30 years, 30 stories
Behind every protected acre, every restored trail, every conservation victory—there are people who made it happen.
People who showed up. Who chose nature. Who made the difference.
Herb Saperstone
Since 2015, volunteer Herb Saperstone has led countless interpretive hikes across Larimer County's open spaces, creating 'aha' moments for visitors discovering the rich history and natural beauty beneath their feet—connections that keep people coming back.
Linda Stanley & Kelly Ohlson
After HPOS failed in 1994, Linda Stanley and Kelly Ohlson were part of the passionate core who regrouped, gathered thousands of signatures, and won in 1995—then again in 1999 and 2014. Four campaigns, two decades, one unstoppable partnership.
Jerry White
As Larimer County Natural Resources’ first land agent, Jerry White sat at countless kitchen tables with ranchers and farmers, helping preserve the lands they cherished, laying the foundation for a department that now protects over 64,000 acres.
Frank Lancaster
From County Forester managing a handful of properties to County Manager when HPOS launched, Frank Lancaster played a pivotal role in building Larimer County's open space program which now protects thousands of acres.
Nancy Wallace
From those early bus trips in 1995 to 15 years on the Open Lands Advisory Board, Nancy Wallace witnessed HPOS transform from palpable excitement to protected reality: Long View Farm, Devil's Backbone, and the expansive Mountains to Plains vision.
Johnny & Virginia Soderberg
In the 1980s, Johnny and Virginia Soderberg chose to protect their 2,100-acre ranch instead of selling it for development. Because of that choice, Horsetooth Mountain remains open to all.
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.