Sandy Holcomb has been an Urban Park Ranger for Highlands Ranch Metro District (HRMD) for 14 years. She is passionate about nature and educating the public.

Sandy’s love for education began as a gymnastic coach, then teaching at a nature camp focused on honeybees. Through these experiences, she realized the importance of community outreach which ultimately lead to her current role as Urban Park Ranger Coordinator. Ranger Coordinator means she trains new rangers and volunteers, oversees daily operations and projects, administrative tasks, liaise with other agencies, designs and leads education programs, oversees the quarterly newsletter.

Living and working in a beautiful place like Highlands Ranch is perfect for Sandy. “Nature is the ultimate teacher, and I have the privilege of being on the front lines, listening and learning from everything she has to share,” Sandy said.

Growing up in Littleton, Sandy has watched the community grow and develop. She attended the University of Utah on a full gymnastics scholarship, studying exercise and sports science, minoring in business.

A park ranger’s day is always different. A morning routine involves checking restrooms for potential overnight visitors or vandalism and patrolling the trails and open spaces. Other regular tasks include engaging with the community on wildlife and public safety, meeting with property management and emergency response teams and collaboration with local safety departments. Regular duties also include monitoring shelters and parking lots and helping with safety at public events.

The strong collaborations between HRMD and other agencies, like Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, South Metro Fire and Rescue, Douglas County Animal Services, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Highlands Ranch Community Association, makes the ranger’s job easier and parks and open spaces more accessible and safe.

“Maintaining our beautiful community isn’t a solo effort—collaboration makes all the difference,” Sandy stated.

HRMD manages 26 parks, 2,600 acres of open space, 73 miles of trails, four off-leash dog parks, and three community gardens, all of which keep its four full-time rangers busy.

Sandy has many interests outside of being a park ranger. She is a beekeeper and is active in a local bee club, where she helps manage a dozen hives and educates the public about the vital importance of pollinators. She also organizes and leads native wildflower hikes. She is a Native Plant Master in association with the Native Plant Society.

Sandy likes to keep physically active with CrossFit. In addition to reading, knitting and bullet journaling, she likes to play the ukulele around a campfire underneath the stars; she considers this laid back heaven. You can also find her at the skating rink, “grooving in my light-up roller skates, blending movement, music and pure joy,” she said.

Spending time with friends and family (her parents still reside in Littleton) is Sandy’s favorite way to unwind, reconnect and recharge. The family has a camping property in Colorado’s San Luis Valley were she brings her three dogs, a Maltese and two Bernedoodles.

 

 

By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Sandy Holcomb and Courtney Kuhlen