Dozens of Boulder residents urged the Open Space Board of Trustees on April 9 to act quickly to reduce wildfire risk and criminal behavior on Flagstaff Mountain, saying nightly parties, fireworks and illegal parking create an immediate public‑safety hazard.

The appeals came during public comment and were followed by a staff presentation on a months‑old Flagstaff Corridor operations and management project. Staff said the effort will produce a site plan and an operations plan identifying “short‑term, mid‑term and long‑term” options — among them selective closures, pilot gates, cameras or license‑plate readers, and stepped‑up patrols — and that any proposal requiring other agencies’ authority would be vetted with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder Police Department and county transportation staff.

Residents said current measures are insufficient and asked the board to press for concrete field changes before next fire season. “We need to deny safe harbor to people on the road and in parking lots after hours on Flagstaff,” said Josh Alban of the Flagstaff Fire Action Prevention Group. Several speakers described witnessing small, human‑caused fires on Panorama Point, near University Hill and Chautauqua; two residents said they had personally called 911 to report fires started by fireworks and drunken partygoers.

Why it matters: Flagstaff Road runs along steep, wildfire‑vulnerable slopes above Boulder neighborhoods and provides access to trails and viewpoints used by residents and visitors. Residents and neighbors told trustees that human activity on the road — particularly after dusk when the area is formally closed — has produced multiple preventable ignitions and threats to rangers and first responders.

Staff presentation and next steps

Jeff Haley, deputy director for visitor experience and infrastructure, told the board the Flagstaff project is meant to address a wide range of management goals, including fire risk, resource damage, visitor safety and criminal activity. “This project goes way beyond, just the fire risk,” he said.

Bill Wildenberg (staff) summarized what the department already has done and what it is proposing to evaluate further: removal of vehicle access at selected locations, revised parking hours, removal of picnic grills, additional night patrols, and an inventory of parking and access. Staff reported there are 62 designated parking spaces at OSMP trailheads along the corridor and roughly 45 undesignated pull‑offs that have formed over time. Staff said they will produce a prioritized list of potential actions, vet them with stakeholders and return with recommendations later in 2025, while pursuing “quick wins” that can be implemented sooner.

Residents pressed for immediate measures at Panorama Point, identified by staff and multiple speakers as a hotspot. “Put in a gate with license plate photography at the base of Flagstaff so traffic must stop and be photographed,” Jacqueline McKenna told trustees. Other commenters suggested 360‑degree camera trailers, more rangers or police patrols, nighttime checkpoints and gate‑oriented pilot projects.

Board and staff constraints

Trustee Harmon Zuckerman, who presided over the meeting after being elected chair earlier in the evening, urged clarity about the board’s role. “We may have a little bit less in the way of actual power than you are ascribing to us as a board. We’re an advisory board,” Zuckerman said, while also promising trustees would bring community concerns to council and push for coordinated action. Staff emphasized the corridor involves multiple jurisdictions: the county maintains Flagstaff Road and the county sheriff handles primary law enforcement on the roadway; OSMP manages the adjacent land.

What was decided and what’s next

No formal closure, ordinance or interagency agreement was approved at the meeting. Staff committed to continue the Flagstaff Corridor operations and management project, to document and prioritize short‑, medium‑ and long‑term actions, to consult with Boulder Police, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County Transportation and neighborhood stakeholders, and to present a more detailed work plan and cost/implementation analysis later in 2025. Trustees indicated support for pursuing pilot steps on sites OSMP controls — particularly Panorama Point — and for expedited coordination with law enforcement and elected officials to increase enforcement presence before and during fire season.

Community reaction and forward look

Speakers said they will press the board and council for immediate measures to reduce late‑night activity on Flagstaff Road, including gating or piloting gate operations, stronger patrols and prosecution of illegal behavior. Staff said they prefer a mix of implementation and further study: pursue workable short‑term fixes where OSMP has authority, and vet larger proposals (gates, permanent license‑plate readers, physical infrastructure changes) with partner agencies before committing to expensive capital work.

Ending note: Trustees asked staff to return with a clearer time line and to identify which actions can be implemented by OSMP alone versus those that require county or city approvals. Staff said they would attempt to pursue any “quick wins” this year while preparing a fuller package for board and public review later in 2025.