Hello COSA Friends,
Are you part of a municipality that owns land outside of city limits that is not open to the public? Then this message is for you!
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department is in this situation and our Rangers are not able to enforce on these lands under CRS 31-25-201. We are lobbying for a change to state law and we’d like to know if other agencies are interested in joining us.
Colorado Revised Statutes 31-25-301 gives municipalities the authority for full police power to enforce on park lands (and roads) the municipality owns outside of its City Limits. However, City of Fort Collins interprets “park” to mean only land that is open to the public. We have natural areas that are not open to the public that are outside of City Limits. This is where we’d like to have jurisdiction instead of relying on Sherriff’s Deputies or Police Officers (who we love, but they often have higher priorities than responding to natural area issues).
The draft changes to the law are attached, you’ll see we have a sponsor in Representative Boesenecker. We are asking for the words “natural area” and “open space” to be added to the law and a phrase, “whether open or closed to the public.”
Please reply to me, zshark if you’d like to learn more or join us in advocating for this change.
Thanks,
Zoe
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ZOË SHARK
Pronouns: she/her
Community Connection & Protection Manager
Natural Areas Department
City of Fort Collins
PO Box 580, 1745 Hoffman Mill Rd.
970-221-6311 office
zshark
