One of the challenges that Jefferson County Open Space faces every day is balancing its resource stewardship responsibilities with its mandate to provide for passive outdoor recreational enjoyment of present and future generations. Balancing human use with resource preservation involves assessment and compromise concerning potential impacts to the area's natural and cultural resources and the public's use of the land.

Link to Park Management Plans
for all Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

The Process
To accomplish the dual mission of resource stewardship and provision of passive outdoor recreational opportunities, the Program has adopted an open space planning process that allows staff to respond to changing environmental and social conditions in a timely manner. Each Open Space Park has a Management Plan that is developed by staff from Acquisitions, Planning, Design and Development, Park Services, Citizen Outreach, and Administration and Education Services. Developing Park Management Plans with representatives from each section of the Open Space organization ensures that the plans provide the most complete picture of the parks and the most appropriate direction for effective management. To further ensure that the Park Management Plans remain relevant, they are reviewed and updated annually.

Park Vision
There are several main components of a Park Management Plan. The Park Vision describes the significant natural and cultural resources of the park and the kind of recreational experiences Open Space would like to offer there. This visionary language provides staff with direction for making resource and visitor management decisions.

Management Unit Classifications
Another component of the Park Management Plan is the park's Management Unit Classifications. Open Space has adopted three classifications: Sensitive Areas, Natural Areas and Parkland Recreation Areas. Sensitive Areas are those that are very special, fragile and highly valued for their natural or cultural features. Preservation and protection are the paramount considerations for these areas; thus, recreational use of these areas is restricted, with the exception of obtaining a Special Use Permit for education or research purposes. Natural Areas are relatively large areas where ecological processes dominate and visitors can typically experience a sense of solitude and remoteness. Parkland Recreation Areas provide opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor recreation experiences while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the natural resources. Not all management units are represented at each park. In some cases, environmentally or culturally sensitive areas may warrant special management, but does not fit within the management unit designations. Each park management plan includes the guidelines necessary for the protection and use of such areas.

Recommended Actions
A third major component of a Park Management Plan is the articulation of issues related to a park and an identification of the measures staff will take to address them. These actions are incorporated into the Program's budgeting process, which requires that staff make decisions about which actions to pursue in coming years. Since staffing and funding are limited, choices must be made regarding which management actions to pursue.

Last Modified: Mar 28, 2009 10:17 PM