Jennifer Almstead
Fund Development & Project Specialist
Larimer County Natural Resources
(970) 619-4569; jalmstead@larimer.org
LOVELAND – Larimer County and the municipalities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Estes Park, Johnstown, Timnath, and Wellington are pleased to share the results from the 2023 Our Lands, Our Future regional survey. The Our Lands, Our Future statistically valid, county-wide survey, found that residents deeply care about public land conservation and nature-based recreational opportunities in Larimer County and strongly support ongoing open space sales tax and existing user fees well into the future. Residents also reaffirmed that they equally value conservation and nature-based recreation.
The survey focused on community preferences for spending the Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax, which voters extended in 2014 to sunset in 2043. Allowable uses of those taxes are conserving and maintaining open spaces, natural areas, rivers, wildlife habitat, parks, and trails within Larimer County. The survey did not pertain to city parks, golf courses, ballfields, recreational complexes, state lands or federal lands. The 1/4-cent Open Space sales tax revenue is shared between Larimer County and the incorporated municipalities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Estes Park, Johnstown, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor.
The survey was facilitated through a third-party consultant, RRC Associates. This is the third iteration of the county-wide survey with the previous versions conducted in 2001 and 2012.
Key findings of the Our Lands, Our Future survey include:
- Over 90% of residents believe regional open spaces and trails benefit the community by providing spaces for recreational opportunities, personal wellness, economic vitality, and overall quality of life.
- 81% of residents are supportive of renewing the ¼-cent Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax at its current rate and 70% are supportive of renewing current user fees.
- Residents indicated properties with high ecological values (wildlife habitat, wetlands, rare plants) and maintenance for existing lands with public access as the most important priorities to purchase or conserve land.
- Residents report high satisfaction with nature-based activities and as a top response wish to see more natural surface trails for hiking, running, and walking.
- Residents are more familiar with regional open space and trails and visit more often than a decade ago. Residents expressed minor to moderate site-specific concerns related to crowding, parking, and dog waste.
The full report and appendix are available at: https://www.larimer.gov/our-lands-our-future-2023-report
About Larimer County Department of Natural Resources
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources's 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 57,000 acres of land within its boundaries have been conserved.
For more information, visit larimer.gov/naturalresources.