The Boulder County Commissioners approved the purchase of the Park Creek land off Bunce School Road during a regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

All three Commissioners were present: Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin, and Ashley Stolzmann,

Aaron Clark with the County Land Office proposed that Boulder County acquire fee title to 15.13 acres owned by Joshua Nehf for $280,000. The property is at 1850 Bunce School Road, located near the intersection of County Road 92 and the Peak to Peak Highway. Staff support this acquisition.

Clark wrote that for much longer than Parks & Open Space’s history of stewarding open space, the land in this community has been important to diverse Indigenous communities that continue to live here. “We are partnering with Indigenous people to make meaningful changes to how we do our work that include Indigenous people, incorporate their perspectives, and honor their land stewardship legacy…. Parks & Open Space operates within modern legal constructs of land ownership to steward Boulder County open space and accomplish these efforts on behalf of our community.”

Clark noted that the current owner acquired the property in 2016. A small cabin and accompanying shower house outbuilding are on the lot. The property is immediately adjacent to U.S. Forest Service lands to the west and south, and is near to the Currie open space on the north.

“The Prescott open space is nearby to the west. The property contains approximately 350 feet of Park Creek, which crosses the property as it flows towards Cave Creek. This acquisition will be part of a contiguous area of conserved land that stretches to Rocky Mountain National Park.”

This transaction will be paid for with Open Space sales and use tax funds, which Boulder County can only use for open space purposes. The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan provides information about the area’s agricultural, cultural, environmental, and other open space resources.

Maps in the Comprehensive Plan indicate the following designations of these resources near the property: The Ironclads High Biodiversity Significance Area, Ceran St. Vrain High Biodiversity Significance Area, Middle Saint Vrain Creek at Peaceful Valley, Indian Peaks Environmental Conservation Area, South St. Vrain Foothills Environmental Conservation Area, View Protection Corridor (1.51, Jeep Road), Riparian Areas (Park Creek), and Significant Natural Communities.

Like all properties acquired for open space, the property will be managed for an open space use. At this time, the property is used for seasonal recreation. The property will be closed to public use until Parks & Open Space can secure or remove the cabin and outbuilding.

The property will then be open to the public unless Parks & Open Space later determines other closures or other open space uses are appropriate. The process to determine specific future open space uses, including public access via trails or other passive recreation, versus closures that protect a property’s open space resources, is an involved planning process that can only be performed after acquisition.

“Parks & Open Space staff need ample time after acquisition to evaluate the property, and no evaluations about other potential future uses have been made at this time. This matter was brought before POSAC at the public meeting on August 24, 2023.”

POSAC voted unanimously to recommend the acquisition to the Board of County Commissioners. Staff recommended approval.

The property is a high priority for the County for its proximity to both Boulder County open space and U.S. Forest Service lands, together with its position between three High Biodiversity Areas, the quality of its natural resources and plant communities, its scenic attributes, and the opportunity to preserve a significant length of Park Creek.

Clark said the Park Creek property is unique and is above the Peaceful Valley campground. The remainder of surrounding properties are private lands,

The west side of the property is heavily wooded, but the east side is more accessible. Park Creek has water running in it most of the summer. Bunce School Road connects with Peaceful Valley, and the road is very popular. The Board approved the purchase of the property.