Urban state parks want public input on off-leash areas

Submitted by Colorado State Parks

DENVER – Colorado State Parks has drafted several alternatives to designate and fence dog off-leash areas at Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park as part of a several year process to protect natural resources, avoid user conflicts and develop a unique amenity for metropolitan area dog owners. Detailed information about the alternatives is available online at http://parks.state.co.us/dogtraining/.

 In addition, Colorado State Parks will host an open house for each park to answer questions from the public about the alternatives and seek comments. For Cherry Creek State Park , the open house will be held on April 12 at Cherry Creek High School ’s West Cafeteria between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The open house for Chatfield State Park will be held April 15 at the Ken Caryl Hampton Inn between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

There will be no formal presentations at the open houses. Attendees will be able to speak with park managers, planners and rangers and view information on the timeline, signage and the specific management alternatives for each park. There will also be information about regulations, user fees, volunteer opportunities and etiquette guidelines. Colorado State Parks’ staff will answer questions about the management alternatives and accept written comments from the public. Written comments can also be made after April 9 through the Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park websites at dogtrainingarea.process@state.co.us.

The deadline for public comments is April 21.

Colorado State Parks will review all the written comments from the public on each park’s alternatives and then select a preferred alternative to present to the Colorado State Parks Board at the May meeting.

For many years, Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park each had a specially designated area for training dogs used in hunting, but those areas became popular with other dog owners as off-leash areas for exercising pets. Both areas have become crowded and the sport dog owners have been displaced.

The heavy use of these areas by dog walkers has also lead to public safety issues, natural resource damages and conflicts with other users.

Colorado State Parks has spent more than two years researching the impacts on the natural resources, taking public comment on possible solutions and preparing management alternatives for the two parks.

The alternatives will include a designated area for sport dog training at Chatfield State Park . Cherry Creek State Park will have a special use permit program for sport dog training. All proposed alternatives keep the majority of the existing area open for public use and include improved amenities for the users.

All the alternatives include the existing regulations requiring dog owners to maintain control of their pets and collect pet waste. And, dog owners will be required to keep their dogs on leash when walking from their vehicle in the parking lot into the dog off-leash area.

To pay for the costs of planning and building the additional amenities at the dog off-leash areas, which will be special use areas, the Colorado State Parks Board will require user fees at the dog off-leash areas. The money will also be used to pay for the unique maintenance needs of the dog off-leash areas, as well as for future improvements and additional amenities. Colorado State Parks is looking forward to building a strong partnership with area users to better manage this unique and valuable resource. The overall goal will be to make the areas more sustainable and protect the quality of the experience.

To review the studies, the summary of the previous public comments or view the alternatives online, visit http://parks.state.co.us/dogtraining/.

Attracting nearly 12 million visitors per year, Colorado ’s 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone of Colorado ’s economy and quality of life. Colorado State Parks encompass 224,531 land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. Colorado State Parks is a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities. Colorado State Parks also manage more than 4,000 campsites, and 57 cabins and yurts.  For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.colorado.gov/parks.