Fact Sheet

The Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Program was created by a popular vote in 1990, and was extended an additional 10 years by the election on November 2, 1999. Strong public support for the Program was reflected in the 69% voter approval of the reauthorization. The mission of the Open Space and Trails Program is "to acquire, preserve, maintain and manage open space properties for multiple purposes, including, but not limited to, recreational, wildlife, agricultural, scenic and access purposes; and to acquire, preserve, develop, maintain and manage trails for similar purposes." The lands acquired are legally protected by a restriction in Article XIII of the Pitkin County Charter which prohibits any sale or conversion of an open space property unless approved by a majority of the electorate and replacement with real property interest of equivalent monetary value and value to the Program.

As of May 1 of 2005, the Open Space and Trails Program purchases have protected approximately 10,000 acres of open space lands, and over 20 miles of trails. Protected lands include high visibility scenic/habitat such as Droste, Moore, Hot Springs Ranch, Dart, and Airport Ranch, critical elk/deer winter range habitat such as Droste, Hot Springs Ranch and Windstar, important recreational trails/lands including the Rio Grande Trail and the Hummingbird Lode, as well thousands of acres of operational ranchlands such as Jerome Park and the Emma Open Space. In addition, the Program has assumed responsibility to restore and maintain another 491 acres of County Open Space (such as the North Star Preserve) and 15.04 miles of Pitkin County trails acquired before the program started (such as the Rio Grande Trail). In total, the Program's stewardship includes 10,600 acres and 35 miles of trails.

The acquisition and stewardship is funded through a special mill levy on property taxes, pegged at 3.75 mills from 2001-2010. This translates into roughly $5 million annually. The Program is also authorized to incur additional general obligation indebtedness up to $18,000,000. The County Charter provides that this revenue must be allocated up to 75 percent to open space acquisition, up to 20 percent to trails acquisition, and at least 5 percent to maintenance.

A full time Director and Coordinator identify and negotiate acquisitions. The Open Space and Trails Land Steward oversees the management of these properties and trails. One full time and one seasonal ranger patrol our trails to ensure safe and proper public use. Program purchases must be approved by a volunteer Board of Open Space Trustees and the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners.