Due to reported increases in negative interactions at Apex Park, located south and west of the City of Golden within the foothills of Jefferson County, Open Space is looking to our park visitors to place as many ideas as possible on the table for consideration to determine if the visitor experience at Apex Park can be improved through a change in management techniques.

Presently, Apex is a destination park with small acreage and provides minimal trail mileage over steep terrain for multiple use by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. These reported negative interactions with other users are due in part to these limiting park features as well as speed and mode differentials.

A list of ideas generated through user group outreach and two public open houses, scheduled for June 18 and June 20, will be maintained in the form of a listening log and posted on the Open Space Web site.

A report of findings by staff is scheduled for the July 2, 2009, Open Space Advisory Committee meeting at 7:00 p.m. at 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden. Staff will then work with the Open Space Advisory Committee in multiple public forums to narrow opportunities for possible implementation.

If you would like to provide your comments, use one of these methods to submit your comments no later than June 30:

1. Mail written comments to "APEX", 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO  80401.
2. Email your comments using the subject "APEX" to trock@jeffco.us
3. Log on to the Open Space Web site and select "News" to find the "Improving Visitor Experiences at Apex Park" link.

The following is a partial list of potential management options to address the increased reports of negative interactions at Apex Park. Please submit options/ideas that may not be represented in this partial list for consideration by Open Space.

• Directional Trails: Users travel in the same single direction such as a one-way street.
• Alternate Use Days: Types of trail users would be allowed/restricted during a specific time frame (day of week, odd or even numbered days).
• Alternate and Directional Management: Utilize a combination of the alternating schedules as described above, along with directional travel.
• Zones: Zones are areas indicated by a radius or polygon where specific management techniques would be applied such as areas of high safety incidents, possibly due to congestion, family use, bottlenecks, speed, crowded conditions, diverse user groups, and trail dynamics. Examples:  Safety Zones for no passing or Dismount Zones at trail junctions.
• Trail Design: Intentional design and construction of features to either slow traffic, increase or decrease sight lines, create trail loops and minimize grade.
• Single Use Trails: Single Use Trails are ones which specify a user group allowed on that trail.
• Public Outreach/Education: Options could include increased presence of volunteer hosts/patrollers, special events, Web site information, Ambassador programs, etc.
• Trail Signage: Provide clear direction to the user as to approaching traffic, steep terrain, blind corners and other trail features.
• Your ideas here:

Public forum opportunities to submit your ideas on options to improve the visitor experience at Apex Park include:

• Tuesday, June 9, 7:00-9:00 p.m. -- Trail Use Task Force
• Thursday, June 18, 6:30-8:00 p.m. -- Open House
• Saturday, June 20, 9:30-11:00 a.m. -- Open House
• Tuesday, June 30 -- Deadline for your suggestions
• Thursday, July 2, 7:00 p.m. -- Open Space Advisory Committee, presentation of staff findings

Additional meetings will be announced. All meetings will be held at the Open Space Advisory Committee in the Ponderosa Room at 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401. 

If unable to attend these public forums, submit your ideas in writing, by email or use the online comment options listed above by June 30.