Westminster, Colorado is a thriving suburb of Denver with an estimated population of 110,000. The residential communities housing this large population include a variety of housing and neighborhoods, from apartments and starter homes up to luxury, executive homes. New urbanism and mixed-use neighborhoods have been developed, and many Westminster homes for sale are nestled in and around parks, golf courses, and open space.

In 1985, the city began actively acquiring land as part of a community-wide "Open Space Program" established in 1972. Since then, it has amassed nearly 3000 acres throughout the city, about 13% of Westminster’s total land area. This includes a 10-mile trail from the city to Standley Lake to the northwest. No wonder it was ranked as the 24th best place to live in the USA by Money magazine.

These vital areas preserve essential view corridors in the city, enhance recreational opportunities for residents through a series of interconnected trails, and sustain a rich variety of plants and wildlife.

The Open Space Program. The program was created to help maintain and preserve the city holdings. A variety of projects are scheduled monthly (weather permitting), including trail building, tree wrapping, fence repair and installation, wetland plantings and Russian olive management.

One of the outstanding amenities provided to the citizens of Westminster is the city's trail system. The Big Dry Creek Trail is one of the jewels of the open space system, extending approximately 10 miles from the eastern boundary of the city to Standley Lake. Other trails, available for jogging, biking, wildlife viewing and enjoying the outdoors, have been constructed along the Farmers' High Line Canal, Walnut Creek and Little Dry Creek.

In addition, the city has preserved large expanses of land in the magnificent Standley Lake Regional Park, the Colorado Hills area, and areas reflecting the history of Westminster. Other significant areas are the lakes and ponds conserved at Ketner Lake, Hidden Lake, McKay Lake, Margaret's Pond and Vogel Pond, to name a few. City Park, the recreational centers and many other neighborhood and community parks provide facilities for all citizens.

People Behind The Program. The program operates under the direction of the Open Space Coordinator, Heather Cronenberg. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Libraries operates and maintains land within the program.

The Open Space Advisory Board provides public input and makes recommendations to City Council regarding prospective area acquisitions. This board is responsible for identifying and prioritizing potential acquisitions, to maintain and protect the aesthetic, historical, cultural and significant natural resources of the city.

If you wish to learn more about all that Westminster's open space offers, check out the complete series of articles originally published in City Edition found in the city's official website: Wide Open Spaces, Westminster: Land of Lakes, The Hills of Westminster and Westminster's Wild Kingdom.