Places to play, gather, compete. All communities in Colorado have varying needs for such places and GOCO funds help provide for them. Cities, counties and park & recreation districts are eligible for GOCO grants to acquire, expand and improve local parks, outdoor recreation facilities and environmental education facilities. For some communities, GOCO funding provides an opportunity to build a first playground or ballfield. Others use GOCO assistance to complete major sports facilities. Local Government Park and Outdoor Recreation Grants and Mini-Grants (for smaller projects in communities of 5,000 people or less) are offered twice yearly with applications typically being available in December and June.

Registered User? Click here to apply for a Local Government Grant from GOCO.

The Baca County Community Track -- Located in Springfield, this regional asset accommodates 29 communities in the southeastern portion of the state.  GOCO grants assisted the community in installing a modern polyurethane surface to replace the outdated asphalt track located at Springfield School.  Other improvements include perimeter fencing and a drainage system.  Significant improvements were also made to the football field turf.  Many volunteers from the area donated labor, services, and materials to help complete the project. 

Learning Landscapes/Denver – Several GOCO grants helped the City & County of Denver along with Denver Public Schools with the innovative Learning Landscapes Project.  Learning Landscapes provide a new, safe and attractive community asset at dilapidated DPS school grounds instead of a large expanse of pea gravel that invites problem behavior in youth.  Neighborhoods invest in and care for the project because they help build the areas.  Sixteen schools have been completed to date.  GOCO recently awarded a planning grant to Denver to conduct a citywide analysis of over 150 public playgrounds, to identify current and future needs.  Denver estimates that close to 40% of the City's playgrounds do not meet the current safety standards.  The City will assess, with public input, how existing and future play structures could emulate the "Learning Landscapes" model. 

Ridgway Regional Sports and Recreation Park /Ouray County -- The Town of Ridgway used GOCO funds to help construct a regional multi-use sports complex that contains fields for baseball/softball and soccer/football.  In addition, a tennis court, walking paths, and a parking lot were installed.  The project significantly improved available facilities and recreation opportunities in Ouray County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state.

Freedom Skate Park/Eagle County -- The Freedom Skate Park in Edwards is the result of an innovative partnership consisting of five government agencies and a citizens' group that came together to expand Freedom Park with the help of a GOCO grant.  Located alongside a turf field, and two youth baseball/softball fields at Freedom Park, development of the skate park completed a comprehensive plan established for the complex, one of the largest in the country.