North Standley Lake Open Space Park — Attraction in Westminster

Dang where to even begin ...??

So I told myself this summer, that I wasn't going to let not have a car. Hold me back from a first camping experience with my toddler baby and new puppy.

The campsites were really close next to each other, something I didn't really expect or count on was how close your neighbors were. Another thing with those neighbors are, most of them are homeless. I had this family of screamers right next to me, who were always yelling at 3-year-old daughter. These people constantly came into my camp, imposing their daughter on my daughter hoping that they will become friends or play together. I have a lot of social anxiety, And honestly just wanted a camping experience with just me and my family and no one else. But I kept getting these side eyes because everyday they wanted me to bring my daughter, But I didn't... I spent four nights 5 days at this camp, thinking I was going to give my daughter a real nice camping experience (which I did!).

Come to find out someone came into my tent, took a picture of my debit card and made it King Soopers order. I thankfully was able to get my card shut off And the money place back on my card, But there was cash also missing from out of my wallet. I didn't notice these things while I was on my trip, simply because I was naive and had trust that people respected the rules of the camp by not going into other people's camp, especially when they are not there. But this specific family even opened up to me about how they would go to other people's cams. Looking for firewood sticks. Actually didn't even know that we weren't allowed to pick up random sticks and firewood, as I came a little bit unprepared. Because I don't have a car, actually had to make a King Soopers delivery order 3 days into our camping trip just for ice and things like that... But there was one specific camping family who saw that we were in. Need a firewood, And actually was very nice and sharing. I hope they didn't think I was just some homeless person with no money in my pocket though, I honestly just came very unprepared. Thinking for firewood logs were good enough for 4 days. Logs I bought said that they would run for 4 hours long and I honestly thought that would be good enough... That was on me

There were other campers who would give me the side eyes. I would hate to believe that it was because of my brown skin, But honestly I think I was being associated as a homeless person. I hate the looks and the judgments, I'm sure every time I walked by people's camp they thought it was going to steal something from them. There were these neighbors who moved in right next to my camp, And within moments of arriving they took a look at me and my daughter and made a call to park rangers to have their camp move to another set, only to then move by the yelling family- So kudos to them...

There were these two little boys walking, pale skin- with a larger dog. And me and my 2-month-old puppy and my 3-year-old daughter walking, And these boys were just absolutely so rude to me and my family and my puppy.. as we walked away I saw them look behind their backs And laughing at us, saying the words "black".

Besides having to be around people, It was actually a nice view. I had a nice lake experience with my daughter, lots of secret spots to discover.. found the spot where we found lots and lots of cool blue sparkly caterpillars. We were on a nature hunt, Even saw a bird come really close up to us. Walking all around the path unafraid. We saw this huge white pelican fly right beside us as well as discovering tiny tadpoles who lived in the lake and swim right next to this tree...

Not that it matters, But definitely...

This park is one of the most over regulated parks in Colorado with overzealous rangers. The worst part of it is that it is as far as you can get from a real camping experience. Seriously, I know because I live a block from the open spaces. If you want to buzz around the lake in a boat pulling a skier then it's probably awesome but if you want any peace and quiet then forget it. If you want to fish it then forget it. There are so many water skiers on this lake that fishing it from a boat is absurd with the constant buzzing around of the water skiers. Forget about having any peace to fish it from shore because the rangers are bored and won't let you get near the lake unless you are on the docks next to all the others who like fishing in a croud. I own a house in the neighborhood and this review may discourage people from buying here consequently driving home prices down but I don't care someone has to fight back and return this lake to a decent fishing experience or even a decent picnic experience. I've been here since 1999 and in the beginning this lake was wonderful. About 5 years ago they started closing off access to the damn where children used to be able to sit and fish. Now they have such a staff of rangers that the patrolling alone makes this lake look like a race track for rangers. They will harass you for anything because they are bored. So forget about a calm walk and sitting next to the lake. If you stand in the wrong place (on a rock next to the damn or next to the lake) they will stop and order you to get away. Camping? Thats absurd! This lake is a water source for water skiers only! I have witnessed the decline of this lake for years. Oh and know one seems to remember the Rocky Flats disaster nearby from the 80's. As a kid we used to joke about the lake having fish with three eyes. This lake is a freaken joke and I'm going to start fighting back so we can start enjoying this resource again without worrying about being thrown out of the park for standing on the wrong rock! I haven't been thrown out yet but its coming! I won't be pushed around anymore.

You can help by avoiding this lake. Stop paying them to enter this park and help restore this lake to someplace a person can fish and picnic.

Others reading this please be honest and start telling the truth about this beautiful being turned into a over regulated cesspool that we use for drinking water.

If you are a neighbor start...

The tipi provided a convenient and easy way to camp. Inside the tipi were two single cot beds and one double cot bed, a bucket for trash, and a broom. Outside each tipi were a picnic table and a small fire pit with a grill on top of the fire pit for easy cooking. I could not find a water spigot so next time I will bring extra jugs to of water for dishwashing and cleaning hands. There was also a community fire pit with log benches. The restrooms equipped with changing table were a short walk away. A nature center building had a lot of helpful information, books, and games for kids and families to enjoy. Bring extra blankets to place under your sleeping bag to block the cold air under your cot, lint, tinder, a lighter, and firewood, a cooler of food and snacks, jugs of water, and maybe a camp stove and cooking supplies. Also the kids had fun collecting shells along the sandy beach near the lake. There were also life jackets and...