Established by voters in 2000, the program's purpose is twofold:to reclaim 1,425 acres of conservation land, green space and openspace for preservation; and to upgrade the park system. "Ourcounty's remaining undeveloped natural lands are disappearing,"commissioner Kristin Jacobs says in a letter to constituents justbefore the program's approval. "If the pace of today's developmentcontinues, in four years there won't be any undeveloped naturallands left."

Reapportioning the money takes away from what was originallydesignated as priority--acquiring conservation lands. The programcalls for $152 million for conservation land and green spaceacquisition and $48 million for buying open space properties, whichare in developed areas. This most recent decision comes on theheels of a previous decision this month to spend $24 million on 20open-space properties across the county. But efforts to acquireconservation lands, though difficult, continue. On the commission'sJun 18 agenda is a motion to approve the $3.4 million purchase of a12.2-acre plot for the program's preservation inventory.