The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department has earned the Leave No Trace Gold Standard site designation from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, to recognize leadership in conservation, visitor education and responsible outdoor recreation. At the same time, OSMP was named to the 2026 Spotlights program, joining 12 communities nationwide that are taking meaningful actions to protect outdoor spaces through onsite education and restoration efforts.

"This recognition reflects years of thoughtful, intentional work by our Open Space and Mountain Parks team to balance access to the outdoors with the responsibility to protect it," said Boulder City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. "Boulder's open space is central to our community's identity, and OSMP continues to lead in showing how recreation and conservation can go hand in hand when we all share in caring for these places."

From June 4 to 7, Leave No Trace staff will partner with OSMP to host a series of community events focused on continued education, restoration and stewardship. The city will formally celebrate its Gold Standard Designation with the community during an education event at Chautauqua Park on June 7.

"The goal with Gold Standard Sites and Spotlights recognition is to showcase the power of communities coming together to protect the outdoor spaces they care about," said Dana Watts, the executive director of Leave No Trace. "It's exciting to recognize OSMP's ongoing commitment to conservation-they're a fantastic example of how to implement Leave No Trace education effectively. It's particularly rewarding for us because Leave No Trace is headquartered in Boulder-our staff gets to enjoy properties that OSMP oversees on a daily basis."

Spotlight Events are free and open to all ages and abilities. More information can be found the Leave No Trace webpage.

• Thursday, June 4: Leave No Trace Trivia Night, 6 to 8 p.m. at Fjallraven Boulder.

Leave No Trace team will host a trivia night with questions about Leave No Trace practices and the Boulder area ecosystem. Attendees can test their knowledge, win prizes and learn more about Leave No Trace ethics.

• Saturday, June 6: National Trails Day Stewardship Project, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate National Trails Day by volunteering to make the Hidden Valley trail accessible to all terrain hand cycles. This work will support a larger mission of making an interconnected system of handcycle accessible trails at Boulder Valley Ranch. Lunch will be provided. Learn more and register.

• Sunday, June 7: Gold Standard Designation Ceremony & Education Table, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Find OSMP and Leave No Trace staff at Chautauqua Park trailhead for family friendly games and information about how you play a role in both enjoying and protecting our natural spaces. Join us in celebrating the official Gold Standard Designation with Leave No Trace at 10 a.m.

About Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the outdoors through science, education, and stewardship. By providing research-backed education and programs, Leave No Trace works to ensure a sustainable future for people and the natural world.
www.LNT.org