2015 Preservation Progress
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Preservation in Progress 2015 Annual Report Plus: 26 Things To Do in Jeffco Open Space Great Blue Heron Photographed at Pine Valley Ranch Park by Park Ranger Eric Holzman At Jeffco Open Space, we take action every day to support our vision of Commit enriching life throughout Jefferson County with an abundance of open space, parks, trails and nature-based experiences. Doing so involves balancing residents’ desire for outdoor recreation with their desire to see us preserve and protect lands.1 In 2015, we progressed toward our vision in new and dynamic ways. Table of Actions We made significant land acquisitions, celebrated trailhead openings, expanded education offerings, and lauded volunteers, who set a record Commit 2 for service hours. We restored and advanced trails, invited visitors to become stewards, and initiated a countywide effort to connect youth Plan 3 and nature. All the while, we applied conservation practices informed by staff-guided, volunteer-supported research of animal and plant life on Preserve 4 open space lands. Steward 4 In the Douglas Mountain Area, we acquired properties totaling 1,036 acres—our largest acquisition in nearly 15 years. At Apex Park and Crown Create 5 Hill Park, we completed reimagined, amenity-rich trailheads. In Clear Creek Canyon Park, the 4-mile segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail Communicate 5 progressed to connect Jeffco segments with Clear Creek County— a project supported by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) through Teach 6 Colorado Lottery proceeds. Enlist 6 To extend the mind, body and spirit benefits of nature to more youth, we brought together a 31-partner coalition to receive GOCO funding for the Share & Care 7 Inspire Initiative. A $75,000 planning grant opens doors for community- based action and potential implementation funding. Connect 7 Through the power of social media and interactions in our parks, 8 we encouraged visitors to protect natural resources, be safe and be Account respectful. We completed recovery work on 24 miles of trails damaged by epic 2013 storms. Re-aligned trails at North Table Mountain Park and White Ranch Park were built to better withstand future storms and include trail features popular with visitors. 26 Things to Do As we continue to fulfill our mission to preserve open space and parkland, protect park and natural resources, and provide healthy, nature- Alderfer/Three Sisters Park based experiences, we invite you to follow our progress in this report, View Evergreen Lake from Preservation in Progress 2015. “The Brother” rock formation Happy Trails, Apex Park Explore Enchanted Forest Trail Cathedral Spires Park Tom Hoby, CPRE Photograph majestic cliffs Director of Jeffco Open Space & Parks 1 RRC Associates, Inc. 2011 Jefferson County Open Space Citizen Survey Overview of Findings, (December 2011) 22. 2 Jefferson County Open Space Jefferson County Parks 128 Coal Creek Superior Education Center 95 k e e r C 121 l a o Jeffco Open Space Office C 93 Westminster 36 Coal Creek Canyon Park 72 Standley Lake Plan Jefferson County Boundary L eyden C r White eek Major Road Ranch Arvada Goals, 2014-2019 Park Lake or Pond 1. Land Preservation North 76 Stream or River Van Bibber Table Park Increase land preserved by at least 1,700 acres, from 46 Mountain Jeffco Open Space Park Creek Wheat Ridge 58 Clear 52,817 acres to a minimum of 54,517.Please know local Rules and Mount Regulations before entering Galbraith Crown each Open Space Park. Park Golden Hill Centennial Windy Saddle Park South Table Park Cone Park Mountain 2. Land Stewardship Jeffco Open Space 40 Park Welchester 6 C yon Park Conservation Easement lear Creek Can Tree Grant Refine stewardship standards and systems and Lookout Mountain Park 6 Public Access is limited or Nature Center and Preserve Apex 26 prohibited on most Jeffco Open Jefferson Lakewood implement for all Jeffco Open Space lands. Park County Space Conservation Easements. Genesee Fairgrounds 70 Other Public or Matthews/ 95 3. Trails Conservation Land Winters Park 391 Expand the Jeffco Open Space trail system by 25 Elk 93 Meadow Idledale miles, from 227 miles to 252 miles. Park Kittredge Lair o' the Morrison Hiwan 74 Homestead Bear Park 285 Museum ear ek Mount B C re Falcon 8 4. Communications and CommunityThis map is inten dInvolvemented to show Evergreen Park Alderfer/Three Indian Develop and employ a CommunicationsOpen Space parks in and relat ion Sisters Park 73 Hills ek k e e r re C to each other. Refer to uffalo C b Community Involvement Plan. B u C individual park maps for trail information and amenities. 5. Nature and Park-RelatedChec kHistory closures a Educationnd specific South 470 Increase current programp participationark rules and regu lbyatio 27,000,ns: Valley Park from 75,000 people per yearKno tow b 102,000efore you g people.o. Conifer Chatfield Reservoir For more information visit: Meyer Hildebrand Flying J Ranch Park Ranch Park Ranch Park Deer jeffco.us/open-space. k Creek e r e C 6. Volunteerism ill Canyon M 121 Park Increase volunteer support by 16,850 hours, from 285 22,500 hours per year to 39,350 hours. 97 Pine Junction 7. Visitor Stewardship Reynolds Create “Share & Care” program to promote individual Park and group stewardship of public0 lands2 and4 increase Miles Cathedral 96 educational contacts by 12,000, from 11,000 to 23,000. r 0 4 8 e iv Spires Park e R Pine Valley Foxton att Pine Pl th Kilometers Ranch Park Grove Sou Scale is 1:367,000 when printed at 8"x11" 8. The Nature-Health ConnectionLast Revi sed 3/11/2016 Create five additional regional Jeffco Outdoors maps Buffalo LAR IMER Jefferson County Open Space Creek in collaboration with the Jeffco OutdoorsWE LD Foundation and private partners. BOULDER BROOMFIELD ADAMS GILPIN Pike National DENVER CLEAR Forest CREEK ARAPAHOE Jefferson County Parks JEFFERSON 128 Coal Creek Superior Education Center 95 ELBERT DOUGLAS k e e r PARK C 121 l a o Jeffco Open Space Office C 93 Westminster 36 67 Coal Creek Centennial Cone Park TELLE R EL PASO Canyon Park 72 Standley 126 Lake Jefferson County Deckers After the Elk Range Trail seasonal Boundary FR EMONT L eyden C r White eek Major Road closure, conquer a 12-mile loop Ranch Arvada Park Lake or Pond Clear Creek Canyon Park D enver North 76 Stream or River Access a heritage-rich waterway Van Bibber Table Park 46 Mountain Jeffco Open Space Crown Hill Park Park Creek Wheat Ridge 58 Clear Please know local Rules and Mount Regulations before entering Galbraith Golden Crown each Open Space Park. Spot a bird from our checklist Centennial Windy Park Hill Saddle Park South Table Park Cone Park Mountain Jeffco Open Space 40 Deer Creek Canyon Park Park Welchester Data Sources: Jeffco Open Space, Jeffco ITS, USGS, NHD, 6 C yon Park Conservation Easement lear Creek Can Tree Grant CDOT Lookout Mountain Park 6 Public Access is limited or Nature Center prohibited on most Jeffco Open Travel “The DWall”isclaime r: onThis Plymouthinformation/map isTrail the pr operty of the and Preserve Apex 26 Jefferson County Open Space Program (JCOS), Jefferson Jefferson Lakewood Park County Space Conservation Easements. County, Colorado and is copyrighted material. Reproduction, Genesee Fairgrounds manipulation or distribution of this product is prohibited 70 Other Public or without the prior written consent of JCOS staff. Jefferson County does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or Matthews/ 95 Conservation Land 3 correctness of this product, its use for any purpose, and Winters shall not be liable for damages of any kind arising from use 391 Park of the product or for any errors or inaccuracies. Elk 93 Meadow Idledale Park Kittredge Lair o' the Morrison Hiwan 74 Homestead Bear Park 285 Museum ear ek Mount B C re Falcon 8 This map is intended to show Evergreen Park Alderfer/Three Indian Open Space parks in relation Sisters Park 73 Hills ek k e e r re C to each other. Refer to alo C b Buff u C individual park maps for trail information and amenities. Check closures and specific South 470 park rules and regulations: Valley Park Know before you go. Conifer Chatfield Reservoir For more information visit: Flying J Meyer Hildebrand Ranch Park Ranch Park Deer Ranch Park jeffco.us/open-space. k Creek e r e ill C Canyon M 121 Park 285 97 Pine Junction Reynolds Park 0 2 4 Miles Cathedral 96 r 0 4 8 e iv Spires Park e R Pine Valley Foxton att Pine Pl th Kilometers Ranch Park Grove Sou Scale is 1:367,000 when printed at 8"x11" Last Revised 3/11/2016 Buffalo LAR IMER Creek WELD BOULDER BROOMFIELD ADAMS GILPIN Pike National DENVER CLEAR Forest CREEK ARAPAHOE JEFFERSON ELBERT DOUGLAS PARK 67 TELLE R EL PASO 126 Deckers FR EMONT Denver Data Sources: Jeffco Open Space, Jeffco ITS, USGS, NHD, CDOT Disclaimer: This information/map is the property of the Jefferson County Open Space Program (JCOS), Jefferson County, Colorado and is copyrighted material. Reproduction, manipulation or distribution of this product is prohibited without the prior written consent of JCOS staff. Jefferson County does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or correctness of this product, its use for any purpose, and shall not be liable for damages of any kind arising from use of the product or for any errors or inaccuracies. Goal 1 Preserve Working with willing landowners, Jeffco Open Space acquired three properties in 2015. The acquisition of these properties added the greatest number of acres to the agency in 15 years. When added to the 800 acres preserved in 2014 the 1,072 new acres allow us to exceed our Master Plan goal to preserve at least 1,700 acres by 2019.