working together to leverage limited funds - larimer...the power of partnerships – 2013 sorp...

The Power of Partnerships – 2013 SORP Conference 5/23/2014

A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y O P E N S P A C E S

1 0 C o u n t y B u d g e t C o n f e r e n c eS e p t e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 3

Working together to leverage limited Funds

10 County Budget Conference 9/18/13

Why Talk About Open Space?

Communities around the country are learning that open space conservation is not an expense but an investment that produces important economic benefits

Trust for Public Land



Economic Benefits of Recreation, Tourism and Open Space State of Virginia Outdoors Plan – 2007

Economic Benefits of Open Space Preservation Office of the State Comptroller – State of New York 2010

The Economic Benefits of Open Space, Recreation Facilities and Walkable Community Design Active Living Research – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2010



“While those working in the natural resource and parks and recreation fields have known the importance of natural resources for years, it is becoming better known by other professions and politicians that these resources contribute both directly and indirectly to quality of life and to economic viability of all communities across the Commonwealth.”

State of Virginia Outdoors Plan – 2007



“While the environmental and recreational benefits of open space preservation are readily apparent, the many economic benefits are often less evident……When these benefits, also known as ecosystem services, are overlooked, open space protection may be considered an expense rather than an investment that can mitigate property tax increases, leading to land use decisions that do not accurately weigh cost and benefits.”

Economic Benefits of Open Space Preservation Office of the State Comptroller – State of New York 2010



“Parks tend to increase the value and sale price of homes and property located nearby. In addition, the amount of local tax dollars required to operate and service recreation areas may be less than for other types of land use, such as residential developments, further increasing the fiscal impacts they have on municipal governments.”

Active Living Research – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2010

10 County Budget Conference – 2013 5/23/2014

Disclaimer

Informational “YMMV”

Unique Program – Not Unique Ideas

CASI Method of Program Development


Arapahoe County Open Space

Introducing The Open Spaces Department

The South Platte Rise of the working group model

Replicating the Model Elsewhere High Line Canal and Cherry Creek Basin

Challenges and Opportunities

Wrap-up


Getting to KnowArapahoe County


Getting to KnowArapahoe County

Over eight hundred square miles

Relatively rural except for western third

Third most populous county


The Urban Epicenter

Ninety-eight % of population lives here

Thirteen cities and towns

Nearly 350 special districts


Getting to KnowThe Open Spaces Program

Formed in 2004

Youngest program in the state

Dedicated sales and use tax

Annual budget: ~$18 million


Getting to KnowOpen Spaces- How Funding is Allocated


Getting to KnowThe Open Spaces Program

Recreation District 4 parks Historic Property

House, Barn & Trailhead Fairgrounds

Acquired additional properties Working Ranch Open Space Park Conservation Easements

Program Challenges Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Regional Park

Cheyenne/Arapaho Park


How do we put that money back into the very urbanized areas where the need and opportunity is?

Development was slowing

Limited at-risk properties

Areas within Urban 1/3 of County in need of attention

Unspent sharebackdollars within municipalities

South Platte River


The South PlatteThe Rise of the Working Group Model

Meet the South Platte River:

It is the common thread between 4 communities

Long history of settlement and development

Major recreational resource

Several issues and concerns along the river

Photo courtesy of: Denver Public Library, circa 1910

Photo Courtesy of: Denver Public Library, Englewood, CO, 1972


County pledged $3 million of it’s Open Space monies:

• Fostering collaboration

• Leveraging dollars

• Fixed time frame

The South PlatteThe Rise of the Working Group Model


Components of the Model

Members

Guiding Principles and Ground Rules

Project List

Creating Public Support

Pooling Resources

Funding


Arapahoe County Arapahoe County Open Space &

Trails Advisory Board City of Cherry Hills Village Town of Columbine Valley City of Englewood City of Greenwood Village City of Littleton City of Sheridan South Metro Land Conservancy South Suburban Park and Recreation

District South Suburban Park Foundation Trust for Public Land

Colorado Water Conservation Board Great Outdoors Colorado Trout Unlimited Urban Drainage & Flood Control District US Army Corps of Engineers

Components of the ModelMembers

The South Platte Working Group

MembersMembers Partners and StakeholdersPartners and Stakeholders


Guiding Principles Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Mission Vision Strategic objectives

Ground Rules Land-use decisions left to individual

jurisdictions Decisions made by consensus Hired facilitator

Components of the ModelGuiding Principles & Ground Rules


Components of the ModelProject List

Projects identified independently

Rating criteria developed

Projects must meet purposes of the group


Components of the ModelCreating Public Support


Components of the ModelPooling Resources

Leveraged organizational capacity

Saved time and $$$

Expertise

Workload


Components of the ModelFunding

County pledged seed money $3 million Matching funds secured

In-kind donations

These factors increased competitiveness of grant applications


The Results

Twenty projects completed in five years

Leveraged $25 million

Projects included: Fifty acres of additional open space

and parks Several new bike/pedestrian bridges Six new trailheads Numerous trail connections


BeforeBefore

Highlighted ProjectsNew Trail Connections

BeforeBefore AfterAfter


Highlighted ProjectsNew Trailheads



BeforeBefore

AfterAfter

Highlighted ProjectsNew Parks and Open Space

Before

After


Accolades

2011 Stewardship Award Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners

2010 Blue Grama Award for Outstanding Achievement Colorado Open Space Alliance

2008 Metro Vision Gold Award for Collaboration Denver Regional Council of

Governments

2008 Progress Takes Flight Stewardship Award Arapahoe County Board of County

Commissioners


Moving Forward

Working group completed all projects in 2011

Still plenty of work to be done

In April 2012, a new working group reconvened

New focus of group:

Greater emphasis on: Economic development River restoration Recreational enhancements


Replicating the Working GroupThe Cherry Creek Basin

The Cherry Creek River


Replicating the Working Group The Cherry Creek Basin

Historic Cherokee Trail

Headwaters located southeast of Denver

Meets with the South Platte

Cherry Creek Regional Trail major recreational amenity

Photo courtesy of: Denver Public Library, 1906.

Confluence Park, Denver


Membership

•Arapahoe County

•Arapahoe County Open Space and Trail Advisory Board

•City of Aurora

•City of Centennial

•Cherry Creek State Park

•Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners

•Cherry Hills Village

•City & County of Denver

•Colorado Parks and Wildlife

•Douglas County

•Douglas County Open Space Advisory Committee

•City of Glendale

•City of Greenwood Village

•Parker Jordan Metropolitan District

•South Metro Land Conservancy

•Town of Parker

The Cherry Creek Basin Working Group


The Results

Nearly thirty initial projects identified

To date, almost half have been completed

Approximately $30 million dollars leveraged


Highlighted Projects

Open space acquisition and trail development 107 acres

Closed one of last gaps in trail system



Awarded State Trails Grant $70,000 Implementing Phase I Signage

Program


Replicating the Working Group The High Line Canal


Replicating the Working GroupThe High Line Canal

In 1873, President recommends the canal be built

Completed in 1883

Irrigation potential expected: 80,000 acres

Actual irrigation: 20,000 acres

Photos courtesy of: Denver Public Library, circa 1890

Photos courtesy of: Denver Public Library, circa 1910


Replicating the Working GroupThe High Line Canal

Sixty-six miles of linear open space

Designated a National Landmark Trail

Over 300k residents live within a mile of the trail


Challenges

Safety concerns

Tree canopy issues

Need for:

-Buffers-Trailheads -Increased access


MembersMembers Partners and StakeholdersPartners and Stakeholders

• Arapahoe County• City of Aurora• City of Centennial• City of Cherry Hills Village• Douglas County• City of Greenwood Village• Highlands Ranch Metropolitan

District• City of Littleton• South Suburban Park and Recreation

District

• Adams County• Arapahoe County Open Space & Trails

Advisory Board• Cherry Hills Land Preserve• Colorado Division of Wildlife• Colorado State Parks• Denver Parks and Recreation• Denver Water• High Line Canal Preservation

Association• Sand Creek Regional Greenway• South Metro Land Conservancy• South Suburban Park Foundation• The Trust for Public Land

Membership

Members



Two planning studies Identification of several

potential projects

Underpass feasibility study

Great Outdoors Colorado grant cycle


ChallengesChallenges OpportunitiesOpportunities

• Initial resistance

• Differing viewpoints

• Unsuccessful grant application

• Evolution of the working groups

• Geographic scope

• Keeping members on track and informed

• Greater regional collaboration

• Creative solutions to address current situations

• Continued leveraging of funds

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges


In Summary

Passage of OS resolution Cities situated for success

Need for leadership and coordination Arapahoe County Rise of the working group model

South Platte experiment huge success Model replicated Reconvened first working group

More work to be done Continue with three working groups

To Be Continued…

5/23/2013The Power of Partnerships – 2013 SORP Conference


Questions?

Contact Information:Shannon CarterEmail: [email protected] Phone: (720) 874-6725

working together to leverage limited funds - larimer...the power of partnerships – 2013 sorp...

Documents