Loveland acquires 78 acres for open space

LOVELAND — The city of Loveland has acquired 78 acres of open space adjacent to the Morey Wildlife Reserve and Marianna Butte Golf Course on the west side of the city.

Most of the $2.6 million purchase price—  $1.85 million — came from Loveland’s share of the citizen-initiated, quarter-cent Help Preserve Open Spaces sales and use tax in Larimer County.

Great Outdoors Colorado, or GOCO, provided $500,000 from lottery proceeds used to preserve, protect and enhance the state’s wildlife, parks, rivers, trails and open spaces, and $250,000 came from the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.

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The property, known as the Ward Trust property, will provide opportunities for trails, wildlife viewing and other outdoor activities in a rapidly growing area of Loveland, the city said in a prepared statement.

Currently used for farming, future plans may include a new parking area and increased trail access to open space throughout the area, which will buffer the dense neighboring residential development. Farming will continue to be a part of the management plan, at least for the foreseeable future, according to the statement.

The land is located along Cedar Valley Drive southwest of Morey Wildlife Reserve, near the Big Thompson River next to dense residential developments. It is visible from the keyhole of the Devil’s Backbone, and it provides clear views of the rock formations and the mountains to the west.

The Trust for Public Land negotiated the deal.

“Access to parks, trails and open space is a key component of Colorado’s high quality of life,” said Jim Petterson, The Trust for Public Land’s director for Colorado. “We are thrilled to have played a critical role in protecting one of Loveland’s highest open space priorities. By helping ensure that everyone, particularly kids, have close-to-home places to get outside and experience nature, projects like this do much to improve health, strengthen communities and enhance local economies.”

Loveland granted a conservation easement protecting the property to Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that the land and its water rights will be protected and accessible to the public.

Marilyn Hilgenberg, the city’s open lands manager, said the acquisition is an integral part of completing Loveland’s open-lands vision for the west Big Thompson River corridor outlined in the city’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan.

Great Outdoors Colorado’s executive director, Jim Spaanstra, said the land acquisition extends protection for a corridor that spans from north of Horsetooth Reservoir south for nearly 20 miles, culminating at the Ward Trust property.