There’s a lot of fanfare around grant awards, but what happens after the ceremonial checks are presented, the reporters have published their articles, and the interviews are over? Our grantees get down to business.
GOCO funding has built parks and trails, helped communities recover from floods and schools build new playgrounds, protected wildlife habitat and open space, and improved outdoor amenities like campgrounds and boat ramps. We’re funded completely by Colorado Lottery proceeds and have invested in more than 4,800 projects in all 64 counties. Read our annual report for more information >>
Each year, we award funding through competitive grant programs to communities across the state and to Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Grantees are typically allowed about two years to complete projects. Here’s what crossed the finish line in November:
The Back 40
Keith Evans built miles of trails on his land for hikers and bikers in Cortez (and beyond) to enjoy, and his generosity will be permanently protected with the help of GOCO funding. A $100,000 open space grant helped Montezuma Land Conservancy conserve this scenic open space, which connects to two adjacent open space parks, provide scenic views of Mesa Verde National Park, and protects an 11-acre wetland that provides critical environmental services and wildlife habitat. Read more about the project in this Cortez Journal article >>
Beaver Brook Trail and Trailhead Project
The City and county of Denver received a $200,000 trails grant from GOCO to expand trails at Genesee Mountain Park in the foothills west of Denver. Trail work built 1.2 new miles of trails and built a new trailhead, increasing public access, improving user experience, alleviating parking congestion, and providing a focal point for outdoor education programs. Find out more about how GOCO funds local park and outdoor recreation projects >>
Ben Delatour Scout Ranch
The Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, outside of Red Feather Lakes in northern Colorado, provides a home base for year-round outdoor recreation for the Longs Peak Council of the Boy Scouts of America. A $30,000 Youth Corps grant from GOCO employed young adults on wildfire mitigation on 100 acres of high-risk land at the scout ranch. Learn how Colorado Youth Corps Association projects positively impact youth >>
Big Thompson Riparian Restoration
Another project putting Youth Corps crews to work, the Big Thompson Riparian Restoration Project is an ongoing effort to eradicate water-thirstyRussian olive trees and other plant species in Cottonwood Run Natural Area in Loveland. The project, funded by a $15,000 GOCO grant, took place in the riparian area of the Big Thompson River, which is where the river meets surrounding land. Russian olives can drink up to 75 gallons of water each day, making their eradication critical to Colorado’s water supply. Learn how Colorado Youth Corps Association projects also positively impact youth >>
DPG-Prewitt Wetland Enhancement
Colorado Open Lands and Ducks Unlimited put a $25,000 habitat restoration grant to work to install three water control structures on the east side of Prewitt Reservoir in northeastern Colorado. The structures allow water managers to adjust water levels in the reservoir, help native wetland plant communities to re-establish and benefit wildlife habitat. Weld County Conservation Corps partnered on the project. In addition to the ground work they completed, corps members spent part of each day learning about environmental topics critical to Colorado. GOCO just awarded another restoration grant to continue this work. Read about it >>
Fraser River Pedestrian Bridge Project
The Town of Fraser recently completed the Bow Bridge over the Fraser River, which will benefit approximately 1,700 people every week. The bridge, built with the help of a $136,000 GOCO grant, provides direct access to the 120-acre Cozens Ranch Open Space. While it was obviously built for people, the Town of Fraser recently sent us a photo of a moose taking advantage of the new crossing too. See it on our Instagram >>
Genesee Mountain Trail Project
Denver also recently completed a second trails project at Genesee Mountain Park, building a trail that connects the park to the new pedestrian/bike trail parallel to I-70. The new 3.5-mile trial, funded with a $154,840 trails grant from GOCO, connects the north end of the park to the south end, where Chief Hosa Lodge and campground are located along with Genesee’s bison herd. Visit Genesee Mountain Park and see the new trails for yourself >>
Hermit Park Open Space New Trail Construction
The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources put $40,200 of GOCO funding to work at Hermit Park Open Space in Estes Park this past year, building two miles of a new 6.4-mile trail. Learn how Colorado Youth Corps Association projects also impact the youth they employ >>
Lamar Sports Complex
In southeastern Colorado, the City of Lamar received $239,822 from GOCO to complete the last two fields of its baseball and softball complex at Merchants Park, building off two previous grants. Now that it's finished, the sports park will serve the entire southeast region of the state and enable the city to expand programming and host more games and tournaments. Learn more about how GOCO funds local park and outdoor recreation projects >>
Peanut Lake Riparian Restoration
Three miles north of Crested Butte, a $25,000 habitat restoration grant helped Crested Butte Land Trust restore 1.5 miles of the Slate River adjacent to Peanut Lake where mining activity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries caused toxic sediment to settle at the bottom of the lake. Historic land use patterns altered the natural hydrology of the river causing excessive sedimentation and severe erosion to the streambank that separated the river from the lake, threatening to release the toxic sediment if breached. The project restored ecological function to the river and created suitable habitat and vegetative cover for wildlife, while relocating the stream channel away from the lake. Read about the latest round of GOCO habitat restoration grants >>
Yampa River Access Improvements
The City of Steamboat Springs received $300,000 as part of a larger “legacy” project to improve access and connectivity on the Yampa River (Read the next story for more). Steamboat improved boating and angling access to the river; stabilized and revegetated the riverbank; built new access points; and built infrastructure; such as parking and restrooms at Fournier Open Space, Bear River Park, Town Run, and River Creek Park. Read about the original grant award in Steamboat Today >>
Yampa River System Legacy Project
As the final phase of this legacy grant closed, so did the entire $2.3 million project to continue two decades of work to protect and provide access to the Yampa River. Yampa Valley Land Trust and the City of Steamboat Springs partnered to conserve 500 acres along the Yampa to protect wildlife habitat and create new public access. The property links Stagecoach State Park to Sarvis Creek State Wildlife Area and provides fishing access on the Yampa. The above river access project was the second phase of the legacy project. Read about the original grant award in Steamboat Today >>