Open Space

Open Space has become the crown jewel of Boulder County. We Libertarians will preserve and enhance Open Space so that more and more of us can enjoy this bounty. We admire and support the sacrifices made by the citizens of Boulder County who, through their taxes, have paid for this remarkable collection of parks and trails.

Let me be clear: I have opposed the increased taxes that our County Commissioners have requested that the citizens approve for open space.  Indeed, I have debated in public the wisdom of burdening Boulder County with these taxes. But the taxes have been approved and the property has been purchased and, as such, Libertarians will be careful stewards of this treasure.

When we Libertarians are elected, Open Space will be enhanced for more and more of us by

• Trading current space for other space that would be used to connect this disconnected system of parks and trails
• Increasing the number of single-use trails so that different users do not conflict with each other
• Requiring new development to pay for and set aside land to be used as buffers between neighbors

Much more open space can be funded by those who appreciate being adjacent or nearby. An entire network of open space and parkways can then hide or enhance future development.

More and more of us will be close to a portion of this endless network, enabling us to walk or ride to all the rest. With luck and mixed-use development (a very old Libertarian idea that has just become acceptable in today's resource-limited world!), more of us can walk or bicycle to work using this network of parkways.

Users will be invited to provide for their needs and share existing and future open space by separating conflicting uses.

Boulder County can set an example that would surround our travels nearly anywhere by mother nature instead of repetitive sprawl; all without additional taxes.

You have our promise:

We Libertarians will preserve and enhance Open Space