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 30 years, GOCO has improved Colorado’s great outdoors with the help of Colorado Lottery proceeds. We’ve put more than $1.4 billion in proceeds back into 5,700 projects to improve the lives of Coloradans across the state.

After projects are awarded funding, grant recipients usually have about two years to make their projects happen. 

In recent months, 4 projects wrapped up, representing $942,595 in GOCO investments into local communities across the state. Scroll to see if one’s near you:

Caring for Community Lands

$72,500 grant to Aspen Valley Land Trust

A Resilient Communities grant helped Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) hire two staff members for its stewardship team. The new stewardship director manages the organization’s portfolio of privately conserved lands, and the new director of restoration and management oversees the organization's fee-owned properties, which are properties owned by the land trust. Both positions help monitor conserved properties and consult with landowners and partners on land management needs. In addition, they support community programming and volunteer opportunities, land restoration and stewardship projects, fundraising, and more. 
Learn more about Aspen Valley Land Trust

Mesa Elementary Playground Improvement

$110,000 grant to Montezuma County

With a School Yard Initiative grant, Montezuma County partnered with Mesa Elementary School to transform their outdated playground into a safe and ADA-compliant play area and recreation hub. Play structures were upgraded to serve children with special needs and sensory disorders, including autism, providing stimulation relief for those easily overwhelmed. In addition, surface improvements made access easier for children in walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility devices. 
Read the original press release

Southern Colorado Community Resiliency Project

$303,700 grant to Palmer Land Conservancy

With a Resilient Communities grant, Palmer Land Conservancy (PLC) hired two conservation program managers to better serve emerging needs in Pueblo and the Pikes Peak region. One position is based out of PLC’s office in Colorado Springs, and the second is at PLC’s new Pueblo office. The new employees support critical recreation projects like the Ring the Peak Trail, the Colorado Front Range Trail, and the expansion of Mueller State Park. They also help communities identify conservation priorities, water protection resources, community partnerships, and programming.
Learn more about Palmer Land Conservancy

Town of Dillon Town Park Master Plan Phase 1B Implementation

$456,395 grant to the Town of Dillon

A Community Impact grant helped the Town of Dillon upgrade their town park (pictured above). Funding helped purchase and install nature-themed playground equipment made from recycled materials. The new park also features a climbing wall, a new multi-use sports field, safer walking paths, native landscaping, lighting, a shade structure, and a relocated restroom. Located in the center of town, the park is a critical community amenity providing space for organized sports, unstructured play, and gatherings while fostering economic vitality. The park was designed through a community input process supported partly by a $60,000 GOCO planning grant in 2016.
Read Town of Dillon’s Master Plans