County staff previews interactive conservation/open-space map for Summit County

Jess Kirby, Summit County staff, previewed a draft interactive map showing conservation easements, county open space, forest-service and DNR holdings, municipal parcels and reservoir parcels, and explained color coding and planned public release via ArcGIS Online.

Kirby said the public map will allow users to overlay who holds easements and when they were established (without publishing private property owner names). Committee members praised the map for revealing connectivity among large ranch easements, informing wildlife corridor planning and identifying gaps for future conservation work. Kirby said she is working with GIS staff to publish the map and expected to onboard a new employee on Feb. 5 to help complete the project.

Committee members asked to receive the public map when available; staff agreed to share it with planning and commission partners. Kirby also announced a public open house on Jan. 22 to solicit community feedback on visioning for the project.