Public land management

Louisville's public lands include parks, Open Space, trails, medians, rights-of-way, the cemetery, ditches, and other public areas. The City manages these lands differently based on their purpose, ownership, and location. Some areas are also managed by partner agencies, ditch companies, or other organizations.

Open Space and Parks

Parks and Open Space make up much of Louisville’s publicly managed land. Their distinct roles guide how each is maintained, from mowing and irrigation to vegetation management, tree care, and recreation.

Parks land management

Parks are developed public spaces designed primarily for recreation, community use, and gathering. The Parks Division maintains about 375 acres, including community, neighborhood and pocket parks, sports fields, parkways, greenbelts, the cemetery, City facility grounds and landscaped rights-of-way. These areas are maintained to support active recreation, community gathering, safe transportation corridors, and an attractive public landscape. Management typically includes irrigated and regularly mowed turf, maintained landscaping, greenways, tree care, and other routine maintenance that supports developed public spaces.

Learn more land management on parks.

Open Space land management

Open Space is protected land managed mainly to conserve natural and cultural resources while providing opportunities for passive recreation. The Open Space Division protects and manages about 2,000 acres, including approximately 675 acres owned by the City and other properties jointly owned with partner agencies. Protected by the Louisville Home Rule Charter, Open Space is managed differently from parks, with protecting the natural environment as the first priority.

Learn more about land management on open space.

Want to see which category a specific piece of land falls under? Check the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Trail Map (PDF) to find out.

How are weeds managed on parks and open space?

Weeds are managed differently depending on the type of public land and how it is used. Parks and Open Space both use an integrated approach that combines different control methods, but management priorities and practices vary between maintained park landscapes and natural Open Space. Learn more about weed management on public land.

Trails, medians, rights-of-ways, and ditches

Trails, medians, and ditches are found throughout Louisville. How they are managed depends on their location, purpose and ownership, with responsibilities shared among City departments, partners and contractors.

Trail management

Louisville’s trail network includes approximately 54.5 miles of on- and off-street trails and pathways connecting neighborhoods, parks, Open Space, recreation facilities and the regional trail network.

Maintenance responsibilities vary by trail type and location and may involve PROS, Public Works, partner agencies, contractors and seasonal workers. Work includes inspections, surface repairs, vegetation management, drainage improvements, bridge maintenance, signage, and seasonal closures.

View Louisville trails and maps

Medians and rights-of-ways management

Louisville’s landscaped medians and rights-of-way are maintained by the Parks Division as part of the City’s transportation corridors. The City is gradually transitioning many older medians from irrigated turf and aging trees to more water-wise landscaping, including drought-tolerant grasses, pollinator-friendly plants, a more diverse tree canopy and efficient irrigation. These changes reduce water use and long-term maintenance while creating landscapes better suited to Colorado’s climate and roadway conditions.

Learn more about horticulture and streetscapes

Who maintains ditches in Louisville?

Although many ditches run through City-owned public lands, they are not always owned or maintained by the City. Ditch companies, flood management agencies or other entities may be responsible for maintenance, including vegetation management, sediment removal, bank repairs, and debris clearing. This work can temporarily change the appearance of an area but is necessary to manage water, reduce flood risk, and protect infrastructure. Read FAQ's about how ditches are managed

Not all land is City-owned or managed

Not all land within Louisville is owned or managed by the City. Some undeveloped and landscaped areas are privately owned or managed by HOAs, metropolitan districts, businesses, ditch companies, or other entities. As a result, practices such as mowing, weed management, watering, and irrigation may differ from City-managed land.

Who owns the land?

Use these maps and resources to learn more about land ownership, management, and public property:

• Zoning and Land Use Map
• Open Space and Parks Property Directory
• Parks, Recreation & Open Space Trail Map (PDF)

Learn more

Explore the plans, policies, regulations and maps that guide how Louisville’s public lands are managed.

• Home Rule Charter
• PROS Long Range Plan (LRP) - Coming soon
• PROS Trails System Plan (TSP) - Coming soon
• Wildfire and Hazard Risk Assessment Louisville Public Land (WRA)
• Integrated Weed Management Plan (IWMP)
• Parks Maintenance Plan (PMP)
• Rules and regulations