Posts tagged Open Space
Longmont-to-Boulder Regional Trail opening July 14
Jul 7th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Transportation and Parks and Open Space departments, along with the City of Longmont, will open the north segment of the Longmont-to-Boulder Regional Trail on Thursday, July 14.
The trail segment is nearly three miles long and stretches from the Lefthand Valley Grange Trailhead on North 83rd Street to the North 95th Street bridge at Lefthand Creek in Longmont. Trail segment map.
“We are very excited about the completion of this section of the LoBo trail because it provides a long-awaited off-street alternative between Gunbarrel, Niwot and Longmont,” said Kristine Obendorf, Boulder County’s Regional Trails Planner.
A public ribbon-cutting ceremony with officials from Boulder County and Longmont will take place on July 14 at 4:30 p.m. at the Lefthand Valley Grange Trailhead near the corner of 83rd Street and Niwot Road.
Group bike rides from Longmont and Boulder that will meet at the Lefthand Valley Grange Trailhead for the ribbon-cutting ceremony are being organized. Information about the ride from Longmont is posted online. Contact Sue Prant at bikesue@gmail.com for information about the ride from Boulder.
The new trail crosses Lefthand Creek just north of Oxford Road using a refurbished pedestrian bridge from the City of Boulder that was part of a three-way bridge swap among Boulder County and the cities of Longmont and Boulder.
“We are happy about the partnership with Boulder County as we were able to replace a functionally obsolete bridge and replace it with a new structure that meets all current standards and allows for a trail underpass,” City of Longmont Project Manager Tom Street said.
The joint project between Boulder County and the City of Longmont includes both the bridge and trail connection and was funded by Longmont, a federal transportation grant awarded to Boulder County in 2007, and the countywide transportation sales tax approved by voters in 2001.
The majority of the land provided for the trail is either within county road right-of-way or is on county open space property purchased with Parks and Open Space sales tax funds.
The project comprises the northern most section of the planned 12-mile Longmont-to-Boulder Regional Trail that begins on the City of Boulder’s Cottonwood Trail and terminates at the Lefthand Greenway in Longmont. The LoBo Trail is primarily a soft-surface path that provides a continuous off-road link along the Diagonal Highway corridor.
Missing links at Jay Road and Lookout Road are in the planning phases as is a new connection to the Boulder Reservoir underneath the Diagonal Highway. Please visit the Boulder County Regional Trails Program webpage for more information.
Boulder Fire Department reminds residents that fireworks are illegal
Jun 28th
City officials are teaming up with the University of Colorado to remind Boulder residents that all fireworks are illegal within city limits. Illegal fireworks include: sparklers, snaps, snakes, bottle rockets, Roman candles and smoke bombs. The fireworks ban has been in place since 1985.
Boulder police will have extra patrols out over the July 4th holiday. Anyone caught using fireworks could face penalties that include arson charges, heavy fines, court costs, loss of property, possible jail time and personal injury damages. CU students who violate the ban could be sanctioned by the University of Colorado’s Office of Judicial Affairs.
Fireworks were outlawed because they pose dangers to humans, pets, property, and the environment. Boulder Fire Chief Larry Donner encourages residents to celebrate the holiday safely. “Fireworks can be very dangerous and unpredictable. They often cause serious injuries. Nationally, children suffer the lion’s share of fireworks related injuries. In addition, there is the ever-present danger of starting a disastrous wildfire on our open space,” says Chief Donner.
The city will host a professional fireworks show on July 4th at Folsom Field. Admission to Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast is free. Gates open at 8:00 p.m., and the show is scheduled to begin around 8:30 p.m.
Anyone who has illegal fireworks and who wants to dispose of them will be granted amnesty if the fireworks are brought to any Boulder fire station. To report fireworks violations, residents are encouraged to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 303-441-3333. To report a fire, always call 9-1-1 and give the location.
Grant to allow Youth Corps to hire 12 for land stewardship
Jun 16th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Youth Corps will hire 12 additional people next summer thanks to funding approved on Wednesday by Great Outdoors Colorado.
The GOCO board voted to disperse $500,000 in lottery funds statewide to local government and open space organizations for critical outdoor recreation and land conservation projects that will enhance Colorado’s trails, parks, open spaces and wildlife habitat. The BCYC will receive $20,093 of those funds for local projects in support of the City of Longmont’s Button Rock Preserve Watershed.
The funding results in 12 jobs for young people in Longmont to help with much needed forestry work, noxious weed removal and fire prevention activities at Button Rock Preserve.
Statewide, local governments will receive a total of $250,000 and open space organizations will receive $250,000 to hire youth corps to implement land stewardship projects.
“This is good news for our youth, who gain valuable transferable skills and get a great outdoors experience,” BCYC program manager Judy Wolfe said. “And it’s good news for our community and environment, which can reap the benefits of our young people’s dedication and hard work for generations to come.”
About Boulder County Youth Corps
The BCYC provides opportunities for Boulder County youth to develop a sense of community involvement through personal accomplishment, teamwork and service to the County. BCYC delivers the most ambitious and highest quality entry-level work experience available to Boulder County youth. It provides an experience of excellence by recruiting and training a staff committed to accomplishment through hard work, respect for people and the environment, and belief in an ideal that work can be fun. We ensure the betterment of our community by providing work opportunities for youth that contribute to the legacy of Boulder County while providing a proving ground for young leaders that challenges them to inspire the youth entrusted to their guidance. More information is available at www.bouldercounty.org/youthcorps.
About Colorado Youth Corps Association
The CYCA is a statewide coalition of 10 accredited youth conservation corps that employ and train youth and young adults on land, water and energy conservation projects. Youth corps is a proven strategy for engaging young people in service to their communities and stewardship of their environment while cultivating valuable skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century. For more information about CYCA or the statewide youth corps coalition, visit www.CYCA.org.
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