BOULDER — Boulder is considering closing almost 40 percent of the city’s open space during nighttime hours to help protect the area’s natural resources.
In a draft report, open-space officials have recommended banning access to sites qualified as habitat conservation areas from sunset to sunrise. Habitat conservation areas were defined in the 2005 Open Space and Mountain Parks Visitor Master Plan as high-value habitat, and they encompass 39 percent of Boulder’s open space.
The hours would depend on the season, but according to the report, the closures would generally start about 8 p.m. in the summer and 5 p.m. in the winter. Staff-guided tours would still be allowed during those hours, and groups could apply for permits.
Now, all city open space is open 24 hours. However, parking at trailheads is closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Nighttime use of habitat conservation areas is already discouraged but not explicitly prohibited.
Mark Gershman, environmental planning supervisor for Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, said habitat conservation areas are typically larger blocks of isolated open space with limited access. He said most of the areas already restrict off-trail access and camping as well as dogs, so the city hopes the closures would have minimal impact on potential nighttime users.
“One of the things we are always trying to figure out is how to balance resource conservation with visitor enjoyment of open space,” Gershman said. “This area has the highest resource value with a limited impact on visitors.”
Areas that would be affected include Western Mountain Parks, Lower Boulder Creek, Eldorado Mountain and the area surrounding Marshall Lake.
One of the alternative recommendations also suggested closing natural areas at night, another 38 percent of open space.
The other options city officials looked at were closing all open space at night, leaving only a few select trails open at night and keeping all open space accessible at night.
Boulder County open space is already closed at night, and Larimer and Jefferson counties have similar closures.
Should the City Council approve nighttime closures, Gersh man said rangers’ schedules would likely be altered to patrol the closed areas.
