Much of Colorado is still a land of open spaces and scenic vistas that offer numerous recreational and environmental benefits to residents and visitors alike. Almost every city and county government in the state now has a department devoted to open space preservation and park management. In addition, land trusts and private landowners have successfully preserved key conservation areas throughout Colorado, as well as protected farms and ranches from development. Despite many successes, however, Colorado is still losing approximately 250,000 acres of agricultural land to development each year.   And with our state’s continued population growth, there are increasing pressures on existing protected areas.  To address this challenge, we need to direct more monies to the purchase of open space and conservation easements, and adopt growth management policies that focus new development in already built-up areas while protecting undeveloped landscapes from sprawl.

CEC works at the state legislature to promote expanded opportunities for the protection of open space and farm and ranchland in Colorado.  For example, in 2007 we supported the successful passage of Senate Bill 98 to allow communities to raise additional funds to protect local open space. 

Current programs and tools to protect open space

• Open Space Funding –- Residents of cities and counties throughout Colorado have chosen to tax themselves to preserve important areas in their communities for environmental and recreational benefits. In addition, state lottery proceeds have been used to purchase land for protection through the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) program. Since it began awarding grants in 1994, GOCO has awarded almost $489 million for a total of 2,100 projects throughout the state for wildlife habitat preservation, open space purchases, and trail creation.
  >> Click here to read about GOCO and open space taxes and legislation
  
  
• Land Trusts and Conservation Easements –- Private non-profit land trusts purchase properties in Colorado to protect key conservation areas. In some cases they purchase the property outright, and in others they use growth management tools such as conservation easements to purchase development right from owners in an effort to maintain the existing character of the land.
  >> Click here for a list of land trusts in Colorado
  
  
• Open Space Parks and Recreation -– Many counties and cities have created substantial recreational opportunities for residents through the use of open space parks and city properties. Jefferson County is a great example of how voters can enable an extensive open space preservation program that in turn offers residents and visitors recreational opportunities close to home.
  >> Click here for a list of open space programs in Colorado