Greenway to Improve Safety for Visitors to Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge

In 2016, Jefferson County, along with several other regional partners, submitted a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant to extend a regional trail project, referred to as the Rocky Mountain Greenway (RMG). This grant was awarded in 2016 and supports the creation of a bridge over Indiana Street and underpass on CO128 to safely connect Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge (RFNWR) to neighboring public open space areas in Boulder and Jefferson Counties.

Given that the land was formerly used as a United States nuclear weapons production facility, Jefferson County has relied on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to confirm that access to RFNWR is safe for the public. Both agencies have confirmed this. Construction of these crossings was also contingent on independent confirmatory soil sampling in and around the Refuge which confirmed the findings from the EPA and CDPHE.

"Our mission is to provide healthy, nature-based experiences. Given this, we needed to be assured that RFNWR was tested, studied and deemed safe for visitors given the history of this site," said Jefferson County Open Space Director Tom Hoby. "We also believe this project will provide additional protection to visitors, surrounding neighborhoods and wildlife. Constructed trails, which are surfaced with offsite materials, provide the safest scenario. Most visitors stay on them which controls dust and erosion while protecting wildlife and their habitat."

Currently, many members of the community already use trails in the refuge. The construction of this trail adds a layer to the surface using material that is brought in from an outside source. Trails in this area that are not constructed are much more susceptible to soil disturbance and dust.

This project also provides Jefferson County and other government entities the opportunity to teach visitors about the history of RFNWR using signage. Signage at both entrances will make visitors aware of the history associated with the site, provide nearby options and allow people to make informed choices.

Adding a bridge over Indiana Street, which is being built by the Federal Highway Administration, is also an important safety improvement that must not be overlooked. Currently, visitors are crossing the busy road, at a point where visibility is limited, to reach the continued trail on either side of the road. The bridge removes that risk for visitors to the area.

Project history:

The Rocky Mountain Greenway (RMG) was among President Obama's first America's Great Outdoors (AGO) projects. The AGO and RMG were the brainchild of Secretary Salazar, fashioned after Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). Early on in the process of visioning the RMG the Secretary enlisted then Governor Hickenlooper's support. The Governor later made it one of his 16 statewide priority trail projects, ultimately coined, "Colorado's 16." Since then, Jefferson County has been working with a host of partners to provide access to several federal properties through the Rocky Mountain Greenway (RMG). The county's original partners on the project included the City of Arvada, City of Boulder, Boulder County, City and County of Broomfield, and the City of Westminster. Federal funding will cover 83% of the costs associated with this project, accompanied by a 17% match from Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS)