Parks & Open Space Acquires 340-Acre Conservation Easement Near Lyons — Longmont Area

Parks & Open Space Acquires 340-Acre Conservation Easement Near Lyons — Longmont Area

Boulder County Parks & Open Space has acquired a 340-acre conservation easement on a working ranch near the town of Lyons. The easement permanently protects critical wildlife habitat along the St. Vrain Creek corridor and preserves agricultural land from future development while keeping the property in private ownership.

Affordable housing remains the top priority identified in the 2024 Community Survey. Boulder County’s Worthy Cause program has funded 1,430 affordable housing units since its inception, with 265 additional units in the development pipeline.

Eligible participants include Boulder County residents with household incomes at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, this is approximately $104,000 per year. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

What You Need to Know

Residents in the Boulder area should note that service boundaries may differ from city limits. For properties in unincorporated Boulder County, contact Sheriff’s Office at (303) 441-8956 to verify eligibility and requirements.

Climate considerations are central to this effort. Boulder County’s 2025 Climate Action Plan sets targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 83% below 2005 levels by 2030. This project contributes to those goals through energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy integration, and reduced vehicle miles traveled.

Contact Information

A community information session will be held at the Boulder library on Friday, June 5 at 7:00 PM. Translation services in Spanish and Nepali will be available. The session will also be livestreamed on the Boulder County YouTube channel.

The project includes improvements along CO-72 Peak-to-Peak Highway between Boulder and the intersection with South Boulder Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026 with completion expected within 17 months.