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Oct. 30, 1997
Ms. Jan Fackrell
Realty Specialist/Boulder Region
US Dept of the Interior / Bureau of Land Management
3170 East Main
Canon City, CO 81212
I enjoyed talking with you last week about the Recreation Public Purposes Act and how it may be relevant to BLM's current efforts to divest itself of land in Boulder County. Thank you for sending me a copy of the Act, as well as the proposed management plan for the Ward Wildlands.
The Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO) was formed to promote non-motorized, multi-use, environmentally-responsible trail systems. We believe multi-purpose trails are valuable community resources which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors. Among our goals and services are to create a system of connected trails incorporating environmentally sound trail placement and design, creating public support for trails, educating trail users about trail ethics and trail opportunities, and serving as a catalyst in developing consensus on trail issues.
As we discussed, our mapping project has made us aware of where the BLM's holdings in Boulder County are: generally, in the Hall Ranch and Rabbit Mountain areas near Lyons, in the vicinity of Ward and Gold Hill, and near Denver Water's Gross Reservoir. BATCO has been extensively involved in the management planning processes and/or we are intimately familiar with each of these areas.
We are concerned that some of these lands, if patented by the BLM to various local land management agencies in Boulder County, may not remain open for public recreation. We were therefore very encouraged to learn that the BLM stipulates in every case that the land must remain open for public recreation (and that if the land is not used for these purposes the patent to it may be revoked). We trust you will ensure that the proposed management plans are adhered to, and that you will build into the patents trail easements and other guarantees of public access.
We hereby reissue our invitation to get together periodically to review our database and any proposed management plans submitted to you. If there is anything BATCO can do to facilitate your process, please don't hesitate to call on us.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel
Vice President -- External Relations
How will the BATCO map impact our community? How will it support the County's and BATCO's land use and education goals?
We believe multi-purpose trails are a valuable community resource which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors. BATCO's goals and services include promoting a comprehensive trails plan and distribution of user-friendly information, educating trail users about trail ethics and trail opportunities, creating a network of volunteers to support trails; and developing multifaceted partnerships for the benefit of trails.
Many people choose to live in Boulder County because the great outdoors is literally at our back door; trails are most people's primary way of enjoying this lifestyle. There are approximately 369 miles of trails in the non-urban parts of the County, and probably a similar mileage of municipal trails and bike paths. Yet no single map showing trails and public land ownership exists. If you wanted to know how to find most of the trails in our area you would have to obtain almost a hundred maps, and still you would not have a complete picture because some jurisdictions don't even produce a map showing their trails. The maps that do exist are printed at a variety of incompatible scales, with little information about the types of recreational activities allowed on a given piece of property. Finally, you would often have no way of knowing whether trails connect to others across land boundaries, because most existing maps just stop at their agencies' boundaries.
The BATCO map will consolidate all that information. It will enable people to find and enjoy the trails that already exist, including the spectrum of municipal off-street trails and on-street bike lanes as well as trails on Open Space, Forest Service, and National Park lands. The map will indicate how to use trails as alternatives to automobile transportation, relieving pollution and traffic congestion on the streets while simultaneously encouraging a healthy lifestyle. And it will offer tips on environmental ethics and on avoiding user conflicts, creating a community of responsible trail users.
The BATCO map will enhance recreational opportunities by showing land managers that there is enormous demand for trails and access for non-motorized recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, fishing, and mountain bicycling, on our public lands. A recent survey of Boulder County residents showed that people in 91% of all households in Boulder County visit Open Space at least occasionally. The survey also revealed that many people want to see more trails and a better system of interconnected trails. The BATCO map will show for the first time where the trails are, where the gaps are, and who owns the land "in between." This will enable land managers and citizens alike to visualize the potential for a future system of truly interconnected trails, leading the way to purchases of additional land, acquisitions of trails easements, and construction of new trails on existing public lands. In turn, these activities will generate more support among taxpayers and visitors alike for more open space purchases.
Finally, because we are committed to both trails and environmental protection, we will allocate a significant portion of the proceeds from map sales to trail projects sponsored by BATCO (construction, rehabilitation, signage, and education of trail users). We hope this process will, for the first time, enable environmentalists and recreationists to communicate in a meaningful dialogue toward arriving at a consensus about the appropriate balance between recreation and environmental preservation.
How will we measure the success of our program?
BATCO has already received many letters of support for our map project from individual trail enthusiasts, trail user groups, corporations, governmental entities, and environmental education groups. These indications of support demonstrate the strong need for a comprehensive trail map of all of Boulder County.
We plan an initial press run of 10,000 maps. Most of the organizations supporting the map project have offered to help us promote and/or distribute the map by advertising the map to their membership or employees via their newsletter, or other creative means. We will set aside a fund from net map sales which will be sufficient to underwrite the costs of the next edition, so the project will be self-sustaining. The immediate measure of our success will be to sell all of the first edition and have to print more maps!
The long-term measure of our success will be to "put BATCO on the map," so that land management agencies seek our help (volunteers, expertise and financial resources) in recreation planning for their communities and for the County as a whole.
What previous experience have BATCO and its members had that will enhance our proposed project?
BATCO brings together people from a variety of backgrounds, vocations and professional careers. Our steering committee has included people who are also members of the following organizations: Arrowhead Trails, Audubon Society, Boulder County Horsemen's Association, Boulder County Nature Association, Boulder Off-road Alliance, Boulder Region Conservation Crewleaders, Boulder Road Runners, City of Boulder Transportation Advisory Board, City of Boulder Trails Committee, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Mountain Club, Conflict Consortium, Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space, Greenpeace, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Leave No Trace, Native Plant Society, Nature Conservancy, North American Trail Ride Conference, Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America, Colorado State Trails Committee, and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. By profession, our Board consists of a landscape architect, a University of Colorado faculty member, an attorney, a Realtor, an earth scientist, three engineers, and a management consultant.
The BATCO map coordinator is a geologist by training with a lifelong passion for maps and integrating data onto maps of all kinds. We have already spent a large amount of volunteer time working out the logistics of the mapping project, gathering information about public land ownership and trails from discrete maps and with representatives of each of the jurisdictions, and compiling it onto one large base map. Before we go to press we will verify all the information with each of the public land management agencies represented in Boulder County. We have already established contacts with and obtained estimates from several independent map-making professionals, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists, and printers.
We are committed to selecting the most cost-effective combination possible, and to creating the best map possible.
DAILY CAMERA GUEST OPINION "Seeking Harmony out on Boulder's Trails" was exactly the right headline for Chris Roberts' well-balanced feature article (January 20) on the new Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO). The article went on to say that as open space comes under increasing pressure, local residents have joined forces to support open space and to foster responsible trail use. BATCO represents a new dimension in the evolving equation about trails and public land management in Boulder County.
However, the article inadvertently fueled some misperceptions and fears about BATCO and our comprehensive trail map. We would like to take this opportunity to respond to these apprehensions, and to outline our philosophy, goals and objectives.
When we started the map project we made the following commitments, and we will adhere to them rigorously:
1.) The BATCO map will show only public land ownership and existing, designated trails. It will not include so-called social trails, trails across private land, or proposed trails.
2.) All information on the BATCO map will be compiled from publicly-available sources and verified with each of the public land management agencies. We have received enthusiastic letters of support from key public agencies in Boulder County attesting to the high value they place on the public service we will provide.
3.) The BATCO map will devote extensive space to information about trail etiquette, user restrictions, seasonal closures and other pertinent data, with a complete index of agency addresses and telephone numbers for trail users who need additional information.
4.) Both BATCO and the map are an ongoing public process. We encourage input from agencies, groups and individuals at all times, as we are committed to providing clear representation from a diversity of viewpoints. We hereby reissue our invitation to those who may have concerns about our organization and its mission: please join us, so that you may have a direct and constructive influence on our activities.
We believe this map will help trail users identify trails on public land which have been constructed and maintained using public funds, and will also be a valuable planning document in the ongoing dialogue about public land acquisition and management. Our recent presentation to the State Trails Committee was favorably received. One participant who is a State public land manager stated that such a map would greatly facilitate the work of the Committee and of his staff.
We believe that the BATCO map will be a useful tool in planning trails to avoid sensitive environmental areas. We are compiling a detailed environmental resource overlay and inventory of data so that future trail management decisions can be made based on all the available facts.
Trails are very important to people, and having a satisfactory multi-use trail system is crucial to people's ongoing support of public land programs. Most citizens associate "Open Space" with sweeping vistas, rock outcrops, shady forests and undulating grasslands, wildlife large and small, and active agricultural operations such as cattle grazing and farming. As a community we know about these special places because there are trails which take us out into these areas, enabling us to experience them and appreciate them. The early open space acquisitions are among the most popular icons of Boulder County, precisely because they fulfill many objectives simultaneously: they balance environmental preservation with adequate passive recreational opportunities.
BATCO believes that multi-purpose trails are a valuable community resource which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors. Our mission is to promote non-motorized, multi-use, environmentally-responsible trail systems. In addition to their recreational benefits, we believe trail systems enhance environmental quality by fostering a sense of stewardship among trail users, helping users appreciate and protect our natural heritage, generating support for additional open space lands, creating opportunities to initiate ecosystem restoration, and providing alternatives to automobile travel. BATCO's goals include a comprehensive system of trails incorporating environmentally-sound trail placement and design, user-friendly information about trails, a community of responsible trail users, and public support for trails.
BATCO's services include supporting and facilitating local and regional trails planning; creating, preserving and enhancing systems of connected trails; serving as a trails policy advocate to local, state, and federal agencies; serving as a catalyst to develop consensus on trail issues; raising funds for trails; supporting volunteer trail projects; serving as a trails information resource; facilitating multifaceted partnerships for the benefit of trails; and supporting off-street trails and on- street bike lanes as transportation and recreation routes.
Trails can directly benefit the natural environment by involving thoughtful habitat restoration, reducing urban density, and simultaneously providing unique recreational amenities. For example, combining trails with floodplain restoration may make it possible to protect considerable riparian habitat that could not be accomplished otherwise. The Rock Creek/Coal Creek Trail in the Lafayette-Louisville area is but one example of a formerly- blighted area destined for obliteration by encroaching development. Thanks to support from many people for the trail, the stream and adjoining riparian areas have been restored to a tranquil, healthy habitat for wildlife and people alike.
It is our experience that people will protect what they value, and they will value what they can experience and understand. This is particularly true of our local open space resources. For people to appreciate our natural resources, they must be able to visit them. Trail users can then become part of the ongoing process of education, so that we may all become responsible stewards of the lands we share.
Many of the founding members of the Boulder Area Trails Coalition have lived in Boulder County for decades and have been among the most steadfast supporters of open space, natural areas and public lands programs. The steering committee that created BATCO consisted of members of the following diverse organizations: Boulder County Audubon Society, Boulder County Horsemen's Association, Boulder County Nature Association, Boulder Off-Road Alliance, Boulder Region Conservation Crewleaders, Boulder Road Runners, City of Boulder Transportation Advisory Board, City of Boulder Trails Committee, Colorado Department of Transportation, Rock Creek/Coal Creek Trail Foundation, Colorado Mountain Club, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Leave No Trace, North American Trail Ride Conference, Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America, Native Plant Society, Volunteers for Outdoors Colorado, the Nature Conservancy, and even Greenpeace. As volunteers and frequent trail users, we appreciate the natural world because of our intimate personal connections with it. We take our responsibility to provide accurate information seriously, and we take pride in the diversity, commitment, high integrity, and intellectual honesty of our founding members.
We believe BATCO represents the broad interests of a very large community of trail users who have never before been represented in Boulder County, as well as bringing together representatives of various trail user groups under one large umbrella. We will take a balanced, responsible position on trail development. Our goal is to make the entire "trail experience" better for everyone in Boulder County.
We are excited by the opportunities ahead of us. We invite all trail users to join us in fulfilling the vision of accessible, healthy open lands. Please write for membership information to: BATCO, 1705 14th St., Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80302.
March 5, 1997
Denver Water Department
1600 West 12th Avenue
Denver, CO 80254
Attn: Don Kennedy, Planner
Re: Draft Scoping Document 2 for Relicensing of Gross Reservoir, FERC Project #2035
To whom it may concern:
As participants in the Recreation Subgroup, we have received and reviewed the abovementioned document dated March 3, 1997.
Overall we believe it is a remarkably complete and objective compilation of the issues discussed at the meetings, including a realistic assessment of the study plans needed to address each issue.
Because it is often "easiest" to evaluate the potential negative impacts of any given management plan or change, we urge Denver Water and the consultant(s) selected to make a conscious effort to evaluate the potential positive outcomes that may result from recreational development of the area (e.g. enhanced visitor enjoyment of amenities and scenery which would become accessible to a greater proportion of citizens than at present; opportunities for environmental education and restoration; etc.). Other than a mention or two of the "recreation potential" on pp. 38-39, the entire 72-page document appears to deal with all the potential "problems" and "impacts" various parties perceive looming on the Gross Reservoir horizon, whereas the "opportunities" are equally compelling.
As you fully appreciate, large bodies of water are rare in Colorado! We commend Denver Water on a major, sincere effort to evaluate all aspects of the relicensing project, and trust that you will come up with a plan that balances the water resource needs with the hydroelectric potential of Gross Reservoir, the needs of the existing neighbors with those of other residents of the Front Range, and environmental protection with recreational opportunities.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel
Vice President, External Relations
Denver Water Department / Gross Reservoir Area
July 8, 1997
Phillip E. Flores
Senior Associate/Landscape Architect
THK Associates, Inc.
5325 S. Valentia Way, Suite 200
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Re: Trails Planning for Relicensing of Gross Reservoir, FERC Project #2035
Dear Phillip:
I enjoyed meeting you and talking about the potential for local trails and regional trail connections around Gross Reservoir.
As I promised, I am including a summary herewith of the voluminous literature I received from Colorado State Parks on "Impacts of Trails on Property Values and Crime." These studies were prompted by concerns expressed by residents of proposed trail corridors nationwide similar to those we have heard from PUMA; yet study after study show that these concerns prove not only to be unfounded but that both the quality of life of trail neighbors and their property values increase when trails are built. I would appreciate your including copies of this material for participants of the next Recreation Subgroup meeting. I hope this information will allay their concerns.
Further to our goal of helping you to establish a well-designed system of multi-purpose trails in the Gross Reservoir area, I am including a sketch map of existing trails and proposed trails that will make logical connections to existing facilities. Loop trails provide the most versatile and enjoyable experience for a variety of trail users, so we have indicated several loop options. Since Gross Reservoir is the central facility, there are many important opportunities to connect trails there to Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder County's Walker Ranch Open Space, and Eldorado Canyon State Park. It will be important to secure their cooperation in working out the details of these trails. Finally, we would like to point out a regional "Conceptual Trail Corridor" that has been approved in both the 1987 and 1996 Boulder County Comprehensive Plans. This corridor represents the approximate location of a proposed multi-use trail, and we feel it is essential to incorporate this trail into the Gross Reservoir relicensing recreation plan.
While the terrain can be steep in places, there are many ways to construct trails to surmount physical obstacles. We believe that a properly-designed and constructed trail system will channel existing use patterns and reduce any future environmental impacts of recreational use. Since there are few other developed campsites in this part of Boulder County, we urge you to keep the existing campsites on Winiger Ridge ("CG"). While we are considerate about minimizing impacts to existing neighbors, we believe this is the time to improve parking facilities in the area. The only existing designated trailhead parking facilities are several miles away, at Walker Ranch and Eldorado Canyon State Park (Crescent Meadows). At a minimum, the parking facilities at the dam ("P-1", "P-2") and toward the inlet ("P-3") should be expanded slightly and stabilized, with restrooms and picnic tables. We would also like to see improved USFS access at the end of the Lazy Z Road ("P-4") and along County Road 68 ("P-5"). It would not be not necessary to install large signs or otherwise promote these amenities.
With regard to obtaining information via polls and surveys, we are concerned that the "user survey" you conducted over the 4th of July reached only a very small number of a potentially large user population (who can't use the area because of the current lack of recreational facilities), and that the proposed "resident survey" will reflect a disproportionate effort by the existing residents to maintain the status quo. Please devise a more representative sampling of potential users, whether it be to disseminate surveys to the various recreation stakeholder groups or via some other method. Finally, in the future we believe it would be more balanced for each stakeholder group, including the neighborhoods, to identify one spokesperson (with perhaps an alternate) at these meetings.
We urge you to keep in mind the potential benefits of a revised recreation management plan for all residents of the Front Range.
Thank you for providing the ongoing opportunity for input in this process, and we look forward to helping Denver Water and the other public land management agencies in the trail planning process for this area.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel
Vice President, External Relations
September 10, 1997
Lois Cashell
Environmental Review Coordinator
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Division of Project Review
888 1st St., N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20426
RE: FERC No. 2035 / Denver Water / Gross Reservoir Relicensing / Recreational Opportunities
Dear Ms. Cashell:
BATCO is an independent citizens' organization whose mission is to promote non-motorized, multi-use, environmentally-responsible trail systems. Our members represent hikers, environmentalists, equestrians and bicyclists from all over Boulder County. We believe multi- purpose trails are a valuable community resource which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors.
Among BATCO's primary services is our commitment to developing consensus on trail issues. We recognize that there are many perspectives on trails and other recreational amenities, including the views of neighbors, recreationists, and professional land managers. With regard to the Gross Reservoir area, we are very familiar with both the existing recreational uses and with the potential this area has to become an even more appreciated recreational resource in the future.
We are, therefore, writing to express our disappointment with the trail-related recommendations and outcome of the lengthy process undertaken by Denver Water and their consultant, Greystone, in evaluating trails and public access in the Gross Reservoir area. We respectfully request that FERC include more multi-use trail connections in granting this relicensing application.
First we would like to make it clear that we appreciate Denver Water and Greystone's attempts to be thorough and to remain neutral throughout the public input process. However, we feel they (and we, and other legitimate recreation interests) were overwhelmed by a small but vocal group of local residents who clearly wished to see "no change" in their backyards. Consensus became impossible.
We would like to emphasize that we are not advocating a "trails everywhere" approach to this situation, because we appreciate the need for sensitivity to the neighbors' concerns and for preservation of environmental quality. But the only existing trails in the area are short "social trails" that dead-end at the lakeshore and serve specific user groups such as fishermen. Because there has been no active management of recreation at Gross Reservoir, these small trails have proliferated, yet there are no "bona fide" trails that would serve the needs of a wider group of people who would like to experience the diverse beauty surrounding this large reservoir.
We have proposed a minimal number of trail connections that would make loops incorporating existing trails, which would improve the user experience for hikers, equestrians, kayakers, and mountain bicyclists. Also, we have pointed out that the FERC area is a strategic link in a regional "conceptual trail corridor" that has been listed in the 1987 and 1996 Boulder County Comprehensive Plans (see map attached). This trail link would connect major public lands to the East (the Plains, City of Boulder Open Space properties, Eldorado Canyon State Park, and Boulder County's Walker Ranch Open Space Park) with major public lands to the West (Roosevelt National Forest). Without the cooperation of FERC and Denver Water, completion of this regional trail will be impossible. Yet the semi-final plan outlined by Denver Water, dated Sept. 9, effectively blocks all possible trail connections. Going around the FERC boundary is not an option since nearby residents have apparently succeeded in blocking off the only alternate route, County Road 68J.
As you know, several tracts of land in the FERC boundary have belonged to the Bureau of Land Management, and are being discussed for transfer to Denver Water under the Federal Recreation for Public Purposes Act. We trust that these lands will, indeed, be used for recreational purposes at Gross Reservoir.
We feel that the potential positive outcomes that would result from limited recreational development of the area far outweigh the possible impacts. At a minimum we would like to see the one regional trail corridor included.
We commend Denver Water on a sincere effort to evaluate all aspects of the relicensing project, and trust that you will create a plan that balances the water resource needs and the hydroelectric potential of Gross Reservoir, the needs of the existing neighbors, the needs of other residents of the Front Range, the need for environmental protection -- and the need for prime recreational opportunities!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel
External Vice President
Sept. 10, 1997
The lengthy article published in your August edition ("Locals are loving city open space to death" ) served to educate some trail users and some new CU students about some trail-related issues facing Boulder.
However, we believe it reflects only one perspective, that of the "just-say-no-to-trails" mentality, which sees monsters lurking behind every bush and every hiker as a threat to the entire ecosystem. City of Boulder Open Space, like our other public lands, is a treasure for us all to enjoy. It is important for each of us to consider ourselves as stewards of these valuable resources, but we'd like to clarify some of the points raised in the article.
The "root of the problem" does not lie in the City Charter, and "passive recreation" was not intended to mean "predominantly the study of nature" (your author's assertions). Instead, the Charter states very clearly that there are eight equally-important purposes for Open Space, including preservation of natural areas; preservation of water resources; preservation of agricultural uses; utilization of land for urban shaping and limiting sprawl; preservation of land for passive recreational use, such as hiking, photography or nature studies, and if specifically designated, bicycling, horseback riding, or fishing; and preservation of land for its aesthetic or passive recreational value and its contribution to the quality of life of the community.
These purposes were deliberately not prioritized. Although there have been recent attempts by several parties to dictate that the primary purpose for Open Space is "preservation of natural ecosystems," these efforts have been resoundingly rejected by the voters and City Council. Passive recreation, on the other hand, is mentioned not once but three times in the City Charter. The key to the solution rests in finding an appropriate balance between environmental preservation and passive recreation.
In fact, even with increasing use, our Open Space lands are proving to be resilient and very healthy. Many endangered or threatened species call City Open Space home, even in areas of highest trail use. Many Open Space areas, even near subdivisions and popular trails, are experiencing overall increases in wildlife populations.
As open space comes under increasing pressure, it is increasingly important for local residents to join forces to support open space and to foster responsible trail use. One such grassroots organization, the Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO), is celebrating having just completed its first year of existence and represents a new dimension in the evolving equation about trails and public land management in Boulder County.
BATCO believes that multi-purpose trails are a valuable community resource which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors. Our mission is to promote non-motorized, multi- use, environmentally-responsible trail systems. In addition to their recreational benefits, we believe trail systems enhance environmental quality by fostering a sense of stewardship among trail users, helping users appreciate and protect our natural heritage, generating support for additional open space lands, creating opportunities to initiate ecosystem restoration, and providing alternatives to automobile travel. BATCO's goals include a comprehensive system of trails incorporating environmentally-sound trail placement and design, user- friendly information about trails, a community of responsible trail users, and ultimately public support for trails.
BATCO's services include supporting and facilitating local and regional trails planning; creating, preserving and enhancing systems of connected trails; serving as a trails policy advocate to local, state, and federal agencies; serving as a catalyst to develop consensus on trail issues; raising funds for trails; supporting volunteer trail projects; serving as a trails information resource; facilitating multifaceted partnerships for the benefit of trails; and supporting off-street trails and on-street bike lanes as transportation and recreation routes.
We invite all trail users to join us in fulfilling the vision of accessible, healthy open lands. Please write for membership information to: BATCO, 1705 14th St., Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80302.
Suzanne Webel
Vice President, External Relations
November 24, 1996
Brent Wheeler, Project Coordinator
Open Space Board of Trustees
City of Boulder Open Space/Real Estate
The Boulder Area Trails Coalition strongly supports the development of a regional multi-purpose trail system on the west side of Highway 36.
BATCO represents a cross-section of environmentalists, hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists. We believe multi- purpose trails are a valuable community resource which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors. Well-designed trail systems can enhance environmental quality by fostering a sense of stewardship among trail users, helping trail users appreciate and protect our natural heritage, generating support for additional Open Space acquisition and maintenance, creating opportunities to initiate ecosystem restoration, and providing alternatives to automobile travel.
We have reviewed in detail the environmental issues and recreational opportunities which need to be weighed in the Open Space Area Management planning process. Several of our members have conducted field studies of this area and have demonstrated that the majority of a logical trail is already in place, in an alignment that will minimize environmental impact. We believe the benefits of developing a coherent trail system in this area far outweigh any possible reduction in natural values such a trail might imply.
As President of the Boulder Area Trails Coalition and on behalf of our members, I urge the Open Space Board of Trustees to direct staff to design and construct a sustainable trail system on the west side of Highway 36. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Cathy Bickell
President
April 8, 1997
Open Space Board of Trustees
Dear Members of the OSBT:
The Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO) has reviewed the Agenda packet for the North Boulder Valley Area Management Plan dated April 9, 1997. We hereby offer the following comments.
We commend the Open Space staff on incorporating public input and updating it with new material since the draft document and open house. The "Comment Response Summary" matrix is particularly helpful in evaluating the issues raised, as are the shaded elements of the Revised Plan.
We are, however, very disappointed that the Axelson trail corridor is now recommended for indefinite postponement (Agenda item #6, p. 3). This area consists of existing old ranch/oilfield access roads. The proposed alignment, short as it is, presents minimal environmental conflicts for a trail combined with an excellent opportunity to connect the neighborhoods to the northeast to Boulder Valley Ranch (without this trail they have no designated access). There was to be no official trailhead parking, just a legitimized use that has been there for many years. Staff has studied this area thoroughly and had concluded a trail would be appropriate.
At the eleventh hour like this, raising an intermittent "raptor-perching site on an abandoned telephone pole" as a reason to avoid building a trail raises questions about the process Open Space uses to reach decisions. Since many people feel they were "promised" this trail after numerous Open Houses, staff presentations, field trips, and OSBT discussions, as well as extensive citizen input, and since the OSBT is scheduled to vote on this management plan with very short notice, staff should outline a range of mitigation options (if necessary) that will allow the trail to be built and simultaneously give the "raptor" some room. For example, what kind of raptor is it? how often does it use the perch? is it demonstrably shy of trail users? since its telephone pole is abandoned, couldn't staff just move the pole?
Moving the trail to the "existing northern boundary of Open Space" (p.25) would result in greater impact to the environment by necessitating new physical trail construction than would using the existing old roads as much as possible. Doing so would also degrade the quality of the user experience by putting the trail along the backyard fence of the neighbors.
It is unrealistic to include recommendations about "acquiring additional lands... or rerouting the trail to adjacent lands" (Agenda item #6, p. 25), as the properties to the north of Axelson are private residences.
Open Space is charged with providing passive recreational opportunities, and this trail certainly would accomplish that goal successfully while minimizing environmental impact. We support the Area Management Plan process, and we will be happy to assist Open Space in making our public lands healthy and accessible.
BATCO urges the OSBT to direct staff to reinstate the Axelson trail connection as originally planned.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel
Vice President -- External Relations
Following are the results of several recent surveys nationwide on "Impacts of Trails on Property Values, Privacy, and Crime".
1.) From The Effect of Greenways on Property Values and Public Safety, The Conservation Fund, Colorado State Parks, State Trails Program, 1995:
"The study of Property Values and Public Safety was to determine what effect, if any, the presence of urban trails has had on public safety to property owners who live adjacent to a trail and on property owners who live within one block of a trail. The study also evaluated the level of public acceptance for urban trails and their effect on the quality of life in these neighborhoods....
The need for the study arose due to concerns expressed by several different neighborhoods over the proposed construction of new trails. These concerns included fears that the presence of an urban trail might lower property values and also create a risk to public safety, thus adversely affecting the quality of life in the neighborhood. These concerns are similar to concerns voiced in the past over proposed trails that are now established and accepted....
[Three Denver trails were studied in detail.] Data was collected in the summer of 1994 through telephone interviews of residents adjacent to or near to the trails, real estate agents who buy and sell homes in metro-Denver, patrol officers who work the trails, and biweekly surveys of the Denver Post Real Estate advertisements....
[Results of the survey show that] urban trails are regarded as an amenity that helps to attract buyers and to sell property. For residents of single family homes adjacent to a trail, 29% believed that the existence of the trail would increase the selling price of their home (and 43% said it would have no effect). 57% of the residents felt that the trail would make the home easier to sell (with 36% saying no effect). 57% of these residents had lived in their homes prior to construction of the trail, and 29% of those surveyed were positively influenced by the trail in their decision to buy the home. Results were similarly positive for residents who lived near but not adjacent to the trail....
Of the real estate agents interviewed, 73% believed that a home adjacent to a trail would be easier to sell, and 55% agreed that the home would sell for more than a comparable home from a different neighborhood. 82% of real estate agents used the trail as a selling point, and 100% believed trails are an amenity to the community around it....
No public safety issues could be directly linked to the trail. Only one resident interviewed was concerned with this issue, and none of the officers interviewed believed trails had any effect on public safety....
[In summary,] concerns that urban trails might adversely effect [sic] public safety and property value in surrounding neighborhoods are not substantiated by the results of this study. The effect of a trail is beneficial, rather than detrimental."
2.) From The Impact of the Brush Creek Trail on Property Values and Crime, Santa Rosa, CA, Michelle Miller Murphy, Sonoma State University, April 13, 1992: "The purpose of this study was to determine what effect, if any, a bicycle/pedestrian trail has on property values and crime rates. Concerns by local property owners that proposed trails may negatively affect property values or increase crime prompted this survey. [The nine-year-old] Brush Creek Trail in Santa Rosa's Rincon Valley was selected as the focus of this survey....
Seventy five residents were surveyed on how long they had lived in the neighborhood, how the trail has affected their overall quality of life; what effect the trail would have on selling their homes, what effect the trail had in their decision to buy their homes; how the trail has affected their privacy, and what problems, if any, they have had with crime caused by trail users. Additionally, interviews were conducted with apartment and mobile home park managers near the trail, real estate agents with listings adjacent to trails, and law enforcement agencies; fifteen other cities were contacted for information on surveys regarding the effect of trails on property values and crime....
64% of respondents felt the trail increased the quality of life in the neighborhood, with another 13% saying "no effect"; 33% said the trail would make their home easier to sell, with 49% saying "no effect"; and 23% said the trail would make their home sell for more, with 69% saying "no effect". Of real estate agents, 19% said homes next to a public trail would sell for slightly more, with another 48% saying "no effect"; 61% of real estate agents said they use proximity to trails as selling points. The law enforcement agencies had no data to determine crime statistics; survey results from 15 other cities showed only a small number of minor infractions including illegal motorized use of the trail, litter, and unleashed pets.
The study shows neither increased crime nor decreased property values due to trails. On the contrary, the most overwhelming opinion by residents along the Brush Creek Trail is that the trail/creek has a positive effect on the quality of life in the neighborhood."
3.) From Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails, and Greenway Corridors, a Resource Book, Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance, National Park Service, with contributions toward printing from the Conservation Fund, 1990: [This comprehensive volume includes studies from all over the United States, analyzed by Impacts on Real Property Values, Expenditures by Residents (i.e. how people spend their leisure dollars), Commercial Uses, Agency Expenditures, Tourism, Corporate Relocation, Public Cost Reduction, Benefit Estimation, etc.]
"The effect on property values of a location near a park or open space has been the subject of several studies.... Many studies have revealed increases in property values in instances where the property is located near or adjacent to open spaces...
A 1978 study of property values in Boulder, Colorado, noted that housing prices declined an average of $4.20 for each foot of distance from a greenbelt up to 3,200 feet. In one neighborhood, this figure was $10.20 for each foot of distance. The same study determined that, other variables being equal, the average value of property adjacent to the greenbelt would be 32% higher than those 3,200 feet away....
[The same study revealed that] the aggregate property value for one neighborhood [in Boulder] was approximately $5.4 million greater than if there had been no greenbelt. This results in approximately $500,000 additional property tax revenue annually. The purchase price of the greenbelt was approximately $1.5 million. Thus, the potential increase in property tax alone could recover the initial costs in only three years...."
In conclusion, many studies in various parts of the United States have been conducted over several decades showing that nearby residents' concerns about proposed trails in their neighborhoods possibly lowering property values and increasing crime are unfounded.
On the contrary, trails have consistently been shown to increase (or have no effect on) property values, to have no measurable effect on public safety, and to have an overwhelming positive influence on the quality of life for neighbors and visitors alike.
For copies of these studies please call Suzanne Webel at 499-0786 or contact Denise McCormick, Colorado State Parks, 866-3203 ext. 338.
March 12, 1997
The Honorable Dorothy Rupert
Colorado State Capitol
Dear Senator Rupert:
The Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO) is a citizens' group which supports trails, including rails-to-trails conversions, of which there are several opportunities in the State as well as specifically in Boulder County. However, we believe that Senate Bill 37 (disposition of abandoned railroad rights-of-way, or "state railbanking") is seriously flawed. We would like your help in amending or defeating this bill.
1.) In particular, as the bill is written, a single adjacent landowner could veto a trail on an entire state- owned corridor, even when there is overwhelming public support for the trail. This provision should be removed or amended.
2.) The bill does not address environmental clean-up of contaminated areas along the corridor. Trails can have positive environmental benefits, and an environmental audit should be built in to the bill.
3.) The railbanking program should be fully funded.
BATCO believes that multi-purpose trails are a valuable community resource which provide recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life for area residents and visitors. Our mission is to promote non-motorized, multi-use, environmentally-responsible trail systems.
The conversion nationwide of old railroad rights-of-way into multi-purpose trails has been one of the most exciting, popular programs for outdoor recreationists in decades. These trails offer extensive corridors connecting logical destinations, often with spectacular scenery and amenities. Since they utilize existing grades, they maximize recreational opportunities while minimizing environmental impact.
Please help us make successful rail-trail conversions a reality for all Coloradans!
Sincerely,
Suzanne Webel
Vice President, External Relations
Dec. 11, 1996
To expand the dialogue about trails, wildlife, and Open Space, we would like to offer a few comments about Chris Roberts' recent articles on trails and wildlife.
The Boulder Area Trails Coalition (BATCO) was created earlier this year by a group of environmentalists, hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists who share a vision of an interconnected system of environmentally-sound, user- friendly, multi-purpose trails in Boulder County.
BATCO is committed to working with all land management agencies to design and maintain trails well in order to minimize environmental impact and maximize our appreciation of nature. We believe that successful trails can actually enhance environmental preservation by creating an ethic of stewardship among trail users and by preventing a maze of undisciplined social trails. We believe the access trails provide to public lands will generate more support in the future among taxpayers for even more preservation of open lands. If, on the other hand, thousands more acres are acquired in an attempt to preserve land as "Open Space" which will never in fact be open to public access, more taxpayer revolts like the voters' recent unprecedented rejection of the City of Boulder Open Space ballot issues will certainly occur. This unfortunate backlash will be counterproductive for native species, environmentalists and recreationists alike.
We believe there are many ways to define a successful Open Space program, and there are many valid perspectives. Biodiversity and habitat fragmentation are very important issues, but they are not the only values that count in Open Space management. There are many other purposes set out for Open Space in the Boulder City Charter and the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan which can be met simultaneously with ecosystem preservation. These include urban shaping, agriculture, and passive recreation.
We must ensure that we gather and share all available information, identify problems objectively, respect differences of opinion, and work together toward judicious solutions that best represent an overall balance among competing priorities. In addition to paying attention to the native species, we need to pay attention to the people who cherish and appreciate access to Open Space as a matter of personal growth and renewal, or "re-creation."
Sincerely,
BATCO Board of Directors
The Boulder Area Trails Coalition's mission is to promote non-motorized, multi-use, environmentally responsible trail systems in Boulder county. We support the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. We are particularly interested in helping achieve the Parks and Open Space goal of a county-wide trail system to serve transportation and recreational purposes (Goal C.4).
We support the existing County Parks and Open Space management plans for Rabbit Mountain and the North Foothills Open Space and the Boulder City North Boulder Valley management plan. We have appreciated being included in the planning processes through which those plans have been developed and will contribute to future management plans.
BATCO recognizes and appreciates the significant investments the county and cities have made and continue to make in trails. We understand that the majority of the county's open spaces have been acquired within the last five years and we do not expect the cities and county to have already constructed a complete trail system. The new trails at Rabbit Mountain and the Hall Ranch are major enhancements to our county trails. The North Rim and Axelson trails planned for North Boulder Valley will significantly extend the City's Boulder Valley Ranch trail network. We were pleased to be able to help with the construction of the Rabbit Mountain trails and will endeavor to contribute to future trails projects.
Open space acquisitions have many goals (environmental, cultural, scenic,and agricultural preservation, urban shaping, and recreation). The recent County Open Space Opinion Survey showed strong public support for all these goals including significant support for trails. Acquisitions are dependent upon the willingness of the land owners to sell their properties. As open space lands have been acquired these factors have created a patchwork of desirable, but unconnected properties. As we move into what may be the final phases of city and county Open Space programs, BATCO would like to see additional attention focused on making the Comprehensive Plan conceptual county-wide trail system a reality. We believe this goal can be achieved by an increased on connections between and access to existing open space properties.
Specifically, we recommend that trail connections be given increased weight in city and county open space acquisition priorities. We are concerned that opportunities to connect open space properties into the trail system envisioned in the Comprehensive plan will be lost if we do not make trail connections a priority. We believe that purchases of large parcels of land are not required to achieve this objective. Acquisition of trail corridors or trail easements and coordination between public and private organizations within the county may help us complete the trail system (for example, the City of Boulder's recent acquisition of a conservation easement which includes a specific trail easement on a portion of the IBM property). A number of such strategies have been previously defined in the County's Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulations. They include: requiring trail easements or land dedications as part of the NUPUD process, obtaining public access to "private trail systems" (similar to public access allowed to local trails in the Meadow Glen development within the City of Boulder and to local trails in the Somerset development in Niwot), pursuing "instant", low cost trail connections utilizing existing ditch, railroad, and utility corridors (e.g. the Community Ditch trail on Boulder City Open Space, the Fairmont Ditch trail in Jefferson County, and the Highline Canal trail in Denver) and encouraging inter-agency efforts to implement the Comprehensive Plan county-wide trail system.
BATCO will provide whatever assistance we can to help achieve these objectives. We would like to see a more detailed implementation plan created for the trail system and would be happy to aid in the development of such a plan. We believe we could contribute to the identification of requirements, critical connections, access issues, priorities and in converting conceptual corridors to more specific alignments. We also believe we may be helpful in facilitating the inter-agency cooperation required build a county-wide system (by demonstrating a public interest, providing another public voice, and contributing our time and efforts to the process).