OSAC supports MOU transferring 75 open-space assets to Town of Keystone after incorporation

Summit County Open Space and Trails staff presented a draft Memorandum of Understanding that identifies 75 public assets that will transfer to the Town of Keystone following its Feb. 8, 2024 incorporation. The assets consist primarily of wetland lots along the Snake River, trail easements recorded via plats, and multiple Recpath segments. Two parcels — Alders Estates and Settlers Creek Tract D — will remain under county ownership because they are fee-simple deeded parcels.

Staff told the council the transfer results from Keystone’s incorporation and that management responsibility for most paved Recpath and soft-surface trails within the town limits will move to the Town. Several trails within the Town boundary are managed by homeowners associations, Keystone Ski Resort, or the U.S. Forest Service; assigning management for those will be the Town’s responsibility. The county will retain maintenance of a few Recpath sections adjacent to county-owned land (near Swan Mountain Road and the Mountain House base area) and some soft-surface trail segments to preserve consistency.

Council members asked whether the Town could refuse management or sell Recpath segments. Staff responded that the transfers are a matter of incorporation under Colorado law and said it would be unlikely for the Town to divest Recpath connectivity given its value to residents. Staff outlined next steps: the Town will take the MOU to its Town Council, county staff will brief the Board of County Commissioners in a work session, and the MOU will be brought forward on a consent agenda for formal approval.

OSAC recorded unanimous support for moving forward with the MOU. The county did not record a roll-call vote in the minutes. Next steps are coordination between county staff, the Town of Keystone, and the BOCC; staff will return to OSAC with any additional information required for implementation and to clarify long-term maintenance responsibilities.