Boulder trustees, staff and neighbors press for faster action on Flagstaff Road safety and wildfire risk

Residents and local safety advocates urged the Open Space Board of Trustees and city staff on April 9 to move quickly to reduce illegal parking, noisy late-night parties and fire-starting activity along Flagstaff Road on Flagstaff Mountain, citing multiple recent human-caused fires and threats to public safety.

The community concern coalesced around Panorama Point and other pullouts where people are parking outside posted hours, setting off fireworks and engaging in illegal activities. ‘‘We need to deny safe harbor to people on the road and in parking lots after hours,’’ said Josh Alban of the Flagstaff Fire Action Prevention Group, urging the board to ‘‘block the parking lots’’ and increase enforcement.

City staff told the board they are treating the Flagstaff Corridor project as both planning and active implementation: an infrastructure- and operations-focused site and management plan that will prioritize visitor safety, resource protection and clearer definitions of designated parking. Jeff Haley, deputy director for visitor experience and infrastructure, said the project goes beyond wildfire to include crime prevention and visitor management and that staff have already implemented some actions such as closing selected pullouts, adjusting…