Open Space Update 8/27/2020

The week’s news from Tom Hoby, our JeffCo Open Space Director:

All Team Meeting – Tuesday, September 1, 2020 4PM to 5PM

This will be a different kind of meeting – one with no set agenda – an open forum that will be most beneficial with your participation. It will be another opportunity for me to hear what’s on your mind, how you are doing, what needs you have and your suggestions. We’re going to, actually Karey is going to, do her best to make it easy for you to participate whether you are tech savvy or not. There will be options for you to call-in and video-in via WebEx. We will also have all conference rooms available for people to join in without having to deal with technology (limited space available to provide proper social distancing). You will also be able [to] email, text, chat (WebEx) or carrier pigeon or cup n’ string (ok, the last two are lies) your thoughts, concerns and suggestions. More details coming on Monday. We will start with a few clarifications and perspectives about pace, workload, adaptability and our recently adopted Conservation Greenprint and then move to your questions, comments and suggestions.  By now, you should have received an invitation to our All Team meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 1^st from 4pm to 5pm. Please take a minute to write down your questions, concerns and suggestions and feel free to send them to Karey prior to the meeting.

Volunteers Support the Apex Park Management Change 

As we move closer to the September 10^th date, a group of volunteers have been preforming pop-up events to educate and inform visitors on the upcoming change.  They are also collecting data on the following: interactions, assessment of visitor knowledge of changes and which tools are most useful when communicating with visitors.  A special thank you to everyone who has helped support this initiative.

Visitor Surveys 

Visitor Surveys were conducted from July 22^nd to August 12^th at Mount Galbraith and Van Bibber Parks where JCOS requested feedback on access issues at Mount Galbraith and the potential of a trail connection at Van Bibber between Indiana Street and [the] Fairmount Trail.  The summary response report for each survey is available at:

Mount Galbraith Visitor Survey Summary Response Report (also available on our website at Mount Galbraith Park)

Van Bibber Visitor Survey Summary Response Report (also available on our website at Van Bibber Park)

In addition to receiving feedback on access and trails, respondents also provided insightful comments on facilities, regulations and enforcement and general experiences about the parks. Much of this information was provided in the open-ended response questions that are available for review in the following documents.  Please consider taking some time to look over this feedback.

Mount Galbraith Survey123 Full Results

Van Bibber Survey123 Full Results

Clear Creek Canyon Park: Gateway Segment

As you know, there’s lots of great work happening in Clear Creek Canyon!  Check out Anne Friant’s latest update video to see the progress Buildings and Historic Sites has made on the Tunnel 1 restroom, the new bridge during the day and the custom-made high line the contractor created to ferry equipment and materials across the creek to repair the wooden flume. https://youtu.be/lLtucYCQSjw

South Valley Park: South Trailhead

We are on the final stretch of construction with Road & Bridge working to prep the area around the restroom and kiosk for concrete flat work.  The trail will be closed to the north, at the intersection of Coyote Song and Prairie Falcon, during the final weeks of construction when concrete and asphalt pavement will be installed.  We plan to open the trailhead the week of September 21^st to accommodate revegetation efforts and striping.

Virtual Learning for Spanish Speakers

As the Ranger Team adapts to virtual education programs, the Communications Team is taking the extra step to have the videos translated into Spanish.  Utilizing a County contract with A&A Languages, the ESI: EcoSystem Investigation videos, designed to replace the cancelled fourth grade field trips, will now reach an even larger group of future land stewards. In fact, JCOS is partnering with the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, E-movement, and Thorne Nature Experience, to share this curriculum in classrooms throughout Colorado to increase environmental literacy and build a stewardship ethic within today’s youth.