County approves $3.6 million purchase of 127-acre 'Creekside' near Lyons to protect riparian corridor

Boulder County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the county’s purchase of the 127-acre Creekside property southwest of the town of Lyons for $3,600,000 to protect a remaining unprotected stretch of the South St. Vrain Creek.

The county’s Parks and Open Space division presented the property, which staff said includes about a 420-foot stretch of the creek, four parcels, two residences, two detached garages and nine outbuildings. Melissa Arnold, land officer with Parks and Open Space, told commissioners the property borders Hall Ranch and other county open spaces and that the parcel contains “riparian habitat connector along the South Saint Vrain Creek” and habitat identified in county planning maps.

Staff said the sellers, Ron Redmond and Annie Blackwell, have owned the land for nearly 60 years; Ron Redmond grew up on the site. Parks and Open Space staff described multiple structures on the site, including a 1954 residence of about 1,880 square…