To ensure that our open space is as it was then, as it is now, and as it will be …forever open.
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16May
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Upslope GET DOWN Call for Volunteers!

Who’s ready to GET DOWN?! Our new sponsor Upslope Brewing Company is...

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07Mar
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Take Action For Wild Lands and Wildlife

We were all very moved by the films at BIFF. Now we...

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Our Mission

Boulder Open Space Conservancy is a non-profit organization that partners with the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department to promote and enhance the ecological resilience of our public lands to climate change through sponsorship of conservation projects and community education, for the benefit of all current and future generations of Boulder citizens and visitors.

BOSC was established in 2017 through a public-private partnership with the City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks department to leverage public resources with private philanthropy to fulfill its mission.

This partnership is a unique collaboration of two equal and independent entities: OSMP and the community nonprofit BOSC. Each will bring the shared goal of better fulfilling the charter for OSMP with mutual trust & respect, diverse skills, and strengths.

About BOSC

Boulder's Open Space is more than a gift. It's our legacy.

The legacy of Boulder’s Open Space dates back over a century, when, in February of 1898, the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua Association and the City of Boulder entered into an agreement to locate the Chautauqua near Boulder. A city bond election was held in April of that same year, and the necessary bonds and expenditures were approved to purchase the land and build the first buildings. The following year, Congress approved the allocation of 1,800 acres of mountain backdrop/watershed, extending from South Boulder Creek to Sunshine Canyon.

In July 1959, the creation of the Blue Line restricted water lines from being extended beyond an elevation of 5,750 feet. In November of 1967, Boulder made history by passing the nation’s first voter-approved sales tax for open space and the creation of the Greenbelt. Another critical vote was passed when, in 1971, a 55-foot building height limit was set, ensuring views of the foothills and Flatirons will always endure. A historic preservation code was passed in 1974 and a residential growth management ordinance in 1976. Today, Boulder has preserved the largest per capita of open space in the country—over 45,000 acres and 148 miles of trails within the city. With your help, we will continue this legacy and keep Boulder Open Space forever open.

Community Connections to Food Program

Will educate the community about the connection between organic food, nutrition, health, and environmental quality and will serve as a resource for farmers and ranchers throughout the region who are seeking information about transitioning to sustainable, organic methods of production.

Conservation Program

Invests in the overall vitality and resilience of the broader open space and mountain parks ecosystem.

Innovation & Thought Leadership Program

Will promote research and develop best practices around land and water stewardship, climate change, and resilience building projects.

Youth Engagement & Education Program

Invests in enhanced, community based nature centers, supports environmental education programs and teaches outdoor skills and awareness to ensure youth gain a stewardship ethic.

Make A Gift to Support Your Boulder Open Space Conservancy
Mount Sanitas is one of the most popular trail systems in Boulder County and has over 150,000 visits each year. Since 2016, there has been a dedicated push by OSMP to work on small, discrete projects every year on the Mount Sanitas trail to improve the visitor experience, minimize erosion, and protect the trail in its current alignment. More than 15,500 hours have been spent hauling material, building structures, and repairing tread. Since the pandemic, visitor use has increased and will continue to be a heavy use trail system for years to come.
We continue to work hard this year to raise funds and inspire active stewardship from our community in support of the Mount Sanitas Trail restoration efforts. By making a tax-deductible gift or signing up your group to volunteer, you will be supporting the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department address the high costs of maintaining and improving the popular trail on Mount Sanitas. Can we count on you to join us in restoring Mount Sanitas?

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