BROOMFIELD AT 60 – Broomfield’s Open Space: A Community Treasure That Almost Didn’t Exist

By Kristen Beckman

When COVID-19 quarantines kept people home last year, Broomfield’s open space provided an escape where they could get out, go for a hike, enjoy nature and forget for a few moments about the troubles the world was facing.

But this open space almost didn’t exist.

Nearly three decades ago, a question on Broomfield’s ballot sought to create a sales and use tax to help fund the purchase of land for open space. It failed by just a handful of votes.

A year later, in 1994, a core group of dedicated citizens re-launched the effort to get the issue passed. That group included Ellie McKinley, Rick Erickson, Jean Patterson, and Gordon McKellar, to name just a few. However, McKinley is quick to point out that many people were involved in the grassroots effort to ensure the measure passed the second time around.

“We divided up the town so that every house was supposed to have been talked to,” McKinley recalled. “There were lots and lots of people involved with going door to door to talk about open space to make sure it passed. It really was a community effort.”

Photo by Pat Eichner

Those efforts paid off, and the issue passed that provided for the acquisition of open space and parks plus improvements. Eighty percent goes to open space and 20 percent to park purposes.

“It set the precedent of the city taxing people to buy open space,” said former Broomfield Mayor Pat Quinn, who was an early member of Broomfield’s open space committee. “The whole history of Broomfield was different from that point.”

Broomfield residents also set out to save The Field from becoming a development of around 450 homes -- with the rallying cry “Keep the Field in Broomfield.”

“I remember the lady who owned the dry cleaners right next to what eventually became the open space, and she wanted those houses there because it meant business for her,” said McKinley. “There were a lot of people who wanted those houses because that meant business, and I can understand that.”

The Broomfield City Council purchased the land, preventing the development, but then faced additional challenges from others who had an eye on using the land for other purposes.

“Some citizens wanted soccer fields on The Field, and for good reason,” said McKinley. “There were kids who weren’t able to play because there weren’t enough fields. Of course, everyone wants to build on open land. But once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

Photo by Pat Eichner

In both a politically savvy move and collaborative effort, a compromise was arranged. Broomfield City Council and residents worked together to find another place for athletic fields.

“That was really the promise that caused Broomfield County Commons to happen, which is a blend of open space and parkland,” said Kristan Pritz, director of open space and trails for the City and County of Broomfield. “Broomfield County Commons involved the purchase of at least 10 different properties in the early 2000s. It’s kind of cool that if you are at your kid’s soccer game, you can go take a walk around the open space, maybe see some wildlife or have a nice talk with your child. I think having the two areas close to each other was really a great idea.”

Those foundational efforts paved the way for more open space projects throughout the next 25 years, including Metzger Farm, a joint effort with Westminster, and the Wottge Open Space at Sheridan Boulevard and 144th Avenue. Broomfield residents demonstrated their support for open spaces by overwhelmingly voting to continue the limited sales tax into perpetuity (including the maintenance of open space), unless changed by the electorate.

Photo by Pat Eichner

The result is a community plan that places a clear value on incorporating open space. In fact, the city’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan now calls for 40 percent of the community’s planning area to have public and private land in open space or park uses. To date, the open space and park use equals approximately 35 percent.

“When I campaigned for mayor, we would knock on a door and ask, ‘Why did you move to Broomfield?” said Quinn, who is planning to write a book about the history of Broomfield’s open space. “The school districts were always No.1 but open space and trails were always mentioned high up. I just

want the community to know what the founders did here was unprecedented. Broomfield has always led the way and we’ve never been shy about taking an uncharted path.”

Photo by Pat Eichner

McKinley, who said she was motivated to become involved due to her love of nature and birds, likens open space to a breathing space within the community.

“To me it’s pretty remarkable that we saved this much land,” said McKinley. “ I think Broomfield is so lucky that a lot of this land had never been developed and it was available. A lot of towns don’t have that. All of a sudden they wake up and want that open space, and there’s none left.”