Where Do You GOCO - June 2019 closed projects

There’s a lot of fanfare around grant awards, but what happens after the ceremonial checks are presented and the reporters have published their articles? Our partners get down to business.

For 26 years, GOCO has improved Colorado’s great outdoors with the help of Colorado Lottery proceeds. We’ve put more than $1.2 billion in proceeds back into 5,200 projects to improve the lives of Coloradans across the state.

After projects are awarded funding, grant recipients have about two years to make their projects happen. In June, 12 projects closed, representing more than $4.8 million in GOCO investments into local communities across the state. Scroll to see if one’s near you:

Hill Family Ranches Conservation Easement

$1,010,000 grant to The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land, in partnership with Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, invested GOCO funds in a conservation easement that covers six ranches owned by the Hill Family in Saguache County. The easement, which protects more than 5,000 acres of land, includes Trickle Mountain Ranch, Marold Ranch, Slain Ranch, Red Barn Ranch, Hunt Springs Ranch, and Hazard Ranch. The project adds to the existing 16,000 acres of protected land in the Saguage Creek Corridor and builds on previous GOCO investments. In total, the conservation corridor covers 22 miles of creek frontage and more than 2,300 acres of wetlands, which provide important habitat for several big game and birds species.

Lamar Loop Trail

$996,619 grant to the City of Lamar

The City of Lamar used its GOCO grant to create a multi-use trail system encircling the city to connect its residents to key parks and town facilities. The 6.5-mile Lamar Loop provides all 7,800 residents who live within a one-mile radius with safe access to trails, schools, and parks. The project received strong community support and was a collaborative effort that involved partnerships between the local community, LiveWell Prowers County, and the Urban Land Institute. The City of Lamar has been named one of Colorado Health Foundation’s Healthy Places for its commitment towards providing affordable and accessible recreation opportunities.

Read a Prowers Journal story about the trail

University Hill School Play Yard Renovation Project

$86,830 grant to the City of Boulder

The City of Boulder, in partnership with University Hill Elementary School, used its GOCO School Yard Initiative grant to improve its outdoor play area. The student-led design brought to fruition a nature-inspired play area and walking path. The vision of University Hill is to provide a caring environment where children are empowered to be critical thinkers, mindful community members, and culturally competent, bilingual individuals.

More on University Hill Elementary’s outdoor play space

LA Buchanan Park

$350,000 grant to Evergreen Park and Recreation District

Evergreen Parks and Recreation District partnered with Jefferson County and the Trust for Public Land to purchase 2.2 acres of private residential property. Located at the northwest corner of Buchanan Park, the acquired parcel is the last piece of privately owned residential property among 1,540 acres of contiguous parkland. The purchased property will be incorporated into Buchanan Park, which serves as Evergreen’s outdoor recreation hub and offers an array of amenities including ball fields, fishing ponds, a community garden, a playground, a 33,000-square-foot recreation center, a perimeter trail, and a Veteran’s Memorial.

Check out everything Buchanan Park has to offer

Baker’s Peak Ranch Conservation Easement Project

$625,000 grant to Colorado Open Lands

Colorado Open Lands used its GOCO Open Space grant to acquire a conservation easement on the 7,311-acre Baker’s Peak Ranch in Moffat County. The ranch, which lies just south of the Wyoming border, is a working cattle ranch that is also home to an abundance of wildlife species. Permanently conserving the property will protect wildlife habitat, encourage further conservation in the area, and preserve public hunting access. The ranch’s conservation easement will also help to sustain local agriculture, protect scenic views, and connect the property to other nearby public lands.

Learn more about Baker’s Peak Ranch and other conserved properties in Moffat County

Boulder County Parks and Open Space Outdoor Recreation Flood Recovery Project

$720,000 grant to Boulder County

Boulder County used GOCO special initiative funding to restore Pella Crossing Natural Park and two popular regional trail systems. After the September 2013 flood, state officials estimated that Boulder County received the most significant flood-related damage. The county’s open space system alone experienced roughly $53 million in damage. GOCO funds helped Boulder County match funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State of Colorado to restore highly used fishing ponds at the Pella Crossing open space and rebuild the most heavily used trails in the county—the Boulder Canyon and Longmont to Boulder trail systems. Restoration efforts have also been made to the Anne U. White Trailhead.

Read about other communities that received flood recovery funding from GOCO

Eagle River Park-Upland Construction

$350,000 grant to the Town of Eagle

The Town of Eagle used its Local Park and Outdoor Recreation grant to help build the four-acre upland portion of Eagle River Park. The newly developed area will complement the park’s in-stream wave features with pedestrian paths, access ramps, a picnic pavilion, tables and benches, gravel parking, and bathroom facilities. Eagle River Park is located at the heart of Eagle, and within a 10-minute walk of 80% of Eagle’s 6,600 residents. The community has transformed a once vacant dirt lot into a vibrant river park for its residents and visitors to enjoy.

Check out more about Eagle River Park

River Corridor Improvements

$350,000 grant to City of Cañon City

Cañon City received GOCO funding to make improvements along the Arkansas River near Centennial Park. These improvements include a riverside outdoor classroom, an in-river children’s play area, an “icehouse” play wave, and improved boater access. The project received strong community support and included partnerships with the Whitewater Kayak and Recreation Park Committee, Fremont Adventure Recreation, and Fremont County. The enhancements made to the river corridor will provide for a better recreation experience for more than 40,000 river users, the local school district, Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center, the Recreation District, and the many thousands of visitors who attend the city’s whitewater festivals.

Poudre River and Floodplain Habitat Restoration at Kingfisher Point

$100,000 grant to the City of Fort Collins

The Cache la Poudre River, which runs through Fort Collins, is the iconic centerpiece of the community’s identity. Like many rivers along the Front Range, water diversion and past land uses have altered the river system, its floodplain habitat, and its value to native wildlife. With its GOCO grant, the City of Fort Collins restored river and floodplain habitat along a one-mile stretch of the Poudre River through Kingfisher Point Natural Area. Project components include restoring the in-river aquatic habitat to mimic naturally formed riverbanks, expanding the floodplain cottonwood forests, improving flood water retention, and creating high-quality wetlands. The river serves as water supply for the community, as a wildlife corridor, and as a recreational amenity. Returning the river to a more natural state not only helps mitigate floods, but also improves river access for fishing, tubing, and kayaking.

See what's going on at Kingfisher Point Natural Area

City of Louisville South Boulder Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Study and Plan

$75,000 grant to the City of Louisville

The City of Louisville used its GOCO planning grant towards conducting a feasibility study and access plan for pedestrians and bikes at key north-south connection points across South Boulder Road. South Boulder Road is one of the city’s busiest roadways, and the lack of connectivity between north and south Louisville for pedestrians presented safety concerns. The city believes the access plan will help guide construction to improve pedestrian access to parks, open space, recreation and senior services, regional trails, community gardens, and schools.

Learn more about GOCO's planning grants

Prospect Recreation and Park District Master Plan Update

$50,000 grant to Prospect Park and Recreation District

Prospect Recreation and Park District invested its GOCO Planning grant towards an assessment of current park inventory and the development of an updated master plan. The resulting 2019 Master Plan encompassed three main components—an update of the 2008 Master Plan, a master plan for recreational opportunities at Applewood Golf Course, and a conceptual plan for Prospect Arena. The plan outlines several key themes and opportunities, which include focusing on and supporting trail connections and safe routes to key destinations, developing a maintenance schedule for parks and facilities, creating a formal volunteer program, and continued preservation of habitat and corridors.

Take a closer look at Prospect Recreation & Park District's Master Plan Updates

Montezuma School to Farm Project, School-Based Outdoor Learning Lab (SOLL) Proposal

$88,600 grant to Montezuma Land Conservancy

The SOLL Place Proposal provides school sites with outdoor classrooms and learning stations that address curricula needs, provide greater space, and diversify the type of classes offered. As a leading organization in the Montezuma Inspire coalition, Montezuma Land Conservancy used GOCO funds to enhance gardens at three regional school sites: Cortez Middle School, Kemper Elementary, and Dolores Elementary. These enhancements include the addition of benches, pathways, a cooking station, and whiteboards. Additionally, the project developed new outdoor learning labs at three sites: Cortez High School, Manaugh Elementary, and Lewis-Arriola Elementary. Site development and updates were created using a design process that included students, school district staff, and SOLL Montezuma Inspire Coalition partners.

Learn more about the Montezuma Inspire coalition