Trust for Public Land and the

Elmgreen Open Space Coalition

 The Trust for Public Land is working with both Jefferson and Clear Creek Counties to preserve two non-contiguous open space parcels owned by the Elmgreen family.  A group of dedicated citizens and members of conservation groups has formed to support this project.  The Elmgreen Open Space Coalition is working to raise public awareness and raise funds to help this project succeed..  Following is a description of the project:

 1. The "Homestead": 437 +/- acres between Interstate 70 and Clear Creek.  Much of the property is visible from Clear Creek and Highway 6. 

·         220 acres in Jefferson County

·         217 acres in Clear Creek County

The Homestead site constitutes 437.5 acres in Clear Creek Canyon.  The parents of the four Elmgreen siblings homesteaded the site, and it straddles the boundary between Clear Creek County and Jefferson County in two roughly equal parts.  This forested land is directly adjacent to Jefferson County Open Space land on the east and north, and to land owned by Clear Creek County on the north and west.  It fills a key gap between public lands, in the still largely undeveloped Clear Creek Canyon.  If our efforts are successful, this property will be protected partially by purchase and eventual ownership by county open space agencies, and partially via conservation easements on land that will continue to be privately held.

 2. The "Meadow": 67 +/- acres adjacent to Interstate 70, between the two Floyd Hill exits. 

·         17 acres in Jefferson County

·         50 acres in Clear Creek County

The Elmgreen “Meadow” is undeveloped land, which forms a backdrop for Interstate 70, and buffers the Floyd Hill community from the Interstate.  While development is occurring around this meadow, its acquisition not only would preserve the existing scenic qualities and wildlife habitat, but also would provide an excellent trail route along Beaver Brook, connecting Jefferson County holdings with the expected Beaver Brook watershed acquisitions by the US Forest Service upstream.  If not preserved as open space, the Elmgreen family will sell these sites for development; purchasing them now is a unique opportunity to preserve them forever. 

Status of Protection Project

 TPL has obtained several funding commitments towards the purchase of these two properties, and is continuing to raise funds.  The Colorardo State Forest Service has dedicated $500,000 towards the purchase of a conservation easement on half of the land that comprises the Homestead, from the federal Forest Legacy program.  TPL has applied to GOCO to partially fund acquisition of the Homestead land, and Clear Creek County has agreed to provide matching funds for this grant.  TPL continues its negotiations with Jefferson County Open Space to acquire the portion of the Homestead within Clear Creek Canyon and in Jefferson County. 

Please let us know if you would like to help with this effort!  Go to www.savethismeadow.org for more information, or contact Katie Paris, Trust for Public Land, at 303-837-1414 or Katie.Paris@tpl.org; Harry Dale, Hjd173@aol.com

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