Wottge Open Space

The Wottge Open Space Plan includes trails, habitat enhancement along the drainage on the south end of the site, benches, and one shade pavilion. The Plan was approved by the City Council on December 12, 2023.  A robust public engagement process and environmental analysis guided the planning process.

Wottge History

Bernhard “Ben” Wottge moved to Colorado from Germany with his family when he was eight years old. His parents purchased land here in Broomfield in 1955, and it became their second start for farming. They planted crops like alfalfa hay, barley and corn. After a period of drought, they bought cows and added a dairy to their farmstead. The property included a farmhouse, two bin granaries, and a dairy barn among other buildings.

Ben and his four siblings decided to sell part of the property after their parents passed away. Ben had heard of the Broomfield Open Space and Trails Department buying a different property at the time and felt that preserving the Wottge land as open space would be a wonderful idea. Ben and his wife Pam continue to live on five acres of the farm while the remaining land has now been designated as the Wottge Open Space.

Broomfield Open Space and Trails purchased this land in 2003 to maintain views of the mountains as well as preserve a piece of land that connects Broomfield to its agricultural history. Wottge Open Space will also eventually provide an opportunity for adding a segment of the Broomfield Trail between the Aspen Creek and Wildgrass neighborhoods.

The property has several large cottonwood trees that have been home to a great horned owl nest in past years. The expansive field provides habitat for a number of bird and small mammal species, as well as a migration corridor for wildlife.

Markel and Wottge Open Space Plan

In 2023, the City and County of Broomfield developed a new plan for the Markel and Wottge Open Spaces. The goal of this project was to evaluate existing natural and cultural resources for both properties, and identify opportunities for public access and site improvements to preserve, restore, and activate the open spaces for public use while maintaining its natural beauty and wildlife habitat. View the Markel and Wottge Open Space Plan Report. For a visual on what the spaces will look like view the proposed improvement maps.  

Wottge Data:

Date of purchase: 2003
Size: 74 acres (net 66 acres as some land was used for right-of-way)
Location: Southwest corner of Sheridan Boulevard and West 144th Avenue

Wottge OS


Broomfield City and County's Interview with the Wottge Family:


The Story of the Wottge Family by Fred Martin: