JEFFCO OPEN SPACE Preservation in Progress 2014
Table of Actions Commit Plan
meaningful, measurable goals
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Preserve
land for generations
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Steward
native flora and fauna
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enjoyable trail experiences
6
the power of information
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Teach
historical knowledge, natural insights
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Enlist
the power of service
Create Communicate
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personal stewardship
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Connect
families, children, nature
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Account
our revenue and budget
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Support
local partnerships
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the Jeffco Open Space family
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visitors capture their experience
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Share & Care
Recognize Enrich
Tim Sandsmark
responsibility, quality and results
700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100 Golden, Colorado 80401 (303) 271-5925 jeffco.us/open-space
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effco Open Space is credited as the nation’s first county open space program funded by sales tax. Now we’re happy to add another distinction to our name. In 2014, Jeffco Open Space & Parks became the first Colorado county agency to become nationally accredited. Accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) recognizes excellence in operation and service. CAPRA accreditation provides assurance to our customers, visitors and supporters that we meet national standards of best practice. In fact, we far exceeded the minimum standards set by CAPRA. To be accredited, an agency must meet 36 fundamental standards and 85% of the non-fundamental standards for a total of 128 established standards. Jeffco Open Space & Parks met 143 of 144 standards.
Commit
Our commitment to excellence does not end with accreditation. We will be measured against CAPRA standards again in 2019 to be re-accredited. We’re also committed to the goals set by the 2014-2019 Jeffco Open Space Master Plan, approved by the Board of County Commissioners on March 18, 2014. The Plan sets out measurable goals to be reached or exceeded in the next few years. We made significant headway in 2014 to achieve our goals. It’s been an action-packed year, with more than 2 million visits to JCOS Parks. Our trails, education sites and picnic grounds bustle with people enjoying nature and all its benefits.
than 800 acres; and hosted more people at our education programs. Through research-based land management practices, we’ve acted as good stewards of the natural resources with which we’ve been entrusted—and, through warm and friendly communications, have inspired and encouraged visitors to do the same. We are Jeffco Open Space, enriching life and inviting you to learn more about us in this report, Preservation in Progress 2014. Happy Trails, Tom Hoby, CPRE Director of Open Space & Parks
Supported by volunteers, we’ve matched this energy, opening the 9.3-mile North Fork Trail and continuing flood recovery work with the support of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds. We broke ground on a Jeffco section of the Peaks to Plains Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park; increased our acreage by more Rachel Murray
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Plan
I – History
Every five years, the Jeffco Open Space Master Plan is updated to reflect Enriching life throughout Jefferson County with an To acquire property rights for the preservation of open space and parklands, community needs and desires, changing abundance of open space, parks, trails and natureprotect natural and park resources, and provide for healthy nature-based based outdoor experiences. experiences. times and emerging opportunities. Our 2014 update included an extensive citizen VA L U E S involvement process. The update to our Seven values guide Jeffco Open Space on a daily basis, demonstrating a commitment to accountability and transparency in the organization’s day-to-day efforts. These values are extensions of the Vision, Values and Goals established by the Jefferson County 2008 Plan was approved by the Board of Board of County Commissioners and drive how Jeffco Open Space conducts business. County Commmissioners’ in March 2014. Responsible Stewardship – Manage our financial, human, natural and park resources ensuring the best possible value to tax payers. The purpose of the Jeffco Open Space Innovation – Explore and research new ideas and implement them when prudent. Master Plan is to provide an overarching Collaboration – Work jointly with others to create mutually beneficial partnerships. strategic focus and direction. The Plan Balance – Balance our decisions by considering outdoor recreation and conservation costs and benefits in our everyday approach. reflects the Vision, Mission, Values and Trust – Maintain public confidence by behaving ethically, consistently and reliably with transparency and accountability. Acquisition Criteria of the Jeffco Open Excellence – Strive for the best results at every task and in all endeavors. Space organization. The goals and Learn and Share – Learn from others and share information in a way that is easy to access and understand. associated strategies provide the framework to accomplish this plan in a 5-year period Before updating this Plan, a 2011 Citizen Survey was conducted. This2014 was to 2019. Jeffco Open Space Master Plan Purpose from VISION
MISSION
The purpose of this Jeffco Open Space Master Plan is to provide an overarching strategic focus and direction. The Plan reflects the Vision, Mission, Values and Acquisition Criteria of the Jeffco Open Space organization. The Goals and associated Strategies provide the framework to accomplish this Plan in a five-year period from 2014 to 2019. The specific use and management of Open Space Parks is set forth in separate Regional Management Plans.
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the first statistically accurate survey completed by Jeffco Open Space. Also, a survey of critical biological resources, including wetland and riparian areas, for Jefferson County was conducted in 2010 - 2011 by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) as an update to a similar survey completed in 1993. The surveys established a baseline for citizen preferences, and an inventory of biological resources for proactive landscape conservation. This critical information contributed to developing goals and strategies for this 2014 Master Plan update.
Jeffco Open Space Master Plan Katie Matthews
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SECTION VI
5-Year Goals and Strategies 5-Year Goals and Strategies 5-Year Goals
Plan
These chartaacourse coursefor forJefferson Jeffco Open Space the next five years, Necessary to ensuring a thriving program today These goals Goals chart County Openfor Space for the next five2014-2019. years, 2014-2019. Necessary to ensuring a thriving program todayand and into alleight eightofofthese thesemeasures measures connected related. into the the future, future, all areare connected andand related.
GOAL 1 Land Preservation – Increase land preserved at least 1,700 acres, from 52,817 acres to a minimum of 54,517 by 2019. GOAL 2 Land Stewardship – Refine stewardship standards and systems and implement for all Jeffco Open Space lands by 2019. GOAL 3 Trails – Expand the Jeffco Open Space trail system by 25 miles, from 227 miles to 252 miles by 2019 GOAL 4 Communications and Community Involvement – Develop and employ a Communications and Community Involvement Plan. GOAL 5 Nature and Park-Related History Education – Increase current program participation by 27,000, from 75,000 people per year to 102,000 people by 2019.
GOAL 6 Volunteerism – Increase volunteer support by 16,850 hours, from 22,500 hours per year to 39,350 hours by 2019. GOAL 7 Visitor Stewardship – Create “Share and Care” program to promote individual and group stewardship of public lands and increase educational contacts by 12,000, from 11,000 to 23,000 by 2019.
GOAL 8 The Nature-Health Connection – Create five additional, regional Jeffco Outdoors maps in collaboration with the Jeffco Outdoors Foundation and private partners by 2019.
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Goal 1
Preserve With the acquisition of two State Land Board properties, Jeffco Open Space added 800 acres on April 2, 2014 and now comprises 53,617 acres. We acquired Blue Mountain, a scenic, rugged parcel of 640 acres adjacent to Golden Gate Canyon State Park and existing conservation easements held by Jefferson County. We also added 160 acres bordering Hildebrand Ranch Park and the Lockheed Martin campus in the Deer Creek area. Both properties provide the potential for connections with existing trails in the area and are rich with plant and animal life. We’re already nearly halfway to our goal of increasing land preserved by at least 1,700 acres by 2019. By working with willing sellers of properties that meet our Master Plan acquisition criteria, we achieve progress in preservation.
Survey Technician Stefan Bohn and Real Estate Coordinator Joy Lucisano review the boundaries of the Blue Mountain parcel in northern Jefferson County.
Photo Archive
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Goal 2
Steward Once lands are acquired, responsible management shifts to steadfast stewardship. In 2014, we produced a series of Natural Resource Summaries for JCOS Parks that better inform land management decisions and practices. Stewardship standards and systems for all of our lands, include comprehensive studies of species such as the black-tailed prairie dog, Pawnee montane skipper and the yellow lady-slipper’s orchid and guide activities based on science.
Sean Kluesner
(Above) Our Natural Resources staff continuously produces scientific reports on flora and fauna. (Right) Our nest box monitoring program benefits from volunteers’ observations.
In 2014, we partnered with the Butterfly Pavilion to begin a comprehensive butterfly survey for JCOS Parks. Citizen science brings volunteers to the stewardship cause. FrogWatch USA volunteer Steve Walden was out monitoring when he heard an unidentified soloist singing along with boreal chorus frogs. Walden’s field recording confirmed a state species of concern, the Northern Leopard Frog. It’s just another example of how volunteers continue to expand our knowledge base.
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Goal 3
Create Opportunities are abundant for new naturebased recreation experiences created in balance with resource protection. In October 2014, we opened the new multi-use, 9.3mile North Fork Trail. The new trail extends from Reynolds Park to the North Fork of the South Platte River and provides a connection to the Colorado Trail and points beyond. The trail was completed thanks to the hard work of volunteers, paced by the Colorado Trailblazers, and staff.
Follow the progress on our Peaks to Plains Trail construction in Clear Creek Canyon Park. This paved trail will provide greater and Al Head safer access to the heart of the canyon than ever before, with 4 miles in Jeffco and 2 miles in Clear Creek County.
Trail users greeted with enthusiasm the opening of the North Fork Trail, originating at Reynolds Park.
Katie Matthews
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Goal 4
Communicate Communication and community involvement activities are critical to Inform, Inspire and Interact with the public. In 2014, we captured the goals, strategies and tactics that support our overall goal of providing accurate, consistent and timely information to our customers. Our Communications Plan covers the full spectrum of ways we involve the community and specific targets to achieve by 2019, such as 20,000 subscribers to our e-newsletter, Panorama. Providing information through social media complements our in-park communications. In 2014, we reorganized our website, jeffco.us/open-space, and all of our rangers took to Twitter, offering their inside knowledge of the outdoors. Whether our visitors are following, subscribing, liking or commenting, we appreciate community involvement and welcome engagement.
Mary Ann Bonnell, Visitor Services Supervisor took to the airwaves of all the local TV stations to promote safety for dogs in hot weather.
William Lebzelter
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Goal 5
Tim Sandsmark
Tim Sandsmark
Teach
We all have the potential to learn and grow in our knowledge of nature, our appreciation of what came before us, and in our respect for all inhabitants. Fortunately for Jeffco Open Space visitors, award-winning teams provide opportunities to learn in all seasons of life. In 2014, Hiwan Homestead Museum in Evergreen reached 21,935 people, at events ranging from Ghost Towns of the Rockies to Pioneerpalooza for youth. Lookout Mountain Nature Center (LMNC) reached 70,000 people over the year. The Wildflower Festival alone attracted nearly 700 people. From Nature Nuts for toddlers and preschoolers to naturalist-led adult programs, staff and volunteers offer a full banquet of nature interpretation at various locations. Our Rangers are walking information resources in the parks providing trailside and rangerled programs to 13,863 visitors with efforts complemented by volunteer park hosts and patrollers. Together we’re working to reach more people in the years ahead with nature and park historical programs and events that entertain as much as they enlighten.
William Lebzelter
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Goal 6
Enlist
We need you. That’s always been our position at Jeffco Open Space. Dedicated volunteers enrich us all through a diversity of service— assisting visitors, leading education programs, and stewarding natural and park resources. In 2014, 2,143 volunteers logged 28,710 hours, including a whopping 4,920 hours of trail work. Volunteers helped staff reopen flood-damaged Apex Park in April and open the last closed trail section in November. We’re committed to increasing volunteer opportunities and the number of volunteer hours to nearly 40,000 hours by 2019. It’s a goal essential to meet the needs of more visitors to our sites and preserve animal and plant resources. Volunteers experience the personal growth that comes through giving.
Lower Apex Trail reopened in 2014, with volunteers digging in to help make it happen.
Al Head
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2,143 Volunteers 28,710 Hours of Service 2014 Volunteer Hours Total: 28,710 2,143 Volunteers
Field Projects Field Projects (NR and Park Services) 1,516 hours (5.3%) (5.28%) 1,516 hours
Trails Projects Trails Projects 4,920 hours 4,920(17.1%) hours (17.14%)
Administrative Support Behind-the-Scenes (Administrative Support) 296 (1.0%) 296 hourshours (1.04%) Front Desk Volunteers 356 hours (1.2%)
Natural Resources Natural Resources 2,702 hours (9.41%) 2,702 hours (9.4%)
Park Park Patroller s Patrollers 6,319 hours (22.01%) 6,319 hours (22.0%)
Lookout Mountain Lookout Mountain Nature Center 4,156Center hours (14.48%) Nature 4,156 hours (14.5%)
Hiwan Homestead Museum Hiwan Homestead Museum 2,859 hours 2,859 (10.0%) hours (9.96%)
Bill Mangle
Patrol
Trail Inspectors/ Mini-Crews 455 hours (1.6%)
Trail Inspectors/Mini-Crew 455 hours (1.58%)
Park Hosts Park Hosts(12.0%) 3,434 hours 3,434 hours (11.96%)
Park Stewards Volunteer Interns Volunteer Interns 165 hours hours (1.54%) (1.5%) 442442 hours (0.6%) Park Stewards 165 hours (.57%)
Training 1,090 hours (3.8%)
Training 1,090 hours (3.80%)
Alicia Vermilye
Many Ways to Serve
Rebuild Trails Pull Weeds Lead a Program Volunteer for Summer Camp William Lebzelter
William Lebzelter
Al Head
William Lebzelter
Front Desk Volunteers 356 hours (1.24%)
Thea Rock
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Goal 7
Share & Care Many visitors exhibit hallmarks of personal stewardship— picking up after pets, keeping dogs on leash and staying on trail even when conditions are muddy to avoid causing trail widening and braiding. They create good relations with fellow trail travelers, being cordial and knowing how and when to yield. While Jeffco Open Space has rules that we expect all visitors to know and follow, personal stewardship extends beyond meeting the letter of the law. To imprint the ways that we hope all visitors will share and care for their parks in 2014, we made educational contacts in person and through the extended reach of television. We celebrated the Year of the Horse with a series of in-park events designed to increase understanding of the particular needs of equestrians as trail users. Through the example of staff, volunteers and thoughtful visitors, we strive to make sharing and caring in Jeffco Open Space second nature.
Timothy Miller
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Goal 8
Connect Helping to connect people with nature is vital to community health. It takes all the strengths and assets the community can muster, and makes partnerships essential. In 2014, we produced a series of news releases with the Jefferson County Health Department to promote research-based benefits of the outdoors. We hosted events such as Walk With a Doc at Crown Hill Park. We also worked with the Jeffco Outdoors Foundation to combine resources to launch a series of regional maps, showing connections from JCOS Parks to other parklands and championing outdoor opportunities to benefit mind, body and spirit.
Crown Hill Park Tim Sandsmark
Meyer Ranch Park William Lebzelter
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Account Your Open Space Sales Tax Dollars at Work
Thanks to a one-half of one percent sales tax and widespread public support, visitors enjoy protected places to play. Jeffco Open Space funds also support projects in cities and park and recreation districts, enriching life in every corner of Jefferson County.
2014 Actual TaxSales Revenue 2014Sales Actual Tax Revenue Allocation Allocation $$37.71M 37.71 M $ 37.71 M Debt Payments for County Share Debt Payments for County Share Land Acquisitions $13.58 M LandMAcquisitions $13.58 M $12.86 34% 34% 36% $12.86 M Cities Share 36% $ 11.27 MCities Share 30% $ 11.27 M
30%
Jeffco Open Space Fund Balance from 2014 Adopted Budget: $21.22 M Available for Land Acquisition Projects and other Urgent Needs
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Support
Partnerships with outdoor recreation providers are supported through local grants.
2014 Local Park and Recreation Grants Funded with Jefferson County Open Space Sales Tax Fund City of Arvada Griffith Station Neighborhood Park City of Golden West 44th Avenue Trail City of Lakewood Bear Creek Lake Park - Flood Remediation City of Wheat Ridge Clear Creek Trail/West 41st Avenue Segment Relocation Evergreen Park & Rec. Dist. Evergreen Lake Boardwalk & Nature Center Access Trail South Suburban Park & Recreation District Trailmark Park - Port-a-let Enclosure TOTAL
$55,000 $223,788 $100,000 $358,621 $79,000 $6,125 $822,534
2014 Local Park and Recreation and Nonprofit Grant Awards Funded from the Jefferson County Conservation Trust Fund (Colorado Lottery Proceeds) Local Park & Recreation Grant Awards Apex Park and Recreation District Simms Street Center – Phase II Park Development Columbine Knolls Recreation District Marker Park Improvements Foothills Park and Recreation District Ridge Recreation Center – Playground Project Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District Community Park – Playground Replacement Prospect Recreation and Park District Arapahoe Park Improvements Nonprofit Grant Awards Beaver Ranch Community, Inc. Caretaker Residence Improvements Evergreen Audubon Society Nature Center Enhancements Other Park Projects Peaks to Plains Trail Multi-agency Trail Signage Program (Golden, Wheat Ridge, Arvada) TOTAL 2014 Local Park & Recreation and Nonprofit Grant Awards
GRAND TOTAL
$225,000 $11,375 $100,000 $42,733 $27,182 $10,125 $5,475 $25,000 $446,890 $1,269,424
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Thea Rock 2014 Volunteer award recipients, in blue shirts from left to right, Bob Jones, Debbie Jones, Wendy Woods and Lorene Kalb, celebrate with JCOS staffers Jo Carter, Shaun Howard, and Jana Johns.
Recognize Board of County Commissioners
Faye Griffin, Casey Tighe, Donald Rosier Open Space Advisory Committee Wayne Forman, Bob West, Janet Shangraw, John Litz, Ken Morfit, Mike Dungan, Felicity Hannay, Tookie Nemchak, Rebecca Watson, John Wolforth, Paul Murphy, Jacy Rock Jeffco Open Space Leadership Tom Hoby, Director of Open Space & Parks Amy Ito, Planning and Stewardship Manager Don Klima, Visitor & Education Services Manager Stanton La Breche, Park Operations Manager Thea Rock, Communications Manager
County Commissioner Faye Griffin celebrates the transfer of 29 acres at North Table Mountain Park to Jeffco Open Space with Linda Peery Doyle, the daughter of past property owner Mayford Peery. William Lebzelter
Annual report prepared by Jeffco Open Space Communications
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Enrich @sk1bum
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Jeffco Open Space enriches life. Here’s photographic proof shared by visitors on Instagram.
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