The Help Preserve Open Spaces sales and use tax turned 20 years old in 2016.

Video Celebrates 20 Years of Help Preserve Open Spaces

How do open spaces, parks and natural areas make a positive impact on your life? We asked that question to people hitting the trail this summer and got many inspiring answers! Check out our new video celebrating 20 years of the Help Preserve Open Spaces tax to find out what people had to say.

Watch the video and discover how open spaces impact all of our lives »

An excavator places large boulders to stabilize the bank of the Cache la Poudre River at Lions Open Space earlier this year. Phase 2 of this project started Oct. 19. Photo by AVI.

Crews to Repair Damaged Section of Pleasant Valley Trail

The parking area at Lions Open Space in Laporte will be closed until Nov. 25 for construction. Crews will complete work to stabilize the east bank of the Cache la Poudre River and repair a damaged section of the Pleasant Valley Trail. The trail and fishing access will remain open during construction.

Read about this project and efforts to enhance Lions Open Space »

Recent upgrades at Pinewood Reservoir include new signs on ospreys to educate visitors about the reservoir's resident fishers. Photo by Heather Young.

Awards Given for Pinewood Reservoir, Big Thompson Plan

The Colorado Lottery presented Larimer County with a 2016 Starburst Award for upgrades at Pinewood Reservoir County Park. Work at Pinewood Reservoir, which included renovated campsites and a nature play area, was partly funded with Colorado Lottery dollars. Read about the Starburst Award »

In addition, the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association chose the plan A Bigger Vision for the Big T for an Honor Award. This is the highest level of award bestowed by the APA Colorado Chapter. View the plan »

Alternatives have been developed, based on public input, for the future of Larimer County's four reservoir parks: Horsetooth (pictured), Pinewood, Flatiron and Carter Lake.

Open Houses Offer Forum to Comment on Future of Parks

Larimer County is updating the master plan that guides development and management at its four reservoir parks. Using input from the public gathered this summer, alternatives have been developed for future use at these parks. The public can offer input on these alternatives at two open houses:

• Nov. 16, 2016 (Wed.), 5-7 p.m., Chilson Center, Large Meeting Room, 700 E. 4th St., Loveland
• Nov. 17, 2016 (Thurs.), 5-7 p.m., Larimer County Courthouse, Hearing Room, 200 W. Oak St., Fort Collins

For additional information, visit www.onegreatcountytoplay.com.

Sport Shooting Partners consists of county, state and federal agencies working to provide safe, responsible, recreational sport shooting opportunities across the northern Front Range.

Video Series Provides Tips for Safe Sport Shooting

Do you enjoy recreational sport shooting? Or want to try it? Check out a new series of videos that explains the process for sport shooting on public lands. The videos were produced by the Northern Front Range Recreational Sport Shooting Management Partnership, or Sport Shooting Partners for short.

Watch the video series, or learn more about Sport Shooting Partners.

Note that Larimer County is part of Sport Shooting Partners, but sport shooting is not currently allowed on Larimer County's parks and open spaces.

An open spaces passport participant shows off her latest rubbing obtained during a passport hike led by Commissioner Tom Donnelly (right). Photo by Kerri Rollins.

$100 Gift Card Added to Open Spaces Passport Drawing

A $100 gift card to REI has been added to the list of grand prizes for this year's open spaces passport drawing. Awesome! To be eligible for the drawing, gather all 16 rubbings and turn in your finished passport by Dec. 1. Passports received after Dec. 1 will be entered into next year's drawing.

Read the full list of prizes in the drawing, or learn more about The Larimer County Passport to Your Open Spaces »

Larimer County and City of Fort Collins are co-hosting a 9-mile hike from Devil's Backbone Open Space to Coyote Ridge Natural Area on Nov. 5. Photo by Brendan Bombaci.

Upcoming Guided Hikes and Programs

Stargazing with Northern Colorado Astronomical Society - Oct. 29 (Sat.), 7 p.m., Devil's Backbone Open Space (waiting list only)

Devil's Backbone to Coyote Ridge Hike - Nov. 5 (Sat.), 9 a.m., Devil's Backbone Open Space

Full Moon Keyhole Hike - Nov. 14 (Mon.), 5:30 p.m., Devil's Backbone Open Space

New Moon Horsetooth Hike - Nov. 29 (Tues.), 5 p.m., Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Registration is required for all programs.

Information and registration: www.larimer.org/NRregistration/, or Heather Young at (970) 619-4489 or hyoung@larimer.org.

Members of the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd gather at a water tank in May in northern Larimer County. Photo by Charlie Gindler.

Get the Latest Scoop on the Laramie Foothills Bison Herd

Nov. 1 (Tues.), 5-6:30 p.m., Avogadro’s Number, 605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins

One year ago, science and ceremony came together as bison with distinctive bloodlines were welcomed back to the prairie of northern Colorado. Join us on Nov. 1 to hear from bison project partners about updates from the herd, what’s been going on for the past year, and plans for the future.