The Origin Story

Welcome to the debut episode of Voices of Open Space, celebrating 50 years of Boulder County Parks & Open Space. Melissa and Tina, longtime colleagues, take listeners on a journey through the landscapes, legacies, and bold vision that launched one of the most renowned open space programs in the country. From mountain peaks to agricultural plains, discover how leadership, local action, and community values shaped the open spaces we cherish today.

📌 Show Notes:

In this episode:
An overview of Boulder County’s geography and ecological diversity
What “open space” means and why it matters
The early movements and landmark moments in open space preservation
Stories from the 1960s–1990s:
The Blue Line
The creation of the Comprehensive Plan
Formation of the Parks & Open Space Department in 1975
Grassroots efforts and the pivotal 1993 sales tax vote
Personal reflections from Tina and Melissa’s decades of work in real estate and planning
Acknowledgement of Indigenous communities and the legacy of colonization
The foundational role of leaders like Ron Stewart and Carolyn Holmberg
Highlights of early acquisitions like Betasso Preserve, Rock Creek Farm, and Walden Ponds
The theme for the department’s 50th anniversary: Rooted and Reaching

Mentioned in this episode: ⁠
⁠Boulder County Open Space 50th Anniversary⁠⁠ (https://bouldercounty.gov/departments...)
⁠Boulder County Comprehensive Plan⁠ (https://bouldercounty.gov/property-an...)
⁠Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee⁠ (https://bouldercounty.gov/government/...)
⁠Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Parks and Trails webpage⁠ (https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/...)


Coming up in future episodes:

What Makes Us Unique
Innovations in Open Space
Volunteer Programs: The Heart of Our Mission Episode
The Values That Shape Our Work
Conservation Easement
What it takes to manage over 107,000 acres of public land

Subscribe to Voices of Open Space on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

__________ Contents of this video __________

00:00 Intro
01:17 Legacy of Boulder County Parks and Open Space
02:02 Where is Boulder County?
03:21 What is open space?
05:10 Other aspects of open space
06:09 Painful legacy of colonization
08:16 How was the seed of Boulder County Parks and Open Space planted & Protected land
10:00 PLAN-Boulder (PLAN stands for People’s League for Action Now) & The Blue Line
12:01 Community's support
15:00 Chautauqua
15:36 City of Boulder’s 1967 open space tax
17:48 1975 - The department was created
19:02 First purchase: Betasso Preserve
21:15 Agricultural land
23:50 Hootie, the Owl: "Open Space Yes"
26:22 1993 - Sales tax passes
29:49 Conservation easements
31:17 Carolyn Holmberg, BCPOS Director (1982-1997)
32:38 What are water rights
34:14 Rock Creek Farm - First purchased agricultural property
36:05 Ron Stewart, BCPOS Director (1998-2016)
38:32 Visionaries & Generosity (POSAC and Ann U. White)
40:43 Agricultural Heritage Center
41:52 Wally Toevs & Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat
42:48 Success & Challenges (Wildfires & Floods)
44:27 50th Anniversary - Rooted & Reaching
46:10 Upcoming programs
47:32 Outro

#VoicesOfOpenSpace #BoulderCounty #50YearsOpenSpace

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.