Parker honors longtime volunteer Brian Ali with county hall of fame and Oakleaf awards

At its Feb. 2 meeting, Parker’s Town Council and partner agencies honored Brian Ali with recognition for decades of volunteer service to local open space and parks.

Mary Colton of Parks and Recreation introduced Ali and described his work as a trail ambassador, hike leader, 'weed warrior' and long-serving representative to the Douglas County Open Space Advisory Council. Jay Sage, chair of the county open space advisory committee, told the council he has worked with Ali for more than a decade and praised Ali’s problem-solving and steady commitment.

Anders, identified as director of open space with Douglas County, noted Ali’s role representing Parker on the county advisory council since 2014 and cited Ali’s leadership during the 2022 sales-tax reauthorization that extended open-space funding for the county. Steve Schultz, the county’s parks and recreation director, also thanked Ali for his work and for helping promote open-space initiatives.

Ali accepted the recognition and acknowledged fellow volunteers in the audience, describing open space as "a labor of love" and encouraging others to "find your passion." The council took photos and offered brief remarks of gratitude. No formal action or funding decisions were tied to the recognition.

The presentation highlighted the role volunteers play in stewardship of trails and open spaces in Parker and Douglas County.