Boulder and Jefferson Counties have partnered with the Town of Superior to permanently protect 182 acres.

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder and Jefferson counties have partnered with the Town of Superior to permanently protect 182 acres along State Highway 128 at the southern ridgeline of Superior. Known locally as Coyote Ridge, the property builds upon a vast collection of protected public lands in the region totaling over 50,000 acres. In turn, the counties will hold a conservation easement on the property further assuring its protection as open space.

Earlier this year, the Town of Superior completed the purchase of 182 acres owned by CenturyLink for $15.063 million. Boulder and Jefferson counties supported this effort by contributing $3.75M for this acquisition. This contribution will allow the town to pay off a portion of the funding it borrowed for this purchase.

The property has been a long-term top priority for open space acquisition by the Town. The acquisition protects 182 acres of wildlife habitat and mixed-grass prairie land located along the south edge of town along Highway 128.

“Boulder County is delighted to partner with the Town of Superior and Jefferson County to ensure this property’s high scenic and passive recreation values are preserved and continue to serve the public’s interest in enjoying this beautiful area,” said Boulder County Commissioner Matt Jones.

Jefferson County Commissioner Libby Szabo said “We are pleased to partner with Boulder County and Superior to protect this very prominent and scenic ridgeline that will provide more opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors. We believe in partnerships because they produce wonderful results like this.”

“The town has worked determinedly for nearly 15 years to acquire the property,” said Mayor Folsom. “With this parcel in place, we can determine how it can be connected to surrounding trails and open space lands, while making sure it is fully protected from future development.”

“With the purchase the town has preserved the scenic views of this highly visible parcel of land and allowed for the continued public enjoyment of a wide variety of native plants, which enhance the beauty of this area,” added Mayor Clint Folsom.

The Conservation Fund, a national non-profit land conservation organization, assisted the town and its partners in the acquisition and protection of the CenturyLink property.

Property Details

The 182-acre property is largely mixed-grass prairie. The parcel has excellent views including downtown Denver, Longs Peak, the Continental Divide, and the Front Range. This ridgeline is visible throughout Superior, including having many existing social trails on the property. It contains no surface water, but it does have a small wetland area. The property contains a few mature trees, and the majority of the parcel is mixed prairie grass. It has a diverse wildlife habitat and is very likely used by wildlife as a migration corridor. It has the potential to be a high regional draw and would be ideal for passive use for its ridgeline views. This property has pieces in both Boulder and Jefferson counties.

Superior Skyline as seen from the Coyote Ridge open space property.