Residents were ready to share their ideas and help shape the future of Arapahoe County's parks, trails and open spaces during an Oct. 7 open house.

Arapahoe County held the open house to give citizens an opportunity to learn about the Open Space program and provide their input on future needs. The feedback will be used to help prepare a countywide Open Space Master Plan which will serve as a guide for making strategic decisions about the program's future.

Residents who were unable to attend the open house can provide comments through Nov. 1 online at www.greenways.com/arapahoe. The web site also hosts a variety of resources that provide additional information about the master planning process and the progress to date. A second open house where citizens can comment on the first draft of the master plan will be held Nov. 19 at Byers High School in Byers.

"The parks, trails and open spaces in your community weren't haphazardly placed," said Arapahoe County Commissioner Jim Dyer. "It took vision and planning, and we want to thank our citizens for their input as we devise a master plan will help us create a strategy that will guide us as we look to the future. Preserving lands, connecting trails - it's a gift we leave to our children's children."

The County already has protected more than 15,000 acres of land that preserves natural habitats and wildlife corridors, protects sweeping vistas and provides outdoor recreation for residents of all ages in just the past five years. This would not be possible without the voters who generously approved the Arapahoe County open space sales and use tax in 2003.

For every $1 spent in Arapahoe County, a quarter-of-a-penny is used to preserve urban and rural open space and natural areas; protect lands that preserve water quality; provide, maintain and improve neighborhood parks, sports fields, picnic facilities and multi-use trails; protect wildlife habitat and corridors; preserve agriculture and ranchlands; and enhance and maintain designated heritage areas.

The tax collection began Jan. 1, 2004 and is set to expire Dec. 31, 2013 unless citizens vote "yes" to continue the program during a future ballot question reauthorization.

For more information about the open house, open space program and master plan, go to www.greenways.com/arapahoe or call Bob Finch with Arapahoe County Open Space at 720-874-6734.