Open Space Commission

Role of the Open Space Commission 

The role of the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission (OSC) is to advise the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on issues related to open space, parkland and recreation lands, including use of revenues from the Open Space Property Tax (OS Fund) and acquisition of interests in land. The OSC represents the interests of the voters and taxpayers of Clear Creek County in its advisory role to the BoCC.

Mission of the OSC

The OSC shall advise the BoCC within the context of the OSC mission, which is: To preserve and maintain the County’s unique character and natural environment by protecting its streams, woodlands, meadows, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities prominent vistas, geologic features, and cultural resources, to enhance the quality of life for residents and the enjoyment of the out-of-doors for residents and visitors.

Click here to view the Charter of the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission (OSC) as well as the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the OSC

OSC Meetings

Regular meetings occur on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Idaho Springs City Hall (1711 Miner Street, Idaho Springs, CO 80452) and are also available via Zoom.    Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings   Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings   Meetings  Meetings   Meetings      Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings  Meetings     Meetings  Meetings 

OSC Agendas, Packets & Minutes
Agendas are available before the meetings. They are posted in the Clear Creek County Courthouse (405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, CO 80444). You can also email the Clear Creek County Open Space Coordinator, Martha Tableman, at mtableman@clearcreekcounty.us for any meeting agendas, minutes, or packets. OSC Agendas are also available online on the County's Agenda Center under Open Space Commission Packets. 

OSC Meeting Summaries

See below for meeting summaries from previous Open Space Commission meetings. If you are looking for a meeting from before 2026, please email Clear Creek County Open Space Coordinator, Martha Tableman, at mtableman@clearcreekcounty.us

OSC Members

The Open Space Commission (OSC) consists of nine regular members and two associate members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC). Each member serves for a four-year term.

Current OSC Members 

• Mark Cucinella
• Kay Axtell
• Jacqueline Carano
• Steve Hoogendoorn
• Margi Kaspari
• Michael Rodgers
• 5 Vacancies

There are currently Open Space Commission seats available. If you are a Clear Creek County resident interested in helping preserve and maintain the County's unique character and natural environment, please email Amy Hendricks at ahendricks@clearcreekcounty.us. You can also apply by visiting this webpage.         

OSC Annual Report

Annually, the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission (OSC) presents a report of its activities during the previous year. Having been in existence since 2000, the OSC has seen an increase in the amount of acreage under its management. It is now responsible for managing 5,176 acres. Over the years, the OSC has undertaken a number of large construction projects to enable the residents of Clear Creek County and others to more easily access Open Space lands and resources. These projects include the Floyd Hill Open Space Trail System, Lawson White Water Park, the Philadelphia Mill Site Fishing Area, and a portion of the Clear Creek Trail. The report below provides some background on the larger projects and an update on new acquisitions.

• OSC Annual Report 2022-2024 (PDF)
• OSC Annual Report 2018-2019 (PDF)

Questions?
If you have any questions about Clear Creek County Open Space, please visit the Open Space webpage or email the Clear Creek County Open Space Coordinator, Martha Tableman. Most Recent OSC Annual Report