AURORA — Buckley Air Force Base is the city’s biggest asset, bringing nearly $1 billion annually into local coffers. On Wednesday, officials made a commitment to keep that asset viable going forward.

At a news conference Wednesday in Aurora, officials for Buckley and the Trust for Public Land announced the first of several “buffer zone” land acquisitions around the base that will prevent future encroachment of development and provide trails and open space for residents.

The 124-acre property is between Buckley and E-470. In all, 1,078 acres will be acquired by the Trust for Public Land to ensure a permanent buffer zone around the base.

“The buffer project is a win-win-win project for the local community,” Hillary Merritt, project manager for the trust, said in a release. “The project will help secure the future of the base and its contribution to the local economy. It will create great recreational amenities.”

The future of Buckley is key not only to Aurora and Arapahoe County but also to the region as the federal government decides what bases to close in the future.

The military is replacing F-16s with F-35s; bases that do not get the new fighter jet likely will be phased out, said U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora.

“This program is absolutely vital,” Coffman said of the land conservation effort. “We clearly have the support of the community here to support this installation.”

All but 10 acres of the acquisition announced Wednesday is owned by the city of Aurora. The 10 acres was transferred to Buckley and will be including in Buckley’s runway “clear zone.”

“The city of Aurora has been paying attention to what has been happening around Buckley literally for decades,” Mayor Steve Hogan said at the news conference.

New trails and an open space corridor that connects to area parks and other trails will be created through the buffer project, according to the Trust for Public Land.

The Trust for Public Land said urban and suburban encroachment is a real issue for military installations nationwide and can interfere with training and other military operations.

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or @cillescasdp