Area residents can learn about how and when they can have access to Bear Creek in Kittredge Park now that Jefferson County and the property owner have settled the boundary dispute related to access to Bear Creek from the park.

The meeting will be from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at the Buchanan Park Recreation Center. Jeffco, which owns Kittredge Park, and the Evergreen Park & Recreation District, which operates it, will co-host the meeting to share details regarding the settlement.

“We will also share a concept plan to build an accessible loop trail that will provide access to Bear Creek and fencing to protect vegetation and define the park boundary in the area,” according to the release from Jeffco Open Space.

Jeffco Open Space and EPRD are planning a community volunteer day to build the trail followed by a community picnic. A date has not been released.

The controversy has been going on for about 20 months after Taralyn Romero purchased a home in Kittredge that overlooks Bear Creek. It began when she enforced her rights as the owner of the property on the north side of the creek. Park visitors had not known that area was private property.

(Editor’s note: The previous paragraph has been revised for clarity.)

Tensions were high the past two summers as the public tried to access the creek and Romero tried to assert her rights as a property owner. Both Romero and the community complained of harassment from the other side.

Romero also went to social media to tell her side of the story.

Last year, as the lawsuit was moving through court, Romero and Jefferson County worked out a deal where the community could access the creek via a specifically parked path.