FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Diane Metzger, GOCO Communications Manager
303.226.4507, dmetzger@goco.org
Of the total funding, $68M will go toward large-scale, once-in-a-generation Centennial Program projects that will create lasting impact for the state’s people, places, and wildlife.
DENVER– Today, the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board announced $117,151,438 in investments for partner-led conservation, recreation, and outdoor access efforts statewide.
Investments include:
- $68,878,420 in Centennial Program investments for large-scale, high-impact projects;
- $7,057,688 in grants for Planning and Capacity, Community Impact, and Land Acquisition;
- $31,664,116 for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) investment proposal;
- $1,200,000 for the RESTORE Colorado collaborative restoration and stewardship program;
- And a $10,000,000 loan to Pitkin County to protect Snowmass Falls Ranch.
GOCO’s Centennial Program invests in high-value, once-in-a-generation visions and projects that will create lasting impacts on the Centennial State and future generations. $33,992,920 in competitive grants were awarded to seven projects that are getting ahead of Colorado’s population growth, visitation to natural places, stressors on habitats and wildlife, and inequities in outdoor access. They join two other Centennial projects awarded a total of $5,000,000 in December 2023.
These nine Centennial projects will:
- Help conserve 3,246 acres of land rich in natural resources, wildlife, and recreation potential.
- Contribute to regional trail projects that, once complete, will traverse a total of 276 miles.
- Impact around 78% of Colorado’s population, or 4,517,913 people, who live within a 20-mile radius of the projects.
- Represent a combined 132 years of visioning, planning, and implementation work to date.
The GOCO board also committed to $34,885,500 in investments for CPW Centennial projects. Details of these investments will be shared after further visioning.
Base program awards will support 16 community-driven projects through the Planning and Capacity, Community Impact, and Land Acquisition programs. Investments will be put to work to hire essential staff at several organizations; establish the first-ever, Colorado-based, Native-led, nonprofit land trust; build and enhance parks and recreation facilities; conserve critical land, water, and wildlife, and more.
In addition, the board approved CPW’s $31,664,116 fiscal year 24-25 investment proposal that will support Colorado’s 42 state parks, hundreds of state wildlife areas, and abundant wildlife habitat from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Please note: The monetary amount was adjusted post-publication from the original amount of $30,015,330 to include re-authorized dollars.
A $1,200,000 investment will go toward the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s RESTORE Colorado Program, which brings funders, including GOCO, together to collaboratively invest in at-scale habitat restoration and stewardship projects on public and private conservation lands that have the greatest benefit for wildlife and local communities. The program’s 2024 grant awards will be announced soon.
Lastly, a $10,000,000 loan to Pitkin County will help purchase and hold the highly valuable, 650-acre Snowmass Falls Ranch while partners work toward an eventual United States Forest Service acquisition and the property’s integration into the adjacent Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.
Centennial Program Grants
GOCO’s Centennial Program invests in high-value, once-in-a-generation visions and projects that will create lasting impacts on the Centennial State and future generations.
Statewide Natural Heritage Survey, $7,892,920 to the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University
Location: Statewide
GOCO’s largest-ever investment in data, this funding will help the Colorado Natural Heritage Program conduct the Statewide Natural Heritage Survey over the next five years, generating–for the very first time–a uniform and reliable baseline measurement of the state’s biodiversity. This information will be instrumental in Colorado’s ongoing and future conservation and recreation planning efforts, and may deliver new discoveries related to Colorado’s natural resources and wildlife. Data gathering will engage both professional scientists and interested community members. As results come in, they will become publicly available, free of charge on Colorado’s Conservation Data Explorer (CODEX) website. Colorado Parks and Wildlife contributed $500,000 to this project.
Completion of the Eagle Valley Trail, $7,000,000 to Eagle County
Location: Eagle County
Funding will help Eagle County complete the last 7.5 miles of the 63-mile Eagle Valley Trial (EVT), which runs from the top of Vail Pass to Glenwood Canyon through Vail, Minturn, Eagle, Vail, Avon, Arrowhead, Edwards, Wolcott, Eagle, Gypsum, and Dotsero. The finished trail will connect over 140 miles of additional regional trail systems in nearby Summit, Pitkin, and Garfield Counties. Once completed, users will be able to hike, run, or ride from Breckenridge to Aspen without riding on a highway. The EVT will bolster Colorado's unique recreation opportunities, drive tourism, and enhance quality of life through improved connectivity and access. Construction of the final segment will begin in 2024, with a grand opening slated for late 2025.
High Line Canal Community-Centered Improvements, $7,000,000 to High Line Canal Conservancy, the City and County of Denver, Arapahoe County, and the City of Aurora
Location: Denver, Arapahoe, and Adams counties
Funding will help the High Line Canal Conservancy and partners revitalize the High Line Canal trail’s 28-mile northeast segment, which runs through Denver, Adams, and Arapahoe counties, and the city of Aurora. This section is located in some of the state’s most diverse and under-resourced communities who identified underinvestment, safety concerns, and difficult entry points as some of the main barriers to trail access. Seven years of community-led visioning and planning informed a series of planned trail upgrades to improve user access, increase active use, and enhance the Canal’s environmental health. These improvements will expand use of the High Line Canal trail with close-to-home opportunities for recreation and relaxation, provide connections to schools, and expand access to other community spaces.
Peaks to Plains Trail - Huntsman Segment, $7,000,000 to Jefferson County
Location: Jefferson County
Funding will help Jefferson County construct the three-mile Huntsman Segment in Clear Creek Canyon Park, a significant milestone toward the envisioned 65-mile Peaks to Plains Trail (P2P). Construction of this particular segment is complicated because of rugged and vertical terrain, bodies of water to work around, and the presence of federally threatened species. Once complete, it will include ADA-accessible concrete trail, eight new bridges, two trailheads with amenities, and creek access areas. Entry points will include parking for over 100 cars and will act as hubs for diverse recreational experiences. The segment will also connect visitors with recreational activities in Clear Creek Canyon Park like boating, climbing, fishing, hiking, mountain, gravel, road biking, and more.
The Colorado 14ers Centennial Project, $3,200,000 to the National Forest Foundation and Chaffee County
Location: Clear Creek, Chaffee, Lake, Ouray, and Park counties
Funding will help the National Forest Foundation, Chaffee County, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, and Envision Chaffee County coordinate with land managers and partner organizations across the state to enhance the resilience of Colorado’s “fourteeners” or mountains over 14,000 feet. Colorado’s 58 fourteeners (more than any other state in the country) drive significant tourism, are considered a key part of diverse community and cultural identities, and provide habitat for rare wildlife and plant species specific to fragile, high alpine ecosystems. However, they face many challenges caused by increased visitation. Partners will implement a series of 20 demonstration projects that address natural resource and infrastructure concerns. Activities will not only protect sensitive habitats but will also support more equitable mountain access and the vitality of nearby communities.
Heaven's Door Ranch Acquisition: Future Northern Colorado Open Space, $1,500,000 to Larimer County
Location: Larimer County
Funding will help Larimer County permanently protect the 1,547-acre Heaven’s Door Ranch near Loveland. Larimer County’s Department of Natural Resources worked for 20 years to protect this critical “puzzle piece” that completes the connection between several conserved lands in the area. The acquisition serves as a cornerstone of the county’s conservation strategy in this high-priority area. It comes as the region faces a growing population, development pressure, and demands for more public access to the outdoors. The property boasts diverse wildlife habitats and movement corridors, and its open space and scenic vistas will eventually provide a much-needed, close-to-home, nature-based recreation opportunity for the Northern Front Range.
Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds & Crystal Lake Master Plan, $400,000 to the City of Rocky Ford
Location: Otero County
The Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds host the 145-year-old “oldest continuous fair in the State of Colorado” while also supporting community events, athletics, and youth organizations such as 4-H and Future Farmers of America. Adjacent to the fairgrounds, Crystal Lake offers opportunities for expanded recreation that could better serve the growing region. Funding will help the City of Rocky Ford continue its planning efforts to revitalize these two local amenities to support outdoor recreation and access. GOCO-funded visioning efforts launched in summer of 2022 produced a comprehensive concept for the revitalized properties. Through community engagement, partners identified an opportunity to partner with the City of Aurora to provide public access to nearly 5,000 acres of formerly agricultural land it owns stretching along the Arkansas River from Manzanola to Swink.
Lost Canyon Ranch, $3,000,000 to the Town of Castle Rock and The Conservation Fund (awarded in December 2023)
Location: Douglas County
Funding is helping the Town of Castle Rock and The Conservation Fund permanently protect the 682-acre Lost Canyon Ranch next to Castlewood Canyon State Park. The ranch represents the largest one-time purchase and protection of open space in the Town of Castle Rock’s history. It will expand much-desired recreational opportunities for the Front Range amid intense pressure to develop. If this land is not protected, eventual development would have significant impacts to wildlife and visitor experience in the adjacent Castlewood Canyon State Park. The property provides diverse wildlife habitat, is a migration corridor, and contains Franktown Cave, a prehistoric archaeological site where artifacts dating back 8,000 years were discovered. The property has the potential to be the biggest nearby outdoor recreation space for Castle Rock and Douglas County, and offers unique recreational opportunities within minutes of I-25.
Wild Horse Ranch, $2,000,000 to the City of Colorado Springs (awarded in December 2023)
Location: El Paso County
Funding helped the City of Colorado Springs conserve the 1,018-acre Wild Horse Ranch located directly south of State Highway 94 in east Colorado Springs, a rapidly growing area with few outdoor recreation opportunities. Because of its prime location, the property was sought after by developers. Within the year prior to purchase, it went through two pending sales for private use, both of which were rescinded. When the property came on the market again in late 2022, City of Colorado Springs staff, with help from The Conservation Fund, worked swiftly to acquire it, closing in May 2023 for $7,657,588. The property boasts unique geologic features, wildlife habitat, stunning views of Pikes Peak, and areas of paleontological importance. The city plans to undergo master planning for the site that will include environmental and cultural studies and explore opportunities for passive recreation.
Base Program Grants
Planning and Capacity
GOCO’s Planning and Capacity program invests in projects that address opportunities, explore issues, engage communities, and examine trends in the outdoors.
Charting a New Course for Water Smart Land Conservation, $298,000 to Colorado Open Lands
Location: Boulder, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington, and Weld counties
The South Platte River Basin is home to some of Colorado’s most productive farmland and largest farm economies, while being one of the state’s fastest-growing counties with the most water rights in the state. Colorado Open Lands (COL) will partner with Colorado West Land Trust to learn from each other’s water-focused work to help conserve critical lands in this region where land conversion is happening rapidly and conservation easements are around four times more expensive. COL will also bring together partners representing varied interests in the South Platte River Basin, including municipal water developers, water conservancy districts, those interested in farmland, and the Colorado Water Trust. They will explore new strategies and financing tools to encourage collaborative investments in farmland and water rights that meet multiple uses and keep the economy and ecology of the region intact.
Climate Resiliency and Watershed Health in the Upper Arkansas, $261,500 to Central Colorado Conservancy
Location: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park, and Saguache counties
Funding will help Central Colorado Conservancy (CCC) hire a stewardship program manager and a watershed partnership coordinator. The two will assist with priority conservation projects in the upper Arkansas River Watershed in Central Colorado. This project will help CCC expand collaborative conservation work across multiple counties and public and private lands to protect wildlife, restore streams, and enhance the agricultural use of the area. The stewardship program manager will oversee the expansion of CCC’s program augmenting the productivity of working lands and oversee the use of improved technology to create stewardship plans on conserved properties. The watershed coordinator will lead a partnership of conservation organizations, agricultural producers, and public entities to identify and implement critical infrastructure, land protection, and stream restoration projects.
Accelerating and Expanding Conservation Impact in Pueblo County, $257,675 to Palmer Land Conservancy
Location: Pueblo County
The GOCO grant will help Palmer Land Conservancy hire a community engagement manager to support the land trust’s commitment to community-driven conservation. This staff member will work out of Palmer’s Pueblo office, engaging in initiatives related to healthy food systems, agricultural heritage, and outdoor recreation. They will also support community engagement campaigns, including the release of Palmer’s groundbreaking environmental documentary, MIRASOL, Looking at the Sun, which challenges viewers to think about land and water use in the West through an intimate portrait of Pueblo's farming community. The new position is part of Palmer’s broader strategy to increase the pace, relevance, and diversity of conservation impact in Southern Colorado and to grow its organizational capacity by 50% over the next two years.
Watershed Stewards Program Manager, $222,610.50 to Lake County
Location: Lake County
Lake County will use its GOCO grant to partner with local water education and stewardship nonprofit, Blue Elements. This funding will support a three-year program manager position to develop and implement an AmeriCorps watershed stewards program, through which 30 AmeriCorps members will increase capacity in at least 20 water-related organizations in Lake County and adjacent communities. The Watershed Stewards program will focus on cultivating watershed stewardship and connecting communities with the power of their water resources through education and outreach. This program focuses efforts on career pathways and inclusive representation in the natural resources to increase equity within the water and stewardship fields in the state, a priority outlined in the Colorado Water Plan. Recruitment will focus on traditionally underrepresented groups in Lake County.
Colorado Native Land Trust Research and Planning Project, $205,963 to First Nations Development Institute
Location: Statewide
Funding will help First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) spearhead a research and planning project to establish the first Colorado-based, Native-led, nonprofit land trust. The project aims to fill a critical gap in Native land connections by creating an entity that will tap into conservation funding, hold conservation easements, and support tribes' control of and access to ancestral lands. In developing the Colorado Native Land Trust, First Nations will leverage its experience in establishing Native grantmaking programs and aim to create a pilot for potential Native-led land trusts nationally. Working within its Stewarding Native Lands program, First Nations will conduct comprehensive research and planning, consulting a small advisory group and collaborating with People of the Sacred Land, a Colorado-based nonprofit working to uncover the truth about American Indian history across the state.
Recreation Master Plan, $155,000 to the City of Lamar
Location: Prowers County
Funding will help the City of Lamar develop a multi-year recreation master plan informed and guided by the local community. The City has completed its previous recreation master plan and is ready for the next iteration to continue and further recreation development. The City will hire a planning consultant to conduct activities and events in the next 14-24 months to gather input from its diverse community members. Data captured during this time will guide the plan that will provide recreation programming and implementation recommendations for the next 5-10 years. The City and its consultant will partner with paid college and high school student interns and youth-serving organizations and host multiple gatherings for further community participation in the process.
Enabling More Conservation and Greater Community Engagement in Southern Colorado, $100,000 to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
Location: Alamosa, Archuleta, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Dolores, Fremont, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel counties
Funding will help Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) hire a new regionally located staff member to manage its newly opened office in Del Norte. The position will help enhance connections and relationships with communities, partners, and landowners in the San Luis Valley and surrounding regions of Southern Colorado. The staff member will also support the organization’s existing and future conservation services and easements in the region. CCALT’s Agricultural Resiliency Fund will assist landowners in further leveraging the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program and other resources to advance restoration and enhancement projects and outcomes throughout Southern Colorado. In addition, CCALT will be better positioned to become actively involved in water issues and other discussions important to Southern Colorado communities.
Community Impact
GOCO’s Community Impact program develops and revitalizes parks, trails, school yards, fairgrounds, environmental education facilities, and other outdoor projects that enhance a community’s quality of life and access to the outdoors. Projects include:
Silt's Community Park Renovation Project, $900,000 to the Town of Silt
Location: Garfield County
Funding will help the Town of Silt renovate its popular 1.7-acre neighborhood park. Originally built in 1956, Community Park is located near several residences, a nearby elementary school, and local businesses. The park is an important community asset but lacks modern amenities such as accessible playground equipment, restrooms, walking paths, and shade structures. GOCO funding will support upgrades to improve the recreational facilities, creating more equitable access to the outdoors and supporting the local economy. This park is one aspect of the Town's broader efforts to enhance its downtown area for residents and visitors.
Cheraw Community Complex, $883,700 to the Town of Cheraw
Location: Otero County
Funding will help the Town of Cheraw develop the Cheraw Community Complex over the next two years. The complex will create the town’s only park, providing multi-generational recreation opportunities and a central gathering space for the local community and those from the surrounding region. It will be located in the center of town and feature a pavilion, playground, walking paths, and a multipurpose field. The project is a critical piece of implementing Cheraw's comprehensive community development plan to enhance quality of life, increase access to outdoor recreation, and retain and attract residents. The community demonstrated incredible support for the community complex, submitting a letter with over 80 signatures pledging donations of time, volunteer hours, services, and more.
Haymaker Recreation Hub Enhancement Project, $730,000 to the Town of Eagle
Location: Eagle County
With this funding, the Town of Eagle and the Mountain Recreation Metropolitan District will develop four major amenities at the growing Haymaker Recreation Hub: an outdoor pool that will bring back lifesaving learn-to-swim lessons, a bicycle motocross (BMX) track designed for all ability levels, a bike park, and the completion of the final design for Eagle’s first skatepark. These four amenities are top priorities in the community-centered recreation plan developed by surrounding residents, towns, and more than 50 partner organizations. The Hub will provide additional recreation opportunities to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. The newly constructed pool will replace the existing facility that closed in 2021 due to soil issues and provide opportunities for community gatherings and swim programs.
The Rico Town Park and Outdoor Recreation Hub Project, $594,990 to the Town of Rico
Location: Dolores County
Funding will help the Town of Rico revitalize a neglected property along the Dolores River at the bottom of Depot Hill at the Rio South Grande Southern Railroad trailhead. The community recreation space features a bicycle pump track, a covered ice rink, a summer picnic structure, tables, riverside benches, and a skatepark. In addition, the project will upgrade and expand outdated equipment in the existing playground to provide a better experience for kids, from pre-kindergarten to pre-teen ages. This project builds on the momentum of several years of community engagement, which surfaced a shared vision to rebuild community recreation spaces and enhance neglected riverside property into resources for locals and visitors alike. The site will double the park space in the community. More than 50 formal and informal meetings with residents and surveys helped the Town prioritize amenities.
Making Nature Universally Accessible Through a New Nature Center at Bluff Lake, $500,000 to the City and County of Denver and Bluff Lake Nature Center
Location: Denver County
With this grant, Bluff Lake Nature Center and the City and County of Denver will re-envision the 123-acre outdoor classroom and wildlife refuge at Bluff Lake Nature Center in northeast Denver. Renovations will include the construction of a new community education center and administrative hub, public bathrooms, and an enhanced refuge entryway. This project tackles structural limitations and accessibility challenges at the site to enhance the center’s ability to host community programs and visitors of all abilities. Project planning and community engagement exposed challenges that users with limited physical ability experience at the site, which prompted the design of a new universally accessible entry and pathway that will connect visitors from the road-level education center down to the lower-level trails and green space at the site.
The Green at 38th in Wheat Ridge, $500,000 to the City of Wheat Ridge
Location: Jefferson County
Funding will help the City of Wheat Ridge transform the area between Stevens Elementary and 38th Avenue into a vibrant community space known as The Green at 38th. Community meetings, surveys, and partnerships with local businesses, youth, and families helped the City identify desired features for the outdoor event and gathering space, including seating and play structures. This project began in 2018 following resident feedback calling for a flexible and safe gathering space and was prioritized through Wheat Ridge's comprehensive plan and corridor development initiatives. Now in its final design phase, the park will host city-wide events, foster economic activity, enhance neighborhood connections, and provide accessible outdoor recreation. The City’s collaborative approach and partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools for this project aims to address the diverse needs of Wheat Ridge residents.
Land Acquisition
GOCO’s Land Acquisition program supports urban and rural landscape, waterway, and habitat protection priorities and improves access to the outdoors.
Las Animas-Purgatoire River Project, $650,000 to Southern Plains Land Trust
Location: Bent County
Funding will help Southern Plains Land Trust permanently protect a 458-acre property near the City of Las Animas with a conservation easement. Following the acquisition, the easement will be managed by the land trust Colorado Open Lands. Called the River Property, it includes one mile of prime riverfront along the regionally important Purgatoire River. The river and its forests provide habitat for birds, mammals, and other wildlife. The property also contains mature cottonwood riparian forests, high-quality wetlands, and a small black-tailed prairie dog colony. The wetlands are freshwater ponds that stay full throughout the year, which support native fish and other aquatic wildlife and represent a critical resource for both migratory and resident waterfowl and passerine birds. The property also includes agricultural resources, including hay fields irrigated with 20 shares of leased water.
City of Woodland Park Avenger Open Space, $523,250 to the City of Woodland Park
Location: Teller County
Funding will help the City of Woodland Park purchase 120 acres to create Avenger Open Space and formalize a system of informal, social trails to build a more sustainable local trail system. The effort will preserve critical natural areas under threat of commercial development, maintain the land's ecological health, and ensure continued public recreation access. The comprehensive trail system will also connect to the adjacent Paradise Open Space and, in the future, may formalize trails into the surrounding National Forest. Palmer Land Conservancy will hold the conservation easement, ensuring this valuable open space and its natural resources continue to benefit future generations.
Arkansas River Community Preserve - Phase 4 Acquisition, $275,000 to Central Colorado Conservancy
Location: Chaffee and Lake counties
Funding will help CCC, in partnership with Colorado Open Lands and Lake County, acquire seven parcels of land, totaling nearly 84 acres, to expand the Arkansas River Community Preserve to over 354 acres. The project will protect a critical migration corridor for bighorn sheep, elk, deer, and other wildlife, and enhance public access to over three miles of the Arkansas River. Recreation is a key focus of Lake County as it works to diversify its mining-based economy and expand equitable outdoor access for the community. The Preserve links a patchwork of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, providing better connectivity for recreationalists and wildlife.
Loan
In select cases, GOCO offers bridge loans to non-profit organizations and local governments to facilitate urgent, community-supported land protection projects.
Snowmass Falls Ranch, $10,000,000 loan to Pitkin County
Location: Pitkin County
The loan will help Pitkin County, in partnership with the Wilderness Land Trust, purchase the 650-acre Snowmass Falls Ranch for a total of $35 million–the largest open space investment in the county’s history. The loan will allow Pitkin County to purchase and hold this highly valuable land while partners work toward an eventual USFS acquisition. Snowmass Falls Ranch encompasses two miles of glacial valley, includes the most senior water rights on Snowmass Creek, and supports diverse plants and wildlife. Partners hope to integrate all or most of the property into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness managed by the USFS.
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,700 projects in all 64 counties of Colorado without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.