Larimer County Celebrates 30 Years of Open Space Conservation With Public Campaign
Larimer County voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax for land conservation three decades ago, launching a program that has protected more than 64,000 acres and built over 100 miles of trails across Northern Colorado.
The Help Preserve Open Spaces tax passed on November 7, 1995, with 61.6 percent voter approval—32,061 votes in favor and 20,092 against. The measure appeared as Ballot Issue 2A and authorized a 0.25 percent sales tax to acquire and protect open space, natural areas, wildlife habitat, regional parks, trails and agricultural lands.
The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources launched the 30 and Thriving campaign November 14 to mark the anniversary and highlight conservation achievements funded by the tax since 1996.
"For three decades, the community's trust has guided our work," said Daylan Figgs, director of LCDNR. "We're proud of the conservation legacy we've built together—and we're committed to stewarding it well into the future."
The HPOS tax has generated $355 million since implementation, according to the department. That funding enabled protection of iconic properties including Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Devil's Backbone Open Space and Hermit Park Open Space.
Major Acquisitions Shaped County's Conservation Network
Larimer County acquired Horsetooth Mountain Open Space in 1996 for $12 million as the first major purchase following tax approval. The 2,774-acre property west of Fort Collins forms the core of the county's open space system and provides critical wildlife habitat.
Devil's Backbone Open Space came under county protection in 1999 through a $4.5 million acquisition. The 1,300-acre property south of Loveland protects a wildlife corridor along the foothills.
The county secured a conservation easement on Hermit Park Open Space in 2001 valued at $3.2 million. The 1,200-acre property near Estes Park protects water quality and wildlife habitat in the upper Big Thompson River watershed.
All three properties received HPOS tax funding and remain open for public recreation and wildlife viewing under LCDNR management.
Campaign Invites Public Participation
The 30 and Thriving campaign features an interactive website at larimerdnr-30andthriving.org with a digital timeline tracing HPOS program history from voter approval through current operations.
The department will release a "30 Years, 30 Stories" series highlighting community members, partners, private landowners and staff who contributed to program success. A new story will be released weekly for 30 weeks.
The campaign includes a "Notes to Nature" collection inviting residents to share personal reflections and memories from Larimer County's open spaces. The department will feature submitted stories online as a collective tribute to protected landscapes.
Tax Revenue Growth Reflects Economic Expansion
The HPOS tax generated approximately $8.4 million annually during its first eight years from 1996 to 2003, totaling $142.8 million, according to the Open Lands Program report "Our Lands – Our Future." Revenue increased to an average of $23.6 million annually from 2004 to 2012, totaling $212.2 million during that period.
The sales tax base in Larimer County grew from $3.4 billion in 1995 to $14.2 billion in 2025, according to Colorado Department of Revenue data. County population increased from 251,000 to 375,000 residents during the same period, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
The approval margin in Larimer County exceeded similar measures in other Front Range counties during the November 1995 election cycle. Jefferson County passed its open space tax with 59.8 percent approval, while Arapahoe County's measure received 58.3 percent support. Boulder County voters approved their open space tax with 62.1 percent.
Conservation Easements Protect Working Lands
Beyond public open spaces, the HPOS program has funded dozens of conservation easements on private agricultural lands throughout Larimer County. These voluntary agreements between landowners and the county permanently restrict development while allowing continued agricultural operations.
The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has managed the county's conservation network since its formation, operating 13 public properties available for recreation alongside the protected private lands. The department's mission focuses on connecting people, nature and place through conservation and public access.
The 30 and Thriving website provides information about upcoming stories, opportunities to submit personal reflections, and details about the HPOS program's history and achievements.