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1. Why are you focusing on the Open Space Sales Tax now?

The current Open Space sales tax is limited to the purchase, improvement, and maintenance to open space and trails. As the definitions of open space versus parks continues to blur, we are taking a proactive, transparent approach and reevaluating both our current and future needs to ensure current tax revenues are responsibly invested in the future.

2. What is the POST Commission?

The Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission advises the Board of Trustees and Town Staff on all matters pertaining to parks, open space and trails. It consists of seven members, all of whom must be bona fide residents of the Town. The Board of Trustees makes the appointment of seven members to staggered four-year terms.

3. Would this affect how open space and trails are maintained and improved?

The Town created a dedicated Parks and Open Space Department in 2022 and under direction from the Board of Trustees, they are taking a holistic approach to the long-term maintenance, expansion, and improvement of all outdoor recreation resources. By reducing limitations on the Open Space sales tax, Town staff could implement improvements outlined in community-driven planning initiatives, such as the Parks, Open Space and Trails Master Plan, as they are prioritized by the Community, not by what specific funds are available. Those plans call for continued expansions to the Town’s trails system as one of the highest priorities.

4. Would this raise taxes?

No. The Town is not considering raising the Open Space sales tax from its current rate of 0.5%. The Town is only considering modifying the potential use of revenues to include all parks, open space and trails.

5. Would restrictions be placed on how the tax revenues could be used?

Yes. The Town is proposing to limit the revenues to be expended on maintenance, expansion and improvements to the parks, open space, and trails system. However, since trails are a critical transportation function, the funds may be utilized to create multi-modal trails along street corridors, such as the trail along Colorado Boulevard.

6. What would this revenue be spent on in the immediate future?

1. The continued development of the Town’s trail system, which is partially funded and/or constructed by new developments as they are built. 
2. Improvements to Frederick Recreation Area, including expanded recreational access and improved water quality at Milavec Reservoir and expanded park, open space and trails amenities in the Marx Open Space, near the Frederick Skate Park. These improvements are being prioritized and planned under the Community Parks Master Plan, an ongoing, community-driven planning process.
3. Improvements to Centennial Park, including additional trails and neighborhood connections, improved event infrastructure for Town events such as Frederick In Flight, Chainsaws and Chuckwagons and Miner’s Day as well as park, open space and trails amenity improvements throughout the park. These improvements are being prioritized and planned under the Community Parks Master Plan, an ongoing, community-driven planning process.
4. Improvements to existing neighborhood parks, including improved playgrounds, sport courts, trails and other amenities, increased water conservation efforts such as additional shade trees, conversion of cool-season turf to warm-season turf or native grasses, increased xeriscaping instead of turf and improvements to existing irrigation systems.
5. Ongoing maintenance of existing Town parks, open space and trails assets.

7. I thought the Recreation District paid for park operation and maintenance.

1. The Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District (CVPRD), a special district established in 1983 to serve Frederick, Dacono, Firestone and surrounding rural areas, manages three facilities and a variety of recreational programming in their service area. The Carbon Valley Recreation Center, Carbon Valley Gymnastics/Senior Center and the CVPRD Firestone Studio/Administrative Offices are their primary facilities. They offer recreational programming at many Town managed parks, such as Centennial Park.
2. While the Town and the District collaborate closely, the Town has no involvement in the management of the Recreation, Senior or Gymnastic Centers and this proposed modification of the Open Space Sales Tax would not go to any improvements or maintenance to those facilities. However, the Town will continue to partner with CVPRD to best utilize recreational resources for the residents of Frederick wherever feasible.