After 28 years without updates to its rules and regulations, Arapahoe County’s Open Spaces Department is considering a series of new rules to enhance safety in its parks and outdoor spaces.

The current regulations were adopted in 1996, before the county had its Open Spaces Department, and the program has grown significantly since, according to a news release Thursday from the county.

County residents will have until Nov. 18 to comment on the proposed rules and regulations which, if passed, will be effective starting Jan. 1, 2025.

The new proposed rules and regulations are as follows:

• Visitors shall not release animals on Open Spaces properties
• Dogs shall be on leashes
• Pedal assisted electric bikes are allowed
• Default speed limit on trails and pathways is 15 mph
• No smoking on Open Spaces properties
• No glass bottles on Open Spaces properties
• No dumping waste generated offsite
• No use of flotation devices or flying objects unless otherwise posted
• No unpermitted commercial activities

Adoption of the regulations listed above will require a public hearing by the Board of County Commissioners, and community members are encouraged to comment on them at arapahoeco.gov/openspacesrules.

Gini Pingenot, the director of Arapahoe County Open Spaces, said officials reviewed other Front Range government rules and regulations for open spaces in order to create their own.

“Like many public places, Arapahoe County’s parks, trails, and open spaces are not immune to damage caused by vandalism, dumping and other activities that degrade the places we love,” Pingenot said in the release. “Staff concluded that the current rules and regulations needed to be updated to ensure the protection of the County’s natural resources and assets, align better from a consistency standpoint with adjacent agencies, and protect public safety.”

County officials tried to balance personal freedom and enjoyment with the need for rules to create a shared respect for open spaces, according to the release. The regulations will help make sure outdoor spaces paid for through taxes stay protected and safe.

Arapahoe County Open Spaces began in 2003, when county residents voted to fund the program through an Open Space sales and use tax. The tax was renewed in 2011, then permanently renewed in 2021.

County spokesperson Anders Nelson said the lack of rules and regulations updates for 28 years has been due to the uncertainty of the program. After it was made permanent in 2021, county officials have realized the need to regulate its open spaces.