Hikers said they could see a big difference in a year. Jefferson County's parks are some of the most popular in the metro area. But not everyone can agree on what they should be and who should use them. In the nearly full parking lot at Crown Hill, a family was pulling strollers from their car recently as children danced around in anticipation. A woman a few cars down unloaded two large golden retrievers, while a cyclist was heading from the lot toward the lake loop.
Many skaters are out for speed and fitness, as are some cyclists.
Families want a safe place they can take the kids, while dog owners want to let their animals run free. The issue of trail conflicts climaxed nearly two years ago when the county talked about closing some trails to mountain bikers - a step the city of Boulder had already taken. But Jeffco residents formed a task force with representatives from most groups of trail users. The group decided educating people about trail etiquette was a better way to handle conflicts. The county erected new signs last summer explaining who should yield to whom, and more volunteers were sent out on the trail explaining the rules.