🎙️ Episode Title: The Origin Story
Episode Description: Welcome to the debut episode of Voices of Open Space, celebrating 50 years of Boulder County Parks & Open Space. Melissa and Tina, longtime colleagues, take listeners on a journey through the landscapes, legacies, and bold vision that launched one of the most renowned open space programs in the country. From mountain peaks to agricultural plains, discover how leadership, local action, and community values shaped the open spaces we cherish today.
📌 Show Notes:
In this episode:
- Boulder County’s unique geography and ecological diversity
- What “open space” means—and why it matters
- Key moments in open space history, from the 1960s to the 1990s:
- The Blue Line
- The Comprehensive Plan
- Founding of the Parks & Open Space Department (1975)
- The pivotal 1993 sales tax vote
- Reflections from Melissa and Tina’s decades in real estate and planning
- Acknowledging Indigenous communities and the legacy of colonization
- Visionary leaders like Ron Stewart and Carolyn Holmberg
- Early landmark acquisitions: Betasso Preserve, Rock Creek Farm, Walden Ponds
- The 50th anniversary theme: Rooted and Reaching
Mentioned in this episode:
Boulder County Open Space 50th Anniversary
Boulder County Comprehensive Plan
Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee
Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Parks and Trails webpage
Coming up in future episodes:
- What Makes Us Unique
- Innovations in Open Space
- Volunteer Programs: The Heart of Our Mission
- The Values That Shape Our Work
- Conservation Easements
- What it takes to manage 107,000+ acres of public land
🎧 Subscribe to Voices of Open Space on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.