Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OPEN SPACE IS NO ACCIDENT
There aren't many towns like Boulder. Even in Colorado it's an anomaly. We're not just referencing its ability to
simultaneously nurture the adventurous and athletic, the intellectual and spiritual, the beer-drinking masses and
the culinary-snob set. We're talking about Boulder, the place. You know, that town so close to Denver it could
easily have become a mere suburb or satellite town. Just look at the Hwy 36 corridor. From the I-25 north this
highway roars through one suburb after another, but as it approaches Boulder the development stops and all you
spy are those gorgeous Flatirons looming to the west. Why? Because long ago the city and county of Boulder got
into the land-acquisition business.
It all started back in 1898 when the city helped purchase and set aside land that was marked for gold explora-
tion and became Chautauqua Park. In 1907 the government floated a public bond to buy Flagstaff Mountain, and
in 1912 purchased and preserved 1200 more pristine mountain acres. Then, in 1967, Boulder voters legislated
their love of the land by approving a sales tax specifically to buy, manage and maintain open space. This was his-
toric. No other US city had ever voted to tax themselves specifically for open space. The sales-tax measure
passed with 57% of the vote and Boulder's
Open Space & Mountain Parks
(
www.osmp.org
)
office was
launched. In 1989, 76% of voters increased the tax by nearly 100%.
Still, even with an income stream, these days the government usually can't afford to buy whole parcels, and in-
stead purchases 'conservation easements,' a legal agreement between the city and a landowner to protect their
land's conservation value. Often they're used to purchase and protect wetlands and streams, keep agricultural
land from being developed, and protect forests. While a good deal of Boulder's open space has been developed
with trails, mapped and opened to the public, some parcels remain closed to visitors. But residents still feel the
benefits: they live in a town buffered on all sides by vast open spaces that give Boulder its serenity.
UNIVERSITY
Naropa University
( 303-245-4643;
www.naropa.edu
;
2130 Arapahoe Ave; tours 2pm Mon-Fri school year; ; JUMP)
Founded by Tibetan Buddhist master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who escaped
Tibet and climbed over the Himalayas into India as a young man. In 1970, at just 30, he
began presenting teachings in the US and founded the Naropa Institute (now Naropa
University) in 1974. It offers a contemplative education in psychology, environmental
studies, music, performing arts and more. The university periodically hosts public talks
and events.
Naropa is also home to the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, co-founded
by his fellow Beat Allen Ginsberg, and poet Anne Waldman.
Butterfly Pavilion
(
www.butterflies.org
;
6252 W 104th Ave, Westminster; adult/child/senior $9.50/6.50/7.50; 9am-5pm; )
With four indoor exhibit halls and acres of outdoor gardens fluttering with over 1200 but-
terflies from all the jungles and rainforests of the world - not to mention furry tarantulas,
armored scorpions and fuzzy millipedes - this spot is a whirl of color, excitement and joy
BOTANIC GARDEN
