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Are You a “CARE” Person?

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Are you a considerate and responsible, enlightened (“CARE”) person during these times of uncertainty? Do you stay home if you don’t feel well? Do

you wear a mask outside? When visiting the beautiful parks in Jefferson County, do you stay on the trail to minimize your environmental impact? Are you considerate of other hikers and Open Space staff? Is your dog leashed? Do you pick up after it? Do you only gather to hike with those with whom you share your home? Do you refrain from short-cutting trails, even to avoid other people?

So many things to think about these days, but these are just a few requirements of the current situation. We are in a different, delicate, hopefully short-term (but possibly longer than we think) era—particularly if we shun the experts’ guidelines. It requires more awareness of our responsibilities to ourselves, others and the land we love.

Today, Jefferson County Open Space Parks are being overwhelmed by all of us seeking respite from the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and seeking exercise and relief from restrictive directives. For safety reasons there are no park volunteers to give us friendly reminders of proper behaviors, leaving the 12 full-time and 3 seasonal staff rangers the near impossible task of trying to cover 56,000 acres, and 244 miles of trails by themselves. We must each willingly embrace the responsibility of honoring the rules.  PLAN Jeffco respectfully offers these guidelines and thanks everyone, not only for following them but also for your support via the ½ cent sales tax collected for Open Space at Jeffco businesses:

* Walk close to home, enjoy your neighbors’ flowers, as well as your own.

* If you find the JCOS parking lot full, please, please move on to another park.

* Wear a mask.

* Stay on the trail whenever possible, while honoring social distances. Be careful where you step as there may be delicate new plant growth this time of the year, even snakes!

* The 6-foot social distance is in still air. If the wind is at your back, don’t walk more than 6 feet behind the person in front of you.

* To minimize interaction time consider giving downhill hikers the right-of-way.

* Step aside (find a rock or bare spot to stand on) and let equestrians pass, even if you’re on a bike.

* Observe park, trail or area closures.

* Visit at non-peak hours, such as before 10:00 AM and after 3:00 PM.

* Follow guidelines posted at trailheads.

Be a “CARE” person. 

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Family hiking in a meadow of penstemmon.

The Increased Need for Open Space

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Hikers in a field of penstemmon, Jeffco Open Space

Today, Jefferson County Open Space Parks are being overwhelmed by all of us seeking respite from the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and seeking exercise and relief from restrictive directives. People are being turned away from full parking lots while our government leaders urge us to remain close to home.  With so many people passing each other on narrow sections of the trails, our required social distancing is being compromised.  This suggests maybe we should leave the car in the driveway (save gas), and just walk out the front door to streets that are wider than trails, making social distancing easier. Remember that even out in the “fresh air,” pathogens can infect when in close proximity to others. Moreover, heavy park use also presents a strong likelihood of resource damage, particularly in this transitional “mud” season. We could give our open space parks a break.

With the need for social distancing, and heavily-used parks, do you wish there was MORE open space to go around now?? Forget the current health crisis and think ahead just 10 years when projections add another 600,000 people to the current 3 million metro population. Will the current amount of open space meet our needs or will we feel as restricted and crowded as we feel now with the COVID-19 situation?  The present realities highlight the importance of open space for our physical and mental well-being. We need to encourage Jefferson County Open Space to be proactive in the promotion and financing of additional open space acquisitions to meet future needs.

For safety reasons there are no park volunteers to remind us of proper behaviors, leaving the staff rangers the near impossible task of trying to cover 56,000 acres, and 244 miles of trails by themselves. We must each take on the responsibility of honoring the rules.  PLAN Jeffco respectfully offers these guidelines and thanks everyone, not only for following them but also for your support via the ½ cent sales tax collected for Open Space at Jeffco businesses:

  • Walk close to home.
  • If you find the JCOS parking lot full, please move on to another park.
  • Wear a mask.
  • Stay on the trail whenever possible, while honoring social distances. Be careful where you step as there may be delicate new plant growth this time of the year, even snakes!
  •  Observe park, trail or area closures.
  • Take note of and avoid early plant growth.
  • Visit at non-peak hours, such as before 9:00 AM and after 2:00 PM.
  •  Follow guidelines posted at trailheads.

In general, practice the kindergarten rules: Be nice to others – and respect the land you are enjoying.

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North Table OS Park

Let’s not love our wonderful Jefferson County Open Space to death!!

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Jefferson County Open Space Parks are open and free to all. Even though they were already extremely popular prior to the COVID-19 crisis, they are now being overwhelmed on a daily basis by all of us seeking respite from our stay-at-home orders and seeking exercise and relief from restrictive directives. Children love the freedom that the parks provide, tending to frolic and rough-house in groups.  Furthermore, with so many people passing each other on narrow sections of the

North Table OS Park

Photo courtesy of CarbonFibrePhoto

trails, our required social distancing is being compromised.  Remember that even out in the “fresh air,” pathogens can infect when in close proximity to others.  Finally, the park parking lots are overflowing—every day!

This presents a strong likelihood of resource damage: How to enjoy our open spaces, yet give the wild denizens space, and preserve it all for those to who will come in the future.

For safety reasons there are no park volunteers to remind us of proper behaviors, leaving the staff rangers the near impossible task of trying to cover 56,000 acres, and 244 miles of trails by themselves. We must each take on the responsibility of honoring the rules.  PLAN Jeffco respectfully offers these guidelines and thanks everyone, not only for following them but also for your support via the ½ cent sales tax collected for Open Space at Jeffco businesses:

*If you find the parking lot overflowing onto the neighborhood streets, please move on to another park.

*Stay on the trail whenever possible, while honoring social distances. Be careful where you step as there may be delicate new plant growth this time of the year, even snakes!

* Observe park, trail or area closures.

* Uphill foot traffic has the right-of-way, although they may step aside, since it gives them a chance to rest.

* Take note of and avoid early plant growth.

* Visit at non-peak hours, such as before 11:00 AM and after 3:00 PM.

* Observe social distancing and follow guidelines posted at trailheads.

In general, practice the kindergarten rules: Be nice to others – and respect the land you are enjoying.