Water recreation upgrades, playground construction, environmental education, trail restoration among latest Lottery funded projects

DENVER – The latest round of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grants, funded by the Colorado Lottery, will make it possible for several communities throughout the state to improve quality of life for their residents and visitors.

The projects cover a broad range of outdoors initiatives in Colorado communities, including improved boater safety in Eagle, the first water recreation area in Buena Vista, Olney Springs’ new community playground, unique environmental educational opportunities in Larimer County, and the restoration of trails washed out by September 2013 floods in Cañon City.

The GOCO Board has approved five mini-grants worth more than $180,000 to allow these projects to come to life in their respective communities. The GOCO mini-grant program is designed for projects with a total cost of less than $60,000. The lucky grantees were selected from a pool of 13 applications seeking nearly $500,000 in assistance.

The grants approved by the board will:

• Provide safe access to a section of the Eagle River that had previously lacked recreational access and presented unsafe conditions for boaters;

• Build a splash pad at Buena Vista Square Optimist Park, giving Buena Vista its first water-based recreation opportunity as residents currently travel at least 28 miles to the nearest water recreation area;

• Transform a town currently void of play equipment by adding a new playground to the Olney Springs community;

• Enhance Larimer County’s environmental education program at Pinewood Reservoir through the addition of a natural playscape, an Osprey viewing station, and accompanying interpretive signage;

• Restore 2.2 miles of trails in the Hogbacks Open Space Recreation Area that have been rendered inaccessible after sustaining damage from natural disasters.

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 by voters in 1992, GOCO has funded more than 3,500 projects in all 64 counties without any tax dollar support. The grants are funded by GOCO’s share of Colorado Lottery revenues, which are divided between GOCO, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Conservation Trust Fund and school construction.

Grant details:

CHAFFEE COUNTY

Buena Vista Square Optimist Park

Grant: $45,000

The Town of Buena Vista will build a splash pad at Buena Vista Square Optimist Park, completing the final phase of the park’s development. The splash pad project will include interactive water jets, a smart point command center to conserve water, and a brushed concrete spray-free area for the community’s enjoyment. Buena Vista Square Optimist Park’s splash pad will provide the town with its first water-based recreation opportunity – residents currently travel at least 28 miles for the nearest recreational water areas.

CROWLEY COUNTY

McCleary Park Playground

Grant: $26,005

The McCleary Park Playground project will create a new playground in the City of Olney Springs, meaning residents and their children no longer have to travel over seven miles to have access to play equipment. GOCO’s grant will complement the hard work of the community’s grass roots efforts.

EAGLE COUNTY

Eagle Information Center Boat Ramp & Eddy Safety Improvements

Grant: $41,015

The Town of Eagle will create an eddy that allows boaters to safely access the new concrete boat ramp, resulting in a safer ten mile float trip from Wolcott to Eagle. This is currently not possible due to the high water velocity that can cause boaters to miss the boat ramp, sending them downriver to encounter Class IV rapids.

FREMONT COUNTY

Hogbacks Open Space Recreation Area

Grant: $41,000

After natural disasters made over two miles of trails impassable, Cañon City will not only be able to restore the trails to their former glory, but also to expand the Recreation Area’s trailhead to accommodate increased usage from an enthusiastic community of outdoor recreationists. A local volunteer group is committed to maintaining the restored trails once they are completed.

LARIMER COUNTY

Pinewood Reservoir Environmental Education Project

Grant: $33,908

Pinewood Reservoir is already a popular destination for outdoors enthusiasts from across the state, and the latest updates to the park will allow youth to further connect with nature. The grant from GOCO will enable the County to install a natural playscape, an Osprey viewing station, and accompanying interpretative signage to allow park visitors to fully enjoy their experience at Pinewood Reservoir. The playscape will be the first of its kind in the Larimer County system.

-30-