Purchased by the city of Thornton in 2003, Aylor Open Lands is an approximately 140-acre undeveloped property located at 136th Ave and Quebec St. The property was owned by the Aylor family since the early 1930’s. The Aylors used the land for a variety of farming purposes over the years, providing the open space with a rich background in agriculture. When the City purchased the property from William Aylor, the water rights and lease agreements were all transferred into the City’s name. With its unique site features and history, the City understood the opportunities the site possessed for natural resource preservation and public use and enjoyment.

 To realize the full potential of the property, the city of Thornton partnered with Anythink Libraries in a shared venture to develop a new library/education center that could provide City residents additional education and recreation programming while preserving the natural open space. The City hired THK Associates, a local planning and landscape architecture firm with a background in balancing preservation and recreation, as a consultant to develop a Master Plan for Aylor Open Lands. Together the Design Team developed a vision and goals that would drive the development of the Master Plan.

Given Aylor Open Land’s proximity to a handful of privately owned parcels in unincorporated Adams County and two adjacent Thornton residential neighborhoods, the city of Thornton wanted to ensure that public engagement in the project started early and continued throughout the Master Plan process. The City also wanted to make sure that all of Thornton’s residents and surrounding community had an opportunity to be involved in the project since there was the possibility of a new education center.

The Master Plan provides the structure for Aylor Open Lands to become a regional and local destination for the City of Thornton and its community members to enjoy. While the recommendations provide the City a guide to develop the site, the partnership with Anythink Libraries provides the opportunity for robust educational and recreational programming that can be managed effectively and provide a unique experience for visitors of Aylor Open Lands.