Boulder to consider trading 1 acre of open space for 6.9 acres of prairie
The proposed exchange would add prairie adjoining city-managed open space and include a $60,000 city payment.
Boulder City Council is scheduled to consider an Oct. 1 proposal to trade about 1 acre of degraded Mann East Open Space for about 6.9 acres of prairie, with the city paying about $60,000. The payment would be considered separately through the 2026 second budget adjustment.
The city’s exchange memorandum places the city’s parcel at 0 North Foothills Highway, near North Broadway and U.S. 36. Staff says the highway right-of-way separates the strip from the larger Mann East holding. The parcel includes drainage facilities and a gravel parking area, which staff describes as management challenges, and has low natural-resource value. Canal Avenue Park LLC wants the land to maintain access and drainage facilities serving its property, the memorandum says.
The proposed acquisition is an undeveloped portion of the company’s property. Staff describes it as high-quality shortgrass prairie with rare Bell’s twinpod, adjoining city-managed open space on three sides. The Open Space Board of Trustees voted 4-0 in August to recommend the exchange to the council.
The proposal does not state whether the prairie parcel would be open to public use.