Council approves ‘Water Runs Back’ open‑space name after tribal and community outreach

The City and County of Broomfield on March 18 approved a resolution naming a 32‑acre open‑space parcel at 18100 County Road 7 “Water Runs Back,” a name proposed following consultations with tribal partners and local outreach.

Kluge Leakin, Open Space and Trail Specialist, told council the name came from conversations with Cheyenne and Arapaho cultural representatives, including a site visit by tribal representative Tom Mosqueda in October 2023. “He was on the property, and as we were walking along the community ditch he observed that the water runs back toward the mountains,” Leakin said, explaining that the naming follows indigenous naming practices tied to landscape features.

Leakin said the open space had been purchased with the city’s open‑space fund and carries water rights. The open‑space advisory committee recommended the name after a supplemental public poll produced 158 responses, 86% of which supported the proposed name. Council also heard that the tribe and advisory committee recommended translations of the name into Arapaho and Ute; staff said translation and signage in indigenous languages would be part of implementation if council approved the resolution.

Council approved the resolution by unanimous vote.

What happens next: staff said signage with appropriate translations and possibly a native plant garden (enabled by the parcel’s water rights) would be developed to make the site useful as a cultural touchstone for tribal visitors and as an educational site for residents.

Quote (selected): "I think it's very important that we build a relationship…this naming process took several years, because we weren't just naming an open space property, we were building a relationship." — Kluge Leakin, Open Space and Trail Specialist.

Ending: Council unanimously approved the naming and asked staff to work with tribal partners on translations and interpretive signage.