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Adopt an Open Space Property

New County Program Invites Residents to Steward Open Space Properties

Santa Fe County launched a new program, Adopt an Open Space to help assess, report and maintain Santa Fe County Open Spaces and Trails. If there is a park, trail, or any open space in Santa Fe County that you would like to help maintain, sign up to be a Steward.

Adopt an Open Space Steward duties include the following: reporting on overall land condition, hazards, wildlife issues and signage issues. Stewards are expected to assess (by assess we mean enjoy a great hike, park or open space) adopted land at least four times a year and submit a report to the Santa Fe County Volunteer Coordinator after each trip. Help monitor the land, keep it in good shape by picking up any litter on the property, remove small branches and report larger maintenance needs to the Volunteer Coordinator. As a steward, if you host any type of clean-up or restoration event you will need to coordinate with the Volunteer Coordinator and each participant will be required sign a release of liability agreement.

Santa Fe County will provide and install a trail steward sign identifying you or your organization and the adopted Open Space property, provide maintenance tools, safety orientation and safety tools to you before and after scheduled cleanup activities, and provide trained technicians and volunteers to maintain and beautify the land.

Only County-maintained Open Spaces are adoptable through this program. If you are not sure of the status of an Open Space, trail, or park, call Carol Branch, Volunteer Coordinator at 992-3053 or adoptopenspace@santafecountynm.gov.

To participate in the program, Stewards must complete an application and will receive a packet of information about the program.