The Durham County Open Space Program was formally created in 2003 to guide the County's acquisition of open space parcels, with a focus on watershed and farmland protection. The program focuses on acquiring and managing properties located in County adopted Open Space Plan Areas: the New Hope Creek Corridor Open Space Plan, the Little River Corridor Open Space Plan, the Eastern Durham Open Space Plan, and the Urban Open Space Plan. Since the program began, the County has preserved 3,581 acres of land, with 1,280 acres owned in fee simple and 2,301 acres in conservation easements.