Boulder County’s mission is “As trusted stewards of Boulder County’s future, we provide the best in public service.” The Parks and Open Space Department has its own mission statement. Every five years the Department develops strategic goals, objectives and performance measures to guide how we provide “the best in public service” and to measure our progress toward those goals.
Parks & Open Space Mission & Goals
Parks and Open Space’s Mission: “To conserve natural, cultural and agricultural resources and provide public uses which reflect sound resource management and community values.”
Parks and Open Space’s Goals
- To preserve rural lands and buffers.
- To preserve and restore natural resources for the benefit of the environment and the public.
- To provide public outreach, partnerships and volunteer opportunities to increase awareness and appreciation of Boulder County’s open space.
- To protect, restore and interpret cultural resources for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.
- To provide quality recreational experiences while protecting open space resources.
- To promote and provide for sustainable agriculture in Boulder County for the natural, cultural and economic values it provides.
- To develop human resources potential, employ sustainable and sound business practices, and pursue technological advancements.
2020 Strategic Vision & Goals
This is Parks & Open Space’s third set of multi-year strategic goals. It includes performance measures and performance results to track and measure progress toward those goals.
Strategic Goal A: Complete Flood Recovery
- A-1. Complete recovery of riparian corridors and reservoirs damaged during 2013 flood
- A-2. Complete recovery of trails and facilities damaged during the 2013 flood
Strategic Goal B: Improve Public Access to Lands and Information
- B-1. Complete Visitor Use Policy and other Management Plans and Policies set forth as “short term” projects on POS Department planning schedule (includes North Foothills Open Space management plan, Rabbit Mountain Management Plan)
- B-2. Complete 7-mile Tolland Ranch Regional Trail with connections to West Magnolia
- B-3. Add 6 miles of trail and associated facilities at AHI
- B-4. Add an additional 10 miles of trails and associated facilities (including Heil 2)
- B-5. Facilitate regional trail connectivity planning/implementation efforts
- B-6. Create construction and maintenance guidelines for POS facilities
- B-7. Improve public information about Department and projects
- B-8. Use new and creative ways to engage public in planning process
- B-9. Integrate technology into our nature based experiences
- B-10. Increase participation in education programs
- B-11. Improve public access to BCPOS monitoring data
Strategic Goal C: Protect and Restore Habitat & Species
- C-1. Complete Wildlife Policy, Grasslands & Shrublands Policy, and other Management Plans and Policies set forth as “short term” projects on POS Department planning schedule (includes North Foothills Open Space management plan, Rabbit Mountain Management Plan)
- C-2. Write and begin implementing 25 ERE Species of Special Concern conservation plans or BMPs for high priority wildlife and plant species
- C-3. Enhance and protect pollinator habitat, including planting 50 acres of new pollinator habitat
- C-4. Reintroduce Black-footed ferrets to Boulder County Parks and Open Space lands
- C-5. Complete wildlife surveys and baseline vegetation mapping on high-priority properties (St. Vrain properties, Caribou, Wynn, Forsberg and Loukonen)
- C-6. Enhance and restore ecological values on 600 acres of forestland , on three degraded/nonproductive agricultural properties, on grassland habitat, and in and along the St. Vrain
- C-7. Enhance native vegetation on three POS properties by removing Bromus tectorum (Cheat grass)
- C-8. Minimize impacts to open space resources (natural and agricultural) from oil and gas, utility and other third-party impacts
Strategic Goal D: Acquire Significant Properties
- D-1. Preserve 2,500 additional acres and associated water rights
- D-2. Prioritize acquisitions that offer opportunities for important trail connections
- D-3. Pursue alternative strategies for accomplishing land exchanges
Strategic Goal E: Plan for Demographic Shifts
- E-1. Create a diversity plan to engage new, diverse and underrepresented populations and partners
- E-2. Identify a large site, preferably near water, for picnic and recreation use
Strategic Goal F: Foster Dynamic Agriculture
- F-1. Convert 25% of agricultural land to organic practices by 2020
- F-2. Implement Soil Conservation and Water Conservation Plans for POS Ag lands (see also B-11)
- F-3. Implement and refine integrated pest management protocols
- F-4. Support local food production efforts
- F-5. Improve Fairgrounds utilization for agricultural activities
- F-6. Implement Cropland Policy GE Transition Plan
Strategic Goal G: Adapt to Climate Change
- G-1. Develop and begin to implement a policy for climate change adaptation and mitigation (2-3)
- G-2. Reduce POS-related energy use
- G-3. Implement Boulder County’s Zero-Waste policy throughout the POS system
- G-4. Become a leader in carbon sequestration through land management
Strategic Goal H: Care for Cultural Assets
- H-1. Complete and implement Cultural Resource Management Policy
- H-2. Increase visitation to historical sites by 10%
- H-3. Complete and implement a maintenance plan for priority cultural assets
- H-4. Complete historic buildings defensible space grant and develop long-term defensible space maintenance plan
Strategic Goal I: Engage Volunteers in Stewardship
- I-1. Increase volunteer hours by 20%
- I-2. Expand partnership program by 20%
- I-3. Strengthen collaboration between the department and volunteers
Commissioner’s Approval
On July 21, 2016, the Board of County Commissioners approved the 2020 Strategic Vision.