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OSMP kicks off interpretive planning for Fort Chambers ‘healing trail’; five engagement windows planned
Summary
Open Space staff outlined a 15–18 month planning process to design an interpretive healing trail at the Fort Chambers Poor Farm site, including tribal consultation, five public engagement windows and a consultant hire; the board will receive updates at each phase.
Open Space and Mountain Parks staff told the Board of Trustees on Jan. 15 they are beginning a 15–18 month planning process to design an interpretive “healing trail” and related education at the Fort Chambers Poor Farm site.
Katie Knapp, principal planner with OSMP, said the 113‑acre property, acquired in 2018, contains riparian and hayfield habitat, agricultural lands of statewide significance and a house listed on the National Register of Historic Places that formerly housed the Boulder County Poor Farm. The board previously recommended the department advance design and implementation of the July 2024 Fort Chambers concept plan.
Knapp said the interpretive‑experience planning will include five engagement windows to involve tribal representatives and community members. “The first engagement window will focus on listening and learning with the goal of hearing different experiences and stories,” she said. Subsequent windows will identify themes and priorities, develop draft designs and seek community input on alternatives before a final design is prepared.
Staff said the project team will hire a consultant to assist with design and engagement, and the board will receive multiple updates at each phase of the process. The planning windows will include both in‑person and online engagement and tribal consultation; staff emphasized that content for the healing trail will be developed with tribal representatives and members of the community.
Trustee Herman (last name not specified) strongly supported including both tribal and community voices, saying Fort Chambers visitors “should hear the whole story of the land” and urging staff to ensure the process gives space for all perspectives. Trustee (unnamed) asked whether the department would proactively reach out to people who expressed interest; Knapp said staff will announce engagement opportunities broadly and directly invite people who asked to be included.
Staff said parts of the concept plan — ecological restoration, farmstead improvements and visitor access evaluation — are already included in OSMP’s 2025 work plan, and the interpretive planning process will proceed in coordination with those implementation items.
