POTATO PATCH
Conservation easements
can be used to define the character of a neighborhood as the Potato Patch
Partners demonstrated in 2003.
Located on the last
switch-back near the top of Potato Patch Road on the north side of
I-70 in Vail, these aspen-clad 2.8 acres offer a welcome open-space among the
homes winding up the hillside. The site is a natural continuation of US Forest
Service property directly across the street.
Rather than see homes
built on this site at some future time, several neighbors joined forces to
assure it will be open space forever with a conservation easement donated to the
Eagle Valley Land Trust.
While the site is
relatively small, its conservation values are important. Deer, elk and a variety
of small animals frequent the property. It provides a quiet spot for which
neighbors enjoy bird-watching and is a reminder of the natural beauty that
attracted residents to the Potato Patch area in the first place.
