Many changes to South Boulder area trails were considered by the CCG at its September 21 meeting. These proposals are briefly described below based on the following base map of area trails plus two more detailed maps which number specific trail segments. The annotations which appear at the end of this post describe, for each numbered trail segment the changes being considered.
- Trail segments: 2, 4, 5, 6 -- Existing social trails that the CCG has tentatively agreed to allow to remain open by formally designating them, improving maintenance, and, perhaps, making modest reroutes to protect the environment. There is also some support for rerouting trail #4 away from the houses provided that neighbors would not create lots of social trails connecting their houses to the main trail. The goal of such a reroute is to reduce neighborhood impacts while also providing a better visitor experience.
- Trail segments: 3, 7, 13 -- Existing trails that environmentalists and the OSMP representative want to close and recreation and neighborhood representatives would like to remain open.
- Trail segments: 1, 9, 8 -- Existing social trails that the CCG is tentatively decided to close and reclaim.
- Trail segment: 12 -- A new connector trail that would replace two existing social trails that cross the gully that flows by the water tank.
- Trail segment: 10 -- Proposed, but not agreed to reroute of the Galena Way neighborhood bypass trail through the fence and away from the houses to protect neighbors and improve the visitor experience.
- Trail segment: 11 -- An existing social trail that OSMP would like to designate an reroute for environmental protection purposes and the environmentalists would like to see closed.
- Trail segment: 16 -- Stony Hill Drive Fern Meadow access point. While the CCG is bound by the “sideboards” to respect the agreement between the Devil’s Thumb Owners Association and the City considerable concern was expressed about the fact that the neighborhood enjoys special access to the trails in the area. Still, the CCG, pending a legal opinion, is assuming that the Stony Hill access points will remain closed to the public.
- Trail segment: 17 -- Proposed but not agreed to Bear Creek / Fern Meadow connector to provide public access to the Fern Meadow Trail from the Bear Creek Trail without going through the neighborhood access points.
- Trail segment: 14 -- Based on past information, I suspect that OSMP will propose closing the Towhee Trail and replacing it with a longer version of the Homestead trail (see below)
- Trail segment: 15 -- Lengthened Homestead trail. (see above)
I am very annoyed that OSMP keeps pushing for closure of social trails around our neighborhood. I am pleased to see that some very useful local social trails may be retained, that is a good first step, as they are very useful, pleasant, and shady. But I object strongly to some of the trails that OSMP/environmentalists want to close, in particular Trail segment 3 (and also 7, 13, and 11).
ReplyDeleteI feel that if OSMP/Boulder want to diminish our use of our property by closing trail segment 3, they should be prepared to compensate us for the loss of property value that results. We all know that a property across the street from an open space access is a very different thing from a property that is 3 or more blocks from an open space access, and the corresponding drop in property values is in the $50K ballpark. Also, use of the open space is just more appealing if it is possible to make loops through the open space rather than having to walk back and forth both directions on one single trail. It sounds like a small thing, but we have paid for the open space in part because we want to be able to enjoy it! Also, trail segment 3 is so close to houses that I doubt it would become a significant wildlife habitat with removal of the human trail, and I expect that animals would continue to trample a trail at or near the current location, as there isn't another nearby trail that offers as ready access from the end of View Point to the wooded area on Shanahan Ridge and beyond, and there is a *lot* of deer traffic here.
And finally, nobody is going to give any hikers from elsewhere in Boulder a hard time if they hike on these social trails, as long as they are just as considerate and friendly as other hikers, and do not create a parking nuisance. I have hiked lots of other unofficial social trails in Boulder, and no one has ever given me any grief for doing so. So I really do not understand that there is a critical need to have only officially designated trails, and close all others.
Thank you for your time,
Connie O'Dell
South Neighborhood
1717 View Point Rd
Boulder, CO 80305