Larimer County celebrates 30 years of conservation success with 30 and Thriving campaign

Thirty years ago, Larimer County voters made a lasting investment in nature by approving the Help Preserve Open Spaces 0.25-cent sales tax—launching a legacy of conservation, stewardship, and public access that continues today.

To mark this milestone, the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) is proud to introduce 30 and Thriving, a public awareness campaign celebrating three decades of conservation success and community impact. The campaign invites community members to explore the stories behind the places they love and meet the people who helped shape Larimer County’s open lands program.

Since 1995, HPOS funding has:

• Protected more than 64,000 acres of open space
• Built over 100 miles of trail
• Invested $355 million back into Larimer County communities

30 and Thriving features several opportunities for the public to connect and participate:

• Interactive website: larimerdnr-30andthriving.org offers a digital timeline tracing the history of the HPOS program—from its voter approval to today’s thriving network of open spaces, trails, and working lands.
   
• “30 Years, 30 Stories” series: Weekly stories will highlight community members and partners, private landowners, and staff who have been instrumental to the program’s success. A new story will be released each week for 30 weeks.
   
• “Notes to Nature” community collection: Everyone who’s enjoyed Larimer County’s open spaces is invited to share personal reflections and memories. These stories will be featured online as a collective tribute to the landscapes that have shaped life in Larimer County over the past three decades.

“Since voter approval  in 1995, the HPOS tax has enabled the protection of iconic properties such as Horsetooth Mountain, Devil’s Backbone, and Hermit Park Open Spaces, along with dozens of conservation easements on working lands,” said Daylan Figgs, Director, LCDNR. “For three decades, the community’s trust has guided our work. We’re proud of the conservation legacy we’ve built together—and we’re committed to stewarding it well into the future.”

 

To follow along with the 30 Years, 30 Stories series and to share your own Notes to Nature, visit larimerdnr-30andthriving.org.

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About Larimer County Department of Natural Resources

Larimer County Department of Natural Resources' mission is to connect people, nature, and place. Since 1954, Larimer County has acquired and conserved a vast network of public and private lands. Today, thirteen public properties are available for recreational access and enjoyment, and over 64,000 acres of land within its boundaries have been conserved. For more information, visit larimer.gov/naturalresources.