visiting any park or wilderness is to take only photographs and leave only footprints”. Miss Mountain Manners agrees!

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/news/souvenir-taken-from-colorado-said-to-be-cursed/article_b98b8d3a-cb90-11ea-ad17-e3ab88678693.html

Peaks to Plains Trail Gateway Takes Shape

November 30, 2020/0 Comments/in JeffCo Open Space, News & Views, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

Can you recognize where you are? Look through the framing, do you recognize Castle Rock on South Table Open Space Park?

Construction on the Peaks to Plains Trail continues. This location is called the “Gateway Segment”, it’s just west of Golden. Eventually, you will be able to walk from the Library, the History Museum, or even the Golden Visitors Center, head west along the Clear Creek Trail, cross highway 93, and you’ll be on this portion of the Peaks to Plains Trail, inside the Clear Creek Canyon Open Space Park. The portions that are already open are stunning; we anticipate that this segment will be no less so.

Take 5 minutes and enjoy Scott Grossman as he describes the construction that’s happening at the Gateway Segment.

Miss Mountain Manners reminds you to stay safe during this time of COVID, and even when you’re in the Open Space Parks remember to wear your mask and stay 6 feet away from those who are not in your personal “bubble”. Follow Miss Mountain Manners at @MannersMountain

Share the Trail COVID Campaign Off To A Good Start – Shaun Howard

November 25, 2020/0 Comments/in JeffCo Open Space, Park & Trail Courtesy, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMaster

Last year, Jeffco Open Space Parks received approximately 7 million visitors. This year, with the pandemic, we have seen a drastic increase in people finding much-needed stress relief while enjoying our parks. For several years, Rangers and Volunteers have collaborated to host dozens of Share the Trails pop-up events. What’s a pop-up you ask? A pop-up is a focused low-key event where volunteers and staff talk with visitors at the trailheads regarding various pertinent park issues. For example, if a park has an increase in dogs off leash, rangers and volunteers will staff a Love Em’ Leash Em’ table and talk to visitors about dog safety messages (i.e. leashing, picking up waste, providing for dog safety in hot weather, etc). Over the years, pop-ups topics have covered living with wildlife (rattlesnakes, bears, lions, coyotes, etc), share the trails, dog safety and education regarding park management changes. The goal is to educate visitors BEFORE they enter the park and BEFORE they make a mistake. Feedback from visitors has been extremely positive. They seem to really appreciate the one-on-one contact with representatives of Jeffco Open Space.

As I write this article in mid-November, rangers have already responded to more than 1000 calls for service. Some of these calls have been responding to visitor courtesy complaints on North Table Mountain. While rangers routinely patrol the park, a few of our volunteer equestrian Park Patrollers recognized our stretched staff resources and approached me to request they would like to help out by hosting several Share the Trails events at North Table Mountain. These pop-ups generated 550 conversations with our park visitors. Volunteer Frank Blaha, said “often all of us were fully engaged” in conversations with several visitors. He goes on to say, “many people seemed appreciative of us being out, and a few commented it is good to know Rangers and Volunteer Patrollers were working to keep Jeffco Open Space in good shape.” Special thanks go out to Volunteer Patrollers who were instrumental in moving this series of pop-ups along: Dan B., Frank B., Jack M., Jan K., Lydia M. and Sylvan R. Thanks also go out to the many volunteers who dropped by and who spent over 725 hours in 2020 routinely patrolling North Table Mountain Park. I am privileged to work with such an amazing group of volunteers. Jeffco Open Space truly appreciates all they do to support the Jeffco Open Space mission in caring for our parks!

Shaun Howard, Ranger Lead
Jeffco Open Space
303-271-5909

Miss Mountain Manners extends great thanks to Shaun Howard, JCOS Ranger, for sharing the story about these pop-up events. Communication, cooperation…if everyone tried a little harder, imagine what a great world this could be!

Open Space Update 11/22/2020

November 22, 2020/0 Comments/in JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails /by BlogMaster

Let’s see what’s happening during the month of November at Jeffco Open Space:

Clear Creek Canyon Park – Stair Construction

Timber stair and retaining wall construction continues on the east side of the wooden flume leading up from the P2P Trail. This is going to be an amazing trail experience for our visitors.

Matthews/Winters Park – Fire

At approximately 5:50 a.m. on Monday, November 9^th, Jeffco Sheriff’s Office reported Golden Fire was on scene for a small fire in the area of Dakota Ridge Trail north of the intersection with Zorro Trail. It appears the fire was wind and utility structure related as the top of one of the transmission poles was snapped. For visitor safety reasons, the trail was closed north of Zorro Trail through the day and night to allow Xcel Energy access to the area for repairs. The trail re-opened on Tuesday the 10^th at noon.

COVID-19 – Jefferson County Dial Status, Moves to Level Red

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) has been notified by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) that Jefferson County is among the counties that will be moved to Level Red on the state’s Dial Framework, effective Friday, November 20^th at 5:00PM. As Governor Polis announced, the state has made some adjustments to the Dial and Level Red, especially as it relates to gatherings and spaces where people congregate. We are awaiting final details on those changes, as well as an associated public health order, and will share more information when available.

Major changes include:

o The Dial adds a sixth level, Purple, and revises Level Red accordingly.

o Individuals at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 remain advised to stay in their residence at all levels of the Dial.

o Remote working is strongly encouraged.

What is not changing:

o Our parks and restrooms will remain open.

o Our group size will remain at 10 and we will continue to monitor JCPH for the current information.

Camping Relaunch – Reservations Live in CivicRec

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, we are excited to bring back camping to our visitors. A diverse team of staff came together to figure out how to best provide camping again. In conjunction with only allowing 4 campers per site, the team decided that providing parking hang tags on site in a lock box was the best option over having visitors trying to print and bring them to their site (as too often they forget). Thank you to Parks Services, OSIT, Rangers, Community Connections and others for your hard work and contributions to the re-launching of camping permits. The first reservable date for White Ranch (Sawmill) and Reynolds Park campsites is November 27, 2020.

Mount Falcon Morrison Trailhead – Temporary Parking Expansion

Things are wrapping up at Mount Falcon Morrison Trailhead this week and we are planning on opening the new, temporary lot to the public this Friday, November 13. We will have 56 more spots to offer visitors and the entry road will no longer allow parking on either side. Big thanks to Road and Bridge, T&E, Scott Timmons and Park Services for making this a reality!

South Table Mountain Park – Carl’s Point

Who is Carl of Carl’s Point? If you’ve visited the scenic overlook on the east side of Basalt Cap Loop, you may already know. The trail sign includes a QR code that transports you to Carl’s story. In short, Carl F. Eiberger helped preserve South Table Mountain (STM) and at least 11 other parks in the Golden/Applewood/Prospect area by donating expert legal services. The point of Carl’s Point is to encourage our visitors to pause and think about what they can do to help preserve places and experiences like Basalt Cap Loop on STM. Mary Eiberger, daughter of Carl Eiberger, visited the site for the first time on Saturday, November 7^th. She was accompanied by her husband Tito and their two rescue dogs, Lucky and Shadow.

South Table Mountain Park – Trail Construction

Trail construction on Croc Tooth Trail is in the final stages and will be complete before the end of November. This trail will help connect Carl’s Point to Ancient Palms Trail.

Hildebrand Ranch Park – Water Monitor

New water monitoring devices, called stilling wells, are being installed to keep us in compliance with State of Colorado Water Commission requirements. These new monitoring units will more accurately record water flow and use.

Miss Mountain Manners thanks all the staff and volunteers at JeffCo Open Space for the wonderful work that they do and are continuing to do during this time of COVID. Happy Thanksgiving to all!