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 over 30 years, GOCO has improved Colorado’s great outdoors with the help of Colorado Lottery proceeds. To date, we’ve invested more than $1.4 billion in 5,800 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.
Recently, 12 projects wrapped up, representing $2,099,597 million in GOCO investments in local communities across the state. Scroll to see if one’s near you:
Armstrong Canyon
$35,000 to La Plata Open Space Conservancy through Keep It Colorado
La Plata Open Space Conservancy (LPOSC) permanently protected a 193-acre farm near the San Juan National Forest. The property, visible from a nearby public trail, features pine and oak woodlands, open meadows, springs, ponds, and river habitats that support mule deer, elk, and migratory birds. It holds water rights that support agriculture and help maintain healthy water for downstream users. It also contains prehistoric structures that were once used by Ancestral Puebloans and Ute people. The farm borders 180 acres of conserved land owned by the same family.
This project is part of Keep it Colorado’s Transaction Cost Assistance Program that regrants GOCO funds to help cover transaction costs associated with conservation easements.
Learn more about LPOSC
Bieser Ranch
$32,000 to Colorado West Land Trust through Keep It Colorado
Colorado West Land Trust permanently protected the 614-acre Bieser Ranch on the northern slopes of the Grand Mesa in the Plateau Valley. The property features Willow Creek and provides habitat for elk, mule deer, moose, and black bear that move through the area to neighboring ranches and public lands. This working ranch was established in 1904 and supports a cow-calf operation managed by three living generations of the Bieser family.
History Colorado recognized the Ranch as a Centennial Ranch for more than 100 years of continuous family ownership. It’s located in a United States Department of Agriculture water source protection area, which helps maintain healthy and clean water for downstream communities, including Grand Junction. Once at high risk for development, this scenic landscape is visible from the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, Highway 65, and Powderhorn Ski Resort. This project is part of Keep it Colorado’s Transaction Cost Assistance Program that regrants GOCO funds to help cover transaction costs associated with conservation easements.
Learn more about the project
City of Durango Watershed and Riparian Stewardship
$106,079 grant to City of Durango
The City of Durango used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC)–Four Corners on a 10-week stewardship project supporting forest, riverbank, and open space health at Oxbow Park & Preserve and City Reservoir. Crews removed and treated invasive Russian olive trees, cleared neglected fencing, and planted new cottonwoods and willows. They also maintained about one mile of trail and placed mesh on cottonwoods to prevent beavers from damaging them. Additionally, they restored campsites and removed unauthorized fire rings.
Learn more about SCC
Ecological Restoration and Trails Phase 2
$44,705 grant to Boulder County
Boulder County Parks and Open Space used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) to complete a second phase of ecological restoration and trail improvements within the Cal-Wood Fire burn area. Over four weeks, corps crews established the Wapiti Trail, connecting the Columbine and Creekside trails. This route offers new opportunities for visitors to learn about fire ecology, forest management, and restoration. The project also helped control erosion, manage invasive plants, seed areas struggling after the fire, and implement forest health practices across 1,200 acres.
Learn more about MHYC
Frederick Recreation Area Restoration Project
$96,198 grant to the Town of Frederick
The Town of Frederick used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) to restore and maintain native riverbank habitats within the Frederick Recreation Area. Over seven weeks, corps crews planted native trees, removed and treated invasive tamarisk and Russian olive, and processed the removed trees using a wood chipper. This work improved the site’s ecological resilience by reducing flood and wildfire risk, supporting native plant and wildlife habitats, and protecting water resources.
Learn more about WCYCC
Greenhorn Meadows Park Renovation – Phase 3
$500,000 grant to Colorado City Metro District
Colorado City Metro District used a Community Impact grant to complete a final phase of renovations to Greenhorn Meadows Park, the community’s only public green space. Before this project, the park was inaccessible to people with mobility challenges, parents with strollers, and older adults, leaving many residents disconnected from social and recreational activities. Funding helped construct an ADA-compliant, multi-use sports field and asphalt track, transforming the park into an inclusive community hub where people can gather, play, and connect.
Watch a news clip about the project
High Line Canal Russian High Line Canal Russian Olive Mitigation Through Mapping and Removal
$66,680 grant to High Line Canal Conservancy
High Line Canal Conservancy (HLCC) used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Mile High Youth Corp to map and remove invasive trees along the Canal. Over six weeks, crews inventoried vegetation and removed invasive Russian olive along 5.6 miles of the Canal in Littleton and Centennial. The Canal has not supported irrigation since the 1970s. In the years since, invasive species have been competing for water, crowding out native plants. This project is part of ongoing tree-planting initiatives supporting a healthier, more resilient canopy along the Canal.
Learn more about the HLCC
Improving the Accessibility of Outdoor Learning Opportunities near Delta County
$46,225 grant to North Fork Pool, Park and Rec District
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped the North Fork Pool, Park & Recreation District partner with Western Colorado Conservation Corps and the local Generation Wild Community, Nature Connection, to expand outdoor learning opportunities near Delta County schools. Over four weeks, crews worked across the North Fork Valley at sites including Paonia K8 School, Crossroads Park in Hotchkiss, and the Bureau of Land Management’s Jumbo Mountain. They also collaborated with the Nature Connection’s high school trail crew, the Wilder Bunch, to prepare sites for future trail construction and build a segment of the Miners Trail near the North Fork Pool.
Learn more about the Nature Connection Generation Wild community
Lobatos Bridge Outdoor Classroom & Recreation Enhancement Project
$352,818 grant to Conejos and Costilla Counties
With a Community Impact grant, Conejos and Costilla Counties transformed an area near the historic Lobatos Bridge into an educational and recreational hub within the Bureau of Land Management’s Rio Grande Natural Area. The new site includes an outdoor classroom that helps visitors learn about the region’s cultural and environmental history, along with a boat ramp for river access, a trail with educational signs, picnic areas, fire rings, restrooms, shade structures, and improved parking.
The project expanded public recreation opportunities in an area surrounded by privately-owned land, making it easier for visitors to enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. This project was shaped by nearly 40 years of grassroots efforts and community engagement, ultimately earning a designation as a top priority by local officials.
Read more about the project
Meeker Riverfront Revitalization
$750,000 grant to the Town of Meeker
The Town of Meeker used a Community Impact Grant to partner with East Rio Blanco Metro Parks and Recreation District to build White River access points in town, at Third Street, Circle Park, and Tenth Street. The project created more than half a mile of river access that was previously inaccessible because it flows through private land. The project also helped to stabilize the riverbank and reduce erosion, revegetated 600 feet of riverbank, and added natural drainage. A key community priority, the project is bringing ecological, economic, and recreational benefits to residents and visitors.
The work was built on recent improvements in the area, including an accessible pond at Circle Park supported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) Fishing is Fun program. This project is a collaboration between CPW, White River Alliance, White River Conservation District, private landowners, local anglers and businesses, and other community members.
Read a local press release on the project
Montana Azul Park Walking Trail
$29,892 grant to City of Alamosa
City of Alamosa used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Southwest Conservation Corps–Los Valles to establish a new trail and access point in the Montana Azul Park. Over three weeks, crews constructed a quarter-mile gravel walking trail with walkways over drainage areas. The project improved connections to nearby outdoor spaces, a high priority as Alamosa continues to expand its outdoor recreation opportunities. It also complemented the work of the newly formed Friends of the Alamosa Trail Network volunteer group that is maintaining and expanding local trails.
Read a local press release on the project
Ute Ranch
$40,000 to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust through Keep It Colorado
Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust permanently protected the 684-acre Ute Ranch in the Uncompahgre National Forest. The ranch includes a 40-acre reservoir and more than 100 acres of irrigated hay meadows. Its water rights support agriculture and healthy river ecosystems for cattle, wildlife, and downstream communities. The property has been stewarded for nearly a century and plays a unique role in local history. It joins a thriving corridor of conserved working lands in the region and features historic structures, including a former Forest Service ranger station, postmaster’s station, and cow camp. The landowner, now retired from local government service, hosts an annual day camp for third-grade students from Naturita Elementary School, where they learn about local land history and connect with the land.
This project is part of Keep it Colorado’s Transaction Cost Assistance Program that regrants GOCO funds to help cover transaction costs associated with conservation easements.