DENVER (KDVR) -- The City of Boulder has begun upgrading Mount Sanitas, improving trails and restoring "sensitive" natural areas at the open space destination, the city announced Wednesday.

Boulder said the "long-term improvements" are supported by a $1.1 million grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as community fundraising led by the Boulder Open Space Conservancy.

“Mount Sanitas is an iconic Boulder open space area that has created special outdoor experiences for generations of community members and visitors from near and far,” said Alyson Duffey, executive director of the Boulder Open Space Conservancy, in a statement.

The city said it plans to make repairs and improvements along the main Mount Sanitas Trail — which connects Mapleton Drive to the summit, during the "multi-year" effort.

Additional trail improvements include:

• Conducting "extensive" maintenance at the summit.
• Improving the East Ridge Trail, which offers another well-traveled route to the summit.
• Closing and restoring undesignated trails — paths developed by visitors who walked off trail.

Visitors to Mount Sanitas — which the city said draws more than 300,000 visitors each year — and its summit can see "sweeping views" of the Boulder Valley, as well as a steep foothill ascent that "provides a unique outdoor experience," the city said.

Future improvements also in the works

The city said future phases of improvement at Mount Sanitas include:

• Constructing a new trail connecting neighborhoods northeast of Mount Sanitas to the city’s trail network.
• Building a new trail that will provide access to "historically significant" rock quarries on the mountain.
• Installing infrastructure around eight bouldering formations along the Mount Sanitas Trail, including gathering areas, steps, fencing and signage.

The city noted repair and maintenance needs increase when visitors walk off trail, something it said can "increase erosion and damage nearby vegetation."