Dog‑park users urge Westminster to reroute long‑distance cyclists from Woman Creek; city to review during management‑plan update

Speakers during public comment at the Westminster City Council meeting on Aug. 11 urged city leaders to redirect long‑distance cyclists away from a one‑mile stretch of the Greenway Trail that runs through the Westminster Hills off‑leash dog park and to protect sensitive habitat on the adjacent Woman Creek property.

Representatives of the Westy Dog Park Guardians told council the bridge over Indiana Street that now links Rocky Flats open space to Westminster trails has increased bicycle traffic through the dog‑park area. Linda Bova, speaking for the guardians, said the Greenway Trail crosses highly used off‑leash areas and presents safety conflicts for families, older adults and people with disabilities. The group said five facts have changed since the trail opened in 2017—most notably a growth in users since the COVID pandemic and a council decision in 2024 to codify the off‑leash area into Westminster municipal code—and argued that the city should not wait for the area management plan to finish before taking action.

Cindy Stoud presented a formal route proposal and maps in a packet submitted to council. The guardians proposed that from the new Lowell/Indiana bridge, long‑distance cyclists be directed south on the trail parallel to Indiana Street and east to the concrete path along 100th Avenue (the packet’s map shows a potential connection near the city maintenance road). Stoud told council the detour would reduce user conflicts, lower the risk of imported contaminated soil being tracked into the dog park, and better protect burrowing‑owl buffer areas on the Woman Creek property. She said the guardians believe the Woman Creek property agreement does not obligate Westminster to maintain the existing through‑trail alignment and that minor detours or a permanent reroute could be lawful and practicable.

Other public commenters suggested alternatives for site stewardship and engagement. Sherry Griffin recommended managed goat grazing as a mechanical‑free weed‑control option and pointed to recent goat grazing at Stanley Lake as an example; she noted the dog‑park area management plan contract in the packet allocates about $50,543 for community outreach and suggested grazing could be funded in part from that budget. Beth McBride and others asked whether redirecting cyclists could be done before the area management plan is complete and requested improved signage to warn trail users about potential conflicts among cyclists, pedestrians and off‑leash dogs.

City staff said the Westminster Hills off‑leash natural area management plan is in process and will be discussed at an information‑only study session the week following the meeting; the city manager also said staff will review specific guardian proposals prior to that study session. The city did not adopt any immediate changes to trail alignments at the Aug. 11 meeting.

Ending: Councilors and staff acknowledged the concerns and scheduled the area management plan update for the Aug. 18 study session; staff committed to follow up with the guardians on the specific reroute map and on habitat buffer questions.