Garnet Pottruff stands among the green trees and blowing brown grass and sees the farmhouse where he grew up.

The sturdy brick foundation of the family home still remains on part of the Eramosa Karst land, just off Upper Mount Albion Road. And a short run from the home, the fit 84-year-old Mr. Pottruff, remembers hiding with his friends in the now environmentally protected caves.

"There used to be three springs there," he said. "We used to drink the water. It was pure and cold."

It was a moment of reverie by Mr. Pottruff, after joining his son and about 100 people to help celebrate the official opening of the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area last week.

"This is just beautiful," said Mr. Pottruff. "It's just tremendous knowing this land will be preserved."

Of the 180.5 acres of karst lands that were officially transferred from the province to the Hamilton Conservation Authority in October 2006, about 160 acres used to be owned by the Pottruff family.

These are the type of public lands, said Ben Vanderbrug, founding general manager of the HCA, that makes large urban cities into welcoming communities.

"I am more convinced than ever the success of urban communities is because of having open space," he said.

Looking around the Hamilton area, he said "we have only scratched the surface. There are many blank spots the HCA should look at."

The Eramosa Karst Conservation Area is the first one the HCA has created in 20 years. Since it's formation 50 years ago as the Spencer Creek Conservation Authority, it's primary mandate has been to acquire land, said Mr. Vanderbrug. It's goal, he said, has been to acquire 225 acres of land per year. This year, the HCA's business plan reinforced that direction.

"It has taken its mandate of open space very seriously," said Mr. Vanderbrug.

Chris Firth-Eagland, chair of the HCA, said the ceremony means more land for public use. He paused a few moments as he remembered the late former HCA general manager Bruce Duncan, who urged the organization to purchase more open land the public.

"This is truly a cooperative effort," he said. "We are the new kids on the block and have gained some good neighbours."

He mentioned the Stoney Creek Lions Club, area schools, Friends of the Eramosa Karst and the Heritage Green Community Trust which have assisted the association.

To make the maintenance and operation of the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area a place for exploration, education and peaceful contemplation, the Heritage Green Community Trust presented the HCA with $750,000, the final payment of the trust's $1.5 million donation, the largest one the HCA has ever received.

"This is to provide accessible green space for this community," said Doug Duke, chair of the trust.

The 13,000-year-old karst contains about 16 different features typical of a karst, including a 335-metre-long cave, the 10th longest in Ontario, dry valleys, soil pipes, sinking streams and overflow sinks.

The HCA owns or manages more than 10,900 acres of land.

The celebration was not just for the opening of the conservation area. HCA officials also applauded the kickoff of the East Mountain Trail Loop construction, a 10 km multi-use pathway. The $3.5 million joint project between the city and the HCA, is part of the Red Hill Valley Open Space Replacement Strategy to compensate the community for the 70 hectares of natural space lost to the Red Hill Valley Parkway. The loop will eventually link 155 hectares of existing land to more than 240 hectares of open space in Stoney Creek and the east Hamilton Mountain. The HCA is committed to constructing three kilometers, while the city is scheduled to construct seven kilometers.

Matt Casey, chair of the Hamilton Conservation Foundation, said he hopes the HCA's section can begin construction in the fall of 2009.

"Occasionally, government gets things right," said Terry Cooke, former Hamilton-Wentworth regional chair. "You have gotten it absolutely right."

Mr. Cooke, who works for Mattamy Homes, said the development community receives undeserved criticism for trying to make a profit out of an investment.

"But you have to give back," he said.

Aldo DeSantis, president of Multi-Area Development Inc. presented the Hamilton Conservation Foundation with $50,000, the final installment to his $100,000 pledge towards constructing the East Mountain Trail Loop. The HCF has raised $350,000 for the project, more than half of the $660,000 cost.

The initial section will start at Felker's Falls Conservation Authority and run west along the escarpment through Paramount Park to connect to the existing Red Hill Valley Trail by Upper Mount Albion Road and Old Mud Street. The section needs a development permit from the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

The second phase, which will need funding approval from council, is set to begin next year and will start at Upper Mount Albion Road, south of Highland Road, and run east through the karst before turning northeast to following an existing corridor between two subdivisions to Valley Park.

The third phase is planned for 2010, and will connect the section between Valley Park and Felker's Falls, while a fourth phase is expected to cost about $2 million and provide a connection over the Linc by 2014.

Mr. Casey said an information kiosk with interpretive panels, washrooms, landscaping and fencing is expected to be completed by the summer. There will also be a driveway and car and bus parking off of Mount Albion, tree planting and an amphitheatre.