KEN FOELSKE RETIRES

Warm approval, mellow satisfaction and a myriad of memories filled the room as Open Space staff, members of the Advisory Committee, friends and family gathered to honor the retirement of Planning Manager Ken Foelske, as he ends thirty years of noteworthy service in helping to create what is considered one of the nation's top civic land preservation programs.

Ralph Schell, current Director of Open Space, made note of the fact that he and B. J. Elliot and Ken had worked together in the early days of planning under former Director Ray Printz. He also noted the somewhat unsettled events in the 80’s, when there was a proposal to split the one cent sales tax in half in order to pay for a jail and when there had been an Ad Hoc examination of the program and a management and performance audit which greatly slowed development and acquisition during that time. He went on to review the many noteworthy projects that occurred through the years as the program realized its strength and potential. Ken was the man put in the position of giving form and direction to the varied aspects of many large new parks and eventually to the county wide Trails 2000 Master Plan. Coordination with the cities and with the recreation districts and more recently, with Denver Mountain Parks were all part of the job. He ended by presenting Ken with a beautiful framed picture of Clear Creek.

Former Director, Ray Printz, who originally hired Ken, (tan, fit and smiling, in shorts, T-shirt and running shoes,) spoke warmly of the years working with Ken and meeting the many challenges of what turned out to be such a complex and multi-faceted program.

In making his farewell comments, Ken acknowledged a love for his work and the satisfaction that had come from being with the program early on and seeing it grow to its’ present state of 51,000 acres and a substantial start on the 250 miles of planned trails. He also warmly praised his staff and his wife, (who shared his patience, we mean his PATIENCE)???, in attending the inevitable night OSAC meetings and public input outreaches.

On a lighter note, Ken had prepared humorous gifts for several staff members and for the new Planning Manager, Amy Ito. They, in turn, presented him with a designer T-shirt in his favorite color, black.

Plan Jeffco President, Margot Zallen, thanked Ken for the cooperation shown to our organizations’ various workshops and in providing requested information or maps and time spent in interviews for the newsletter or discussions on informational matters. Many Plan Jeffco members have worked with Ken since the 70’s and so the congratulations have authenticity. and tThe feelings of accomplishment and a kind of sober surprise that the dream has actually happened, and is happening, gave this event a special energy. In addition to a plaque, and a framed art photo of a South Table Mtn. yucca plant, she also awarded him a lifetime membership in Plan Jeffco.

A quotation, by Bruce Marton, was on the invitation sent by Open Space:

"Most successful men have not

achieved their distinction by

having some new talent or

opportunity presented to them.

They have developed the

opportunity that was at hand."

Growing up on an Iowa farm, Ken started his college education at Iowa State, majoring in Landscape Architecture. After a stint in Viet Nam, he began his professional career with the Colorado State Parks Dept., then a time with Denver Parks before accepting a position with the fledgling Jefferson County Open Space Dept. During the next years, he added a Master’s degree in Administration to his resume.

In a recent interview, he reminisced about some of the pivotal events in Open Space. The subjects that came up: the development and influence of OSAC, the continuation and existence of Plan Jeffco as a player, the amendment of the resolution to include recreational capital improvement expenditures, Developing a Master Plan with the help of professional planners BRW, developing the Trails 2000 Plan, working with adjoining counties on Commissioner Gary Laura’s initiative for preserving the 150 mile Mountain Backdrop, The approval and passing of a resolution to permit the bonding of 160 million dollars for accelerated purchases of land, interfacing with DRCOG, (Regional Planning), U. S. Fish and Wildlife (Rocky Flats), Great Outdoors Colorado,(Clear Creek Corridor Grant) and Denver Parks.

Among his many outside accomplishments and associations are: National Trails Symposium speaker, Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance, Land Use Coalition moderator, Contributor to Jeff County Community Plans, and 2002 American Society of Landscape Architects recognition as the Landscape Architects Award of Excellence.

He leaves with development plans in place for Clear Creek and Bear Creek Corridors, presently waiting promised funding. Most recently, he worked with Amy and staff on review of possible land purchases for the remaining bond funds, which are to be spent in the next two or three years. He suggested that one way that the Mountain Backdrop coordinative effort might be strengthened would be to request GOCO funding and participation, since it is a broad regional project.

We have all benefited from Ken’s work and dedication to Open Space.

By Marilyn Mueller