Open Space to start community and tribal-led design of Fort Chambers healing trail

Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) staff on Jan. 15 presented the next phase of planning for the Fort Chambers Poor Farm property and announced a community- and tribal-led process to design an interpretive “healing trail.”

Katie Knapp, identified in the meeting as a principal planner with Open Space and Mountain Parks, told the board that OSMP acquired the 113-acre property in 2018. The parcel, located north of Boulder Creek near 60 Third Street, includes agricultural lands, riparian areas, and a house listed on the National Register of Historic Places that served as the Boulder County Poor Farm from 1902 to 1918. In July 2024 the board recommended advancing the Fort Chambers concept plan, including ecological restoration, visitor access evaluations, farmstead improvements and an interpretive healing trail.

Knapp described a five-window engagement process intended to run about 15 to 18 months. The first engagement window will be listening and learning to hear different experiences and stories; subsequent windows will identify themes, design the flow of the interpretive experience, seek feedback on draft alternatives, and finalize a design for the interpretive elements. OSMP staff said the process will include in-person and online engagement, consultation with Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal representatives and interested community members, and that consultants will be hired to support the planning effort. The board will receive updates throughout the process and have multiple opportunities to provide input.

Trustees asked whether staff would proactively invite tribal representatives and community members who had expressed interest; staff replied that announcement dates and specific outreach steps are being set and that targeted invitations would be part of the outreach. No votes were taken on the plan at the meeting; staff said they will return with information on engagement dates and contractor selection.