Trust for Public Land Facilitates Joint Acquisition of Elk-Bergen Property, First Conservation Area to be Co-Owned by Jefferson County Open Space and Denver Mountain Parks

In a significant step toward preserving critical open space and expanding outdoor access for the Denver Metro area, Trust for Public Land (TPL) has successfully facilitated the purchase of the Elk-Bergen property, creating a crucial link between lands managed by Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) and Denver Mountain Parks, part of Denver’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The acquisition will secure essential wildlife habitat in the foothills of Colorado’s Front Range and offer new outdoor opportunities, fulfilling the conservation missions of both agencies.

The property, spanning 167 acres of mountain habitat, now connects two existing Denver Mountain Parks and is co-owned by Jeffco and Denver Mountain Parks. The joint ownership brings together two committed partners in a shared effort to protect Colorado’s natural heritage and enhance public access to its unique landscapes. This acquisition opens future avenues for recreation, environmental education, and conservation efforts, directly benefiting the Denver Metro community and supporting regional wildlife.

“Securing the Elk-Bergen property represents a significant win for outdoor recreation in the Denver Metro area and Colorado’s Front Range,” said Jim Petterson, Trust for Public Land’s Mountain West Region Vice President. “By joining these two partners and their adjacent lands, we’re creating an unbroken natural landscape that benefits wildlife, supports ecological resilience, and provides residents with expanded access to nature.”

Once opened for public enjoyment, the Elk-Bergen property will connect the public lands to the east and west, creating 4,040 acres of contiguous accessible land that connects to the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest.

Elk Meadow Park, a 1,658-acre Jeffco Open Space property that borders Bergen Peak and, as the name implies, is often home to herds of grazing elk, is situated east of the two previously unconnected Denver Mountain Parks conservation areas. The Elk-Bergen property will connect the DMP properties adjoining Elk Meadow Park. South of Bergen Peak, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) manages 1,111-acres of State Land Board land through the Public Access Program.

The property is just five miles off Interstate 70 and 30-minutes from downtown Denver, and its protection also opens the opportunity for trails connecting the Evergreen area to Arapaho National Forest and summit of Mount Blue Sky.

The acquisition aligns with both Jefferson County Open Space and Denver Parks and Recreation’s long-term plans to conserve open spaces and enhance recreational opportunities in a region experiencing significant growth. Together, these partners are committed to balancing public access with habitat protection, creating a sustainable model for land management along Colorado’s Front Range.

“The Elk-Bergen property stitches together a series of conservation lands and iconic mountain landscapes that our communities have told us are important to them,” said Shannon Dennison, Denver Mountain Parks Director. “This joint acquisition represents the first of its kind for Jefferson County Open Space and Denver Mountain Parks, and we’re grateful to JeffCo and TPL for their commitment and partnership.”

“We’re so pleased to continue our long time partnership with Denver Mountain Parks in a new and exciting way – acquiring, owning and managing the Elk-Bergen property together,” said Tom Hoby, Director of Jefferson County Open Space. “This purchase represents the value of joining forces to preserve more public land for wildlife, plant communities and public enjoyment. Our sincere gratitude goes out to TPL and the landowner that made this vision a reality.”

The property serves as a natural gateway, linking previously separate conservation areas and creating an uninterrupted corridor of protected open space. The land is home to native flora and fauna, including elk, moose, and black bear, which will benefit from enhanced connectivity and reduced habitat fragmentation.

This acquisition is the latest in Trust for Public Land’s ongoing work to create connected, conserved lands across the United States. In Colorado’s Front Range, the Elk-Bergen project acquisition sets a model for how public agencies and nonprofit organizations can collaborate to secure and protect essential natural resources.

About the Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.