Personal items such as landscape material, lawn mowers, wood and utility-trailers

Recreational items such as playgrounds, trampolines, horseshoe pits, tree houses and rope swings.

Access to your property through Metro District property is not permitted. Creating walkways beyond your fence line or removing Metro District fencing along the parkway landscaping is prohibited.

Irrigation, planting, gardening, mowing, dog houses, timber walls and structural supports for improvements located on private property are to be contained within your backyard. Mowing native areas with residential mowers is harmful to vegetation because residential mowers cut at a height that puts stress on the native vegetation, in turn creating an environment for invasive weeds to establish themselves.

Discarding grass clippings, sod, soil, yard waste, trash, debris, landscape materials and dog waste over your backyard fence is harmful to the open space. Yard clippings dumped in the open space establish a seed bed for weeds to flourish and suffocates native grasses. In addition, dumping yard clippings creates a habitat for unwanted rodents and increases the fire danger. Dumping dog waste is unsightly and creates a health and safety concern for our water supply and for wildlife.

Unauthorized motorized vehicles or equipment — including trucks, golf carts, skid steers, etc. — are not allowed in parks or on open space property. (Trail use is allowed for e-vehicles that go up to 20 mph unassisted, are under 200 pounds, and are less than 36" in width.) The following are other exceptions to this rule: Metro District and Highlands Ranch Water service vehicles and equipment; emergency vehicles; utilities; permitted contractors for Metro District or Highlands Ranch Water projects. Permits are not given to residents for access to their property for landscaping. 

Residents who frequently enter the open space through their back fence may be creating social trails in the open space. Social trails increase erosion, fragments the wildlife habitat and establishes a place for weeds to grow, damaging natural resources. Residents may enter the open space through their backyard, but should avoid taking the same path each time so a social trail does not develop.

Bird feeders, houses and baths placed in the open space introduce non-native species to the area and can attract wildlife such as rodents, coyotes and raccoons. If you wish to ‘host’ birds, all items must be placed on your property.

Whether it’s digging into a natural slope of the open space or building a fort with wood, you are damaging the natural resources of the open space. The Metro District strives to maintain a healthy habitat beyond your backyard. Altering it in any way, including creating bike jumps and dirt tracks, is harmful.

Spraying herbicides in open space areas creates a hot bed for weeds, and results in erosion on slopes behind your fence line. Spraying herbicides beyond your back fence is not allowed.