LARIMER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES + HELP PRESERVE OPEN SPACE TAX
In 1995, we promised to preserve the places you love.
We kept our word.
30 years later, protected lands are thriving,
and so is the community that depends on them.
timeline | history of HPOS
The story of the
Help Preserve Open Spaces
tax initiative
Thirty years of conservation, powered by community trust.
Since 1995, Larimer County voters have consistently supported the Help Preserve Open Spaces tax: funding land protection, public access, and stewardship across the county.
Larimer County’s conserved land
AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2025
Interviews & Articles
30 years, 30 stories
Thirty stories about how we got here and where we're going.
Thirty years of thriving impact rests on the hard-earned efforts of people. Meet the people who made thirty years of conservation possible.
Through 2026, we're releasing a new story each week.
You'll meet the early planners who shaped the first open lands, the ranchers and landowners who chose conservation over development, the leaders and staff who continue to carry the legacy forward, the storytellers who documented the journey, and the community members who championed it every step of the way.
Explore the landscapes you protected
From dramatic red rock formations to working ranches, mountain forests to prairie grasslands, discover what 64,232 acres of open spaces looks like.
notes to nature
Nature has a way of giving back.
Now it’s our turn.
For thirty years, the Larimer County community has written their story on the land, through trails built, rivers restored, protected views, and open spaces shared.
Leave your favorite memory, a cherished photo, or a simple thank-you to the open space that means the most to you.
Because the Help Preserve Open Spaces tax was never just about preserving land, it’s about connecting it to the people who love it, and stewarding it for the generations to come.
The next chapter…
HPOS funding continues through 2043, protecting what you love and planning for what comes next.
But the future brings challenges:
Population is growing
Costs are rising
Available land is dwindling
Quiet spaces are fewer and far between
Extreme weather events are normalizing
Since 1995, we have built a strong foundation together.
Will you join as we embark on the next chapter?
Stay informed. Stay engaged.
This story isn't over.
Larimer County Open Lands Program is managed by the Department of Natural Resources, and is made possible by the vision, commitment, and continued support of Larimer County voters and our partner municipalities:
Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, Berthoud, Wellington, Windsor, Johnstown, and Timnath.