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.
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.