“Party for Parks” To Celebrate Work of Jefferson County Open Space, Denver Mountain Parks and Great Outdoors Colorado

On Friday, April 5, 2013, the Jeffco Outdoors Foundation will host a “Party for Parks” to celebrate the anniversaries and accomplishments of Jefferson County Open Space (in existence for 40 years), Denver Mountain Parks (100 years) and Great Outdoors Colorado (20 years). Working together, the organizations have helped preserve more than 62,000 acres of public land in Jefferson County. All proceeds from the Party for Parks will benefit programs that connect children and families to the outdoors.

Party for Parks will be held at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre Visitor Center from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, April 5, and will be hosted by 9News morning sports anchor Susie Wargin. The event will include food, drinks, entertainment and both live and silent auctions. Tickets for the Party for Parks are $50 and are available at www.jeffcooutdoors.org or by calling 303-271-5934.

The Jeffco Outdoors Foundation, www.jeffcooutdoors.org, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, provides grant support to metro area programs that connect children and families to nature, and promote healthy lifestyles. The Foundation offers their thanks to the growing list of event supporters: Gold Crown Foundation, Colorado Lottery, Laramie Cattle Co. & The Laramie Land Co, Plan Jeffco, Jefferson County Open Space, Lariat Loop, Jefferson County Public Health, Adidas Outdoors, Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti/Asphalt Paving Company, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Jehn Engineering, John Litz, US Recognition, 240 Union, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, Jan & Ross Wilkins, and Wayne & Liz Forman.

Jefferson County Open Space, http://jeffco.us/parks, is dedicated to preserving open space lands, natural and cultural resources, and providing quality park and recreation experiences. The program was founded by Jefferson County voters in November 1972, through a campaign

led by PLAN Jeffco and the League of Women Voters. A portion of the dedicated one-half of one percent sales tax is shared with the cities and grant funds are available to the recreation districts and non profits that provide outdoor recreation opportunities. Today, Jefferson County Open Space manages 28 regional parks, 210 miles of trail and offers history and nature programming for all ages.

Denver Mountain Parks, http://mountainparksfoundation.org/, A measure to fund the Mountain Parks system was approved by Denver voters in May 1912 and described in this 1911 statement: “A Mountain Park for Denver will be the first step, and perhaps the greatest step, in the great movement of making out mountains available for the people. We believe the Mountain Parks should be more than a picnic place; it should be a summer home for the people of Denver, and indeed for the tourists of the nation.” The program is supported by the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated restoring the historical integrity, relevance, quality and appreciation for the system; to advocate for it and ensure its future as a recreational, educational and open space resource for the City of Denver: its citizens, neighbors and visitors.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), www.goco.org, was created by Colorado voters in 1992 and receives approximately half of the Colorado Lottery’s proceeds annually—$57 million in Fiscal Year 2012. GOCO uses those funds to preserve, protect, enhance and manage the state’s wildlife, parks, rivers, trails and open spaces. Since its inception, GOCO has funded nearly 3,500 projects statewide; projects in Jefferson County have received more than $29 million in GOCO funds.