Dog Off-Leash Area Review
Three-Phase Process
1. Assessment: This phase began in 2006 and is now complete. Park managers hired several consultants to study current conditions and create baseline data. Research gathered includes: Chatfield NRCS Cherry Creek NRCS Chatfield and Cherry Creek Small Mammal Study Chatfield Survey Cherry Creek Survey Chatfield Water and Soil Cherry Creek Water and Soil Area Dog Park Analysis 2. Planning: A. Park managers received public comments in 2009 as the first part of the planning phase. Click to view Report B. Colorado State Parks managers, planners and resource specialists drafted alternatives for each park and received public comment on the alternatives as the second part of the planning phase.C. April 2010 Proposed Alternatives: Planning Process Timeline Chatfield Proposed Alternatives Cherry Creek Proposed Alternatives Proposed Amenities Related Documents Existing regulations, guidelines, and proposed regulations. Management Planning explains the need to formalize the dog off-leash areas and what planned dog off-leash areas will accomplish. The Dog Off-Leash Area Volunteer Involvement Strategy outlines goals, potential partnerships, and potential volunteer opportunities related to the dog off-leash areas. D. May 2010 - Draft Preferred Alternatives Chatfield Board Summary Chatfield Preferred Alternative Map Chatfield Public Comment Summary Chatfield US Army Corp of Engineers - Letter Cherry Creek Board Summary Cherry Creek Preferred Alternative Map Cherry Creek Public Comment Summary Public Comment on User Fees E. Stakeholder Review In addition to receiving and analyzing public comment in July 2009, April 2010 and at the Parks Board meeting on May 6, 2010, park staff convened a panel of user stakeholders to meet and provide input and suggestions on modifying the Draft Preferred Alternatives. This group, made up of users from both Chatfield and Cherry Creek, met on May 25th and 26th. The User Stakeholder group reviewed and discussed the Planning Givens and suggested User Stakeholder Options as modifications to the Colorado State Parks Draft Preferred Alternatives. State Parks presented their recommended preferred alternatives for the dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek at the Parks Board meeting July 15th and 16th, 2010. F. Colorado State Parks Board Approves Designated Dog Off-Leash Areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks The Colorado State Parks Board voted unanimously to create designated dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks. After the Colorado State Parks staff presentation on the preferred alternative for each park, the board listened to public comments. Board president Bill Kane praised the park staff for their work, including the extensive public outreach process. The preferred alternatives were developed by park staff after analysis of studies and user surveys conducted between 2006 and 2008, and with input from interagency stakeholders, user stakeholders and public comments collected at 14 meetings. The plans reflect concerns from dog owners about acreage, water access, separation from other park users and dog waste disposal. The two dog off-leash areas at Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park are the largest designated dog off-leash areas in the metropolitan area. The fenced dog off-leash area at Chatfield State Park will be approximately 69 acres. Two separate areas for hunting dog trainers to use through a permit system will add an additional 19.3 acres for a total of 88.3 acres. The fenced dog off-leash area at Cherry Creek State Park will be approximately 107 acres. The designated off-leash areas respond to a requirement by the land owner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to develop plans for fenced dog exercise areas to ensure responsible and sustainable use of the land and water. 3. Implementation: The goal is to create and implement management plans that protect the resource, maximize the visitor experience and minimize or eliminate conflicts between user groups.
1. Assessment: This phase began in 2006 and is now complete. Park managers hired several consultants to study current conditions and create baseline data. Research gathered includes:
2. Planning:
A. Park managers received public comments in 2009 as the first part of the planning phase. Click to view Report B. Colorado State Parks managers, planners and resource specialists drafted alternatives for each park and received public comment on the alternatives as the second part of the planning phase.C. April 2010 Proposed Alternatives: Planning Process Timeline Chatfield Proposed Alternatives Cherry Creek Proposed Alternatives Proposed Amenities Related Documents Existing regulations, guidelines, and proposed regulations. Management Planning explains the need to formalize the dog off-leash areas and what planned dog off-leash areas will accomplish. The Dog Off-Leash Area Volunteer Involvement Strategy outlines goals, potential partnerships, and potential volunteer opportunities related to the dog off-leash areas. D. May 2010 - Draft Preferred Alternatives Chatfield Board Summary Chatfield Preferred Alternative Map Chatfield Public Comment Summary Chatfield US Army Corp of Engineers - Letter Cherry Creek Board Summary Cherry Creek Preferred Alternative Map Cherry Creek Public Comment Summary Public Comment on User Fees E. Stakeholder Review In addition to receiving and analyzing public comment in July 2009, April 2010 and at the Parks Board meeting on May 6, 2010, park staff convened a panel of user stakeholders to meet and provide input and suggestions on modifying the Draft Preferred Alternatives. This group, made up of users from both Chatfield and Cherry Creek, met on May 25th and 26th. The User Stakeholder group reviewed and discussed the Planning Givens and suggested User Stakeholder Options as modifications to the Colorado State Parks Draft Preferred Alternatives. State Parks presented their recommended preferred alternatives for the dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek at the Parks Board meeting July 15th and 16th, 2010. F. Colorado State Parks Board Approves Designated Dog Off-Leash Areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks The Colorado State Parks Board voted unanimously to create designated dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks. After the Colorado State Parks staff presentation on the preferred alternative for each park, the board listened to public comments. Board president Bill Kane praised the park staff for their work, including the extensive public outreach process. The preferred alternatives were developed by park staff after analysis of studies and user surveys conducted between 2006 and 2008, and with input from interagency stakeholders, user stakeholders and public comments collected at 14 meetings. The plans reflect concerns from dog owners about acreage, water access, separation from other park users and dog waste disposal. The two dog off-leash areas at Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park are the largest designated dog off-leash areas in the metropolitan area. The fenced dog off-leash area at Chatfield State Park will be approximately 69 acres. Two separate areas for hunting dog trainers to use through a permit system will add an additional 19.3 acres for a total of 88.3 acres. The fenced dog off-leash area at Cherry Creek State Park will be approximately 107 acres. The designated off-leash areas respond to a requirement by the land owner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to develop plans for fenced dog exercise areas to ensure responsible and sustainable use of the land and water.
D. May 2010 - Draft Preferred Alternatives
E. Stakeholder Review
In addition to receiving and analyzing public comment in July 2009, April 2010 and at the Parks Board meeting on May 6, 2010, park staff convened a panel of user stakeholders to meet and provide input and suggestions on modifying the Draft Preferred Alternatives. This group, made up of users from both Chatfield and Cherry Creek, met on May 25th and 26th. The User Stakeholder group reviewed and discussed the Planning Givens and suggested User Stakeholder Options as modifications to the Colorado State Parks Draft Preferred Alternatives. State Parks presented their recommended preferred alternatives for the dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek at the Parks Board meeting July 15th and 16th, 2010.
F. Colorado State Parks Board Approves Designated Dog Off-Leash Areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks
The Colorado State Parks Board voted unanimously to create designated dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks. After the Colorado State Parks staff presentation on the preferred alternative for each park, the board listened to public comments. Board president Bill Kane praised the park staff for their work, including the extensive public outreach process. The preferred alternatives were developed by park staff after analysis of studies and user surveys conducted between 2006 and 2008, and with input from interagency stakeholders, user stakeholders and public comments collected at 14 meetings. The plans reflect concerns from dog owners about acreage, water access, separation from other park users and dog waste disposal. The two dog off-leash areas at Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park are the largest designated dog off-leash areas in the metropolitan area. The fenced dog off-leash area at Chatfield State Park will be approximately 69 acres. Two separate areas for hunting dog trainers to use through a permit system will add an additional 19.3 acres for a total of 88.3 acres. The fenced dog off-leash area at Cherry Creek State Park will be approximately 107 acres. The designated off-leash areas respond to a requirement by the land owner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to develop plans for fenced dog exercise areas to ensure responsible and sustainable use of the land and water.
3. Implementation: The goal is to create and implement management plans that protect the resource, maximize the visitor experience and minimize or eliminate conflicts between user groups.