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one cent to the sales tax for a period of 15 years to accelerate open space preservation, and an
additional .15 of one-cent sales tax was added and approved by voters in 2003.

The sales tax revenues, coupled with the passage of a charter amendment in 1971 that allowed
city council to issue bonds for open space acquisition, set into motion an aggressive open space
acquisition program. In 1986, a charter amendment providing more permanent protection of open
space lands was adopted by 79% voter approval. Once acquired, open space land may not be
improved unless for its protection and maintenance or to provide for passive recreational, open
agricultural, or wildlife use.

Open Space and Mountain Parks

In January 2001, the City of Boulder Mountain Parks Division and the Open Space Real Estate
Department merged to form one new department that would manage the city’s wild recreational
lands under the OSMP Department.

The new department, named Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department, retained the
city’s real estate division and brought together both the former open space and the mountain parks
groups’ functions. The name acknowledges each agency’s long history, as well as the two
organizations’ philosophies, staff, and supporters. With parallel missions, overlapping functions, and
staffing similarities, merging open space and mountain parks had been a topic for many years
among city policymakers, various boards, and the public. The merger allowed the new department
to provide a more consistent range of visitor opportunities and regulations on the ground, save
money by eliminating some duplication, and bring the 6,555 acres of mountain parks lands,
including Boulder’s signature Flatirons, under the open space charter’s strict protection.

Today, Boulder citizens and visitors enjoy more than 45,000 acres of open space and mountain
parks in and around the city. Some of the land is in agricultural production, preserving the historic
nature of Boulder County while keeping the land open for wildlife and passive recreational uses.
In addition to the aesthetic pleasure of Boulder’s open space and mountain parks, more than 140
miles of trails are available to hikers and horseback riders, while bicyclists enjoy riding on close to
50 miles of designated trails.

The OSMP Department ranger services (a.k.a. ranger/naturalist) work group constantly evolves and
adapts to meet the challenges of a growing Front Range population, rising visitor numbers, and
continued threats to the unique natural resources we hold in high regard. OSMP rangers respond to
a high number of calls for service, from routine to high risk, and our commitment to the natural
resources we protect and the citizens we serve remains as important today as it was when Boulder
citizens took the historic first steps in creating an open space program. We hold the city’s values:
Customer Service, Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation at the heart of all actions.

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