Natural Areas 20th Anniversary
This year, the City of
Fort Collins is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its natural areas
program. According to the official timeline, the city began acquiring open
space way back in the early 1970s. The “Natural Areas Policy Plan” was officially
adopted by the City Council in October of 1992. The city now has 39 natural
areas which total 35,000 acres and include over 100 miles of trails. Voters
have continued to support the sales-tax funding for this program since the
initial ballot measure in 1992.
As part of the celebration,
the city has put together a Natural Areas 20th Anniversary Passport
and is challenging folks to visit twenty different natural areas before November
15th. As a little incentive, there will be a drawing for a backpack
full of “outdoor supplies.” I’m not exactly sure what that entails, but as long
as it includes M&Ms and sunscreen, I’m good.
I think this little
challenge sounds like fun, and I will be visiting as many natural areas as I
can this year and posting a few pictures here. In addition, the city will offer
classes, programs, and volunteer opportunities, and I hope to be involved in some
of those, as well.
For more information about
the anniversary and passport challenge, click here.
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