Some of the most scenic and important open space lands in the Denver Mountain Park system were purchased for their open space value, and were intended never to be developed. The prominent mountaintops, forested ridges, steep slopes of dense mixed evergreen forests, rocky outcrops, and narrow riparian corridors of Denver’s conservation/wilderness parks provide critical wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and dramatic scenic backdrops. Most of the highly visible peaks and ridges along the main routes west, including US 285, Highways 73 and 74 through Evergreen, and US I-70, that are not dotted with houses today are Denver Mountain Parks. They continue to fulfill their original role—to protect the natural and scenic character of the Denver foothills.
Their permanent, protected role in the system was clearly intended. When Denver acquired land for these mountain parks, deed restrictions were included in the transfer from state or private property to city ownership. These included deed restrictions for more than 5,000 acres from USDA Forest Service Lands restricting sale of the land—“that said city and county shall not have the right to sell or convey the land.” Other parks, such as those acquired from private ownership, restricted the land “for park and parkway purposes only.”
The protection of watershed and wildlife habitat is becoming increasingly important as the metropolitan region’s population grows, and open space disappears. The Denver Mountain Parks have land that contributes to the integrity of the region’s watersheds, notably Bear Creek, Clear Creek, and smaller tributaries, all of which eventually reach the Platte River.
Many of the mountain ridges and peaks originally set aside for scenic quality provide important cliff habitat, including Snyder Mountain, Hicks Mountain, Mount Judge, and the southern portion of Deer Creek Park.
Challenges and Opportunities
The conservation/wilderness parks of the Denver Mountain Parks system have continually upheld the values that were essential to the founding of the system in 1912 – to protect scenic resources for recreational, aesthetic, and environmental reasons, both for today and for the future. These parks were originally intended to be undeveloped lands in perpetuity.
Their role in resource protection has become more important over the years, and as neighboring communities have grown, their role as a scenic background today is even more valuable.
Some of the recommendations in the draft Master Plan for these parks are:
Their permanent, protected role in the system was clearly intended. When Denver acquired land for these mountain parks, deed restrictions were included in the transfer from state or private property to city ownership. These included deed restrictions for more than 5,000 acres from USDA Forest Service Lands restricting sale of the land—“that said city and county shall not have the right to sell or convey the land.” Other parks, such as those acquired from private ownership, restricted the land “for park and parkway purposes only.”
The protection of watershed and wildlife habitat is becoming increasingly important as the metropolitan region’s population grows, and open space disappears. The Denver Mountain Parks have land that contributes to the integrity of the region’s watersheds, notably Bear Creek, Clear Creek, and smaller tributaries, all of which eventually reach the Platte River.Many of the mountain ridges and peaks originally set aside for scenic quality provide important cliff habitat, including Snyder Mountain, Hicks Mountain, Mount Judge, and the southern portion of Deer Creek Park.
Challenges and Opportunities
The conservation/wilderness parks of the Denver Mountain Parks system have continually upheld the values that were essential to the founding of the system in 1912 – to protect scenic resources for recreational, aesthetic, and environmental reasons, both for today and for the future. These parks were originally intended to be undeveloped lands in perpetuity.
Their role in resource protection has become more important over the years, and as neighboring communities have grown, their role as a scenic background today is even more valuable.Some of the recommendations in the draft Master Plan for these parks are:
- Preserve the Conservation/Wilderness Parks as undeveloped Denver Mountain Park lands.
- Preserve each park in its historic role as a scenic backdrop, as an important natural resource, or as both. Identify and close problematic social trails within the conservation/wilderness parks.
- Engage private property owners, where their land abuts Denver’s land, in an informal stewardship role.
- Manage Similar or Adjacent Conservation/Wilderness Parks as One Natural Resource Area by creating comprehensive management plans and system-wide policies to preserve and protect the significant natural resources.
- Identify those parks that are contiguous to one another and/or that share natural resource issues or attributes such as significant wetlands or rock outcrops.
- Develop natural resource management plans for contiguous parcels, and natural resource policies for the Conservation/Wilderness Parks.
- Use Conservation Easements, Trail Easements, and Acquisition to Protect The Parks. Work with adjacent property owners to acquire land or to obtain conservation easements for those properties that buffer or protect the open space/wilderness parks from encroaching development.
- Clearly Define Park Boundaries to control illegal dumping, social trails, off-road vehicle use, and other unauthorized uses.
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