City commissioners unanimously approved a plan to begin soliciting ideas for property that should be preserved as open space.

The ECO2 commission plans to distribute applications to property owners who may be interested in creating a public-private partnership to protect valuable pieces of open space.

The ECO2 group wants to get a list of possible key pieces of open space property that could be acquired if funding for such a program ever develops.

City commissioners said they were on board with the plan as long as all the property owners were willing participants and that no eminent domain was used. ECO2 members said voluntary participation was a must.

The ECO2 group particularly will be looking for pieces of property that have scenic vistas, potential to be part of a larger trail network, native prairies, historical significance or substantial woodland forests.

County commissioners already have approved of the idea.

The group hopes to receive applications by the end of January.