Parks & Open Space Welcomes New Director — Lyons Area

Parks & Open Space Welcomes New Director — Lyons Area

Boulder County is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Parks & Open Space Director. The incoming director brings over 20 years of experience in public land management and conservation. They will oversee the department’s 100,000+ acres of protected land and 150 miles of multi-use trails.

Volunteers contributed over 9,395 hours to this program last year. The Parks & Open Space coordinates with 25 nonprofit partner organizations throughout Boulder County to deliver services.

For questions about this program, contact Michael Kowalski at Parks & Open Space: (303) 441-7669 or email Parks & Open [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in services are available at the Erie office without an appointment.

Next Steps

The Pella Crossing open space property encompasses 701 acres and features 10 miles of multi-use trails. Seasonal wildlife closures may apply from December 15 through July 15 to protect nesting raptors and elk calving areas.

Eligible participants include Boulder County residents with household incomes at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, this is approximately $52,000 per year. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Resources

Colorado state law requires all counties to provide these services to eligible residents. Boulder County exceeds minimum state requirements by offering expanded hours, multilingual support, and online access. In 2025, the county received a state award for excellence in service delivery.