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.
Sue Burke
Part of the administrative team from the program's early days, Sue Burke provided behind-the-scenes support, interacting daily with staff, board members, and community. A life-long advocate, she spent time at every open space, passing on stories to help others connect more deeply.
K-Lynn Cameron
In 1980, K-Lynn Cameron dreamed of an open space program for Larimer County. Commissioners were skeptical. Critics fought it as government overreach. Through persistence and authentic engagement, she and so many others transformed open space from a "dangerous notion" to something as mainstream as the public library.
Jeffrey Boring
Hired in 2007, Jeffrey Boring built partnerships for trails like the Poudre River Trail, conducted restoration research, and updated management plans—work remembered for the friendships formed. Now Executive Director of Estes Valley Land Trust, he continues advancing conservation.
Dave Marvin
After retiring in 2008, Dave Marvin became a volunteer naturalist and photographer, leading hikes and capturing moments across Larimer County's open spaces. His dedication led to nine years on the Open Lands Advisory Board, culminating in his role as Board Chair.
Jean Carpenter
Former biology teacher Jean Carpenter served six years on the Open Lands Advisory Board starting in 2000, helping rally community support for acquisitions like Hermit Park. She now serves as president of Friends of Larimer County Parks and Open Lands.
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.
A living collection of stories.
Throughout 2026, we’re sharing the people and moments that shaped Help Preserve Open Spaces.
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.