In late January, Arapahoe County Open Spaces completed its acquisition of a 74-acre property near the Town of Bennett. The property contains a section of Kiowa Creek and is approximately 60% floodplain, representing valuable wildlife habitat in Colorado’s eastern plains. The upland portion of the property has historically been used for agriculture. 

As Front Range communities grow, the Town of Bennett and other eastern Arapahoe County communities are experiencing rapid development. The County’s acquisition of this property will protect an environmentally sensitive area, preserve scenic views from I-70 and Kiowa-Bennett Road, and support future recreational opportunities.

While the County’s newest open space property will not be immediately accessible to the public, we anticipate that it will eventually be connected to nearby Kiowa Creek North Open Space, Bennett Regional Park and Open Space, and the Town of Bennett by a multi-use trail. 

In the near-term, the County has completed a master plan for Kiowa Creek North Open Space and is working to develop the site with trails, picnic areas, archery range, features for equestrians and mountain bikers, and other recreational amenities designed to have minimal impact on the creek corridor. It is anticipated that the park will open in early 2025. Visit the Kiowa Creek North Open Space project page for more information.

The County’s latest land acquisition was made possible by the voter-approved Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use Tax and supports Open Spaces' 2021 master plan focus on identifying critical conservation opportunities throughout the County.