GOCO Awards $6.9 million for Resilient Communities Program projects

GOCO board awards $6.9 million to 21 projects in third round of Resilient Communities program
Friday, November 20, 2020 -- GOCO

DENVER- The GOCO board has awarded $6,935,509 in funding to 21 projects across the state through the Resilient Communities Program (RCP), which funds one-time, immediate needs or opportunities that have emerged in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program helps partners advance outdoor recreation, stewardship, and land protection projects in a manner that best reflects community needs and priorities at this unique moment in time. To date, the RCP has awarded a total of $10.3 million to 41 projects.

The funding awarded in this cycle will be used for many purposes, including to:

• Support community conservation and restoration projects in Gunnison County, Park County, and across the Roaring Fork Valley
• Address critical trail and natural resource stewardship needs in Colorado Springs, Cañon City, Longmont, Pitkin County, Clear Creek County, Denver, Durango, and three state parks
• Build capacity to steward and maintain local parks in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Durango
• Facilitate the development or expansion of trailheads, trailhead facilities, or campgrounds at Carter Lake; across Grand County; and in Cañon City, Loveland, and Clear Creek County
• Support land acquisitions that provide public access in three communities experiencing unprecedented rural real estate sales in Hot Sulphur Springs, near Lake City, and in Alma

Projects include:

Addressing Stewardship and Conservation Needs in Park County, $129,061 grant to Mountain Area Land Trust (MALT)

MALT will hire a full-time stewardship director to address the impacts of increased recreation at Pennsylvania Mountain Natural Area and Sacramento Creek Ranch (SCR). Both preserves have seen a spike in visitation since the pandemic began, which has damaged the natural resources and fragile ecosystems. The director will also oversee new trail construction in partnership with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado in the coming year. Lastly, the position will help MALT broaden its conservation portfolio and continue ongoing efforts to expand high alpine research at SCR.

Alma Town Park and Buckskin Gulch Land Acquisitions, $320,000 grant to Town of Alma

The Town of Alma will use its GOCO funding to purchase two parcels of land: one 80-acre parcel in Buckskin Gulch and another 1.1-acre parcel adjacent to Alma Town Park. The Buckskin Gulch property encompasses Buckskin Creek, which is the main source of water for the Alma community. The parcel located next to Alma Town Park has been used by the community for years with permission from the landowner and was recently listed for sale. Purchasing the property will allow the Town to install a permanent skate park and provide space for the annual Festival in the Clouds.

Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative, $320,000 grant to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)

On October 30, 2020, Governor Polis signed an executive order officially establishing the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative (CO-OP). Together, CPW and the CO-OP will create a statewide vision to ensure Colorado’s natural resources continue to define our state and benefit our citizens and visitors. The partners will engage several regional coalitions across the state to help develop strategies and compile local priorities into regional plans. Ultimately, the regional plans will inform a statewide outdoor conservation and recreation plan and help advance the statewide vision.

Making Clear Creek County More Resilient, in the Vast, Great Outdoors, $343,933 grant to Clear Creek County

With this funding, Clear Creek County will improve access to the Floyd Hill Open Space and Park (FHOSP) trailhead by expanding the entrance driveway and parking areas. These upgrades will create safer access from Highway 40 and address overflow parking issues. Funding will also support new restrooms at the trailhead as well as an entrance sign and map kiosk. Additionally, this grant will support the County in hiring a TeamWorks youth work crew for trail maintenance, both at FHOSP and on other trails. TeamWorks is a program through TEENS, Inc., a nonprofit that provides paid employment and learning opportunities to youth of different backgrounds.

TeamWorks-State Park Collaborative, $81,163 grant to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)

CPW, in partnership with TEENS, Inc., will hire TeamWorks crews for trail maintenance projects at Golden Gate Canyon, Eldorado Canyon, and Castlewood Canyon state parks. The TeamWorks program, which operates out of Nederland-based nonprofit TEENS, Inc., pairs mixed groups of urban and rural Colorado youth to work together on paid conservation projects. The three state parks have all seen an unprecedented surge in visitation throughout 2020, creating deteriorating trail conditions and more undesignated trails. Several TeamWorks crews will work for eight weeks from June to August 2021 to address maintenance needs across the three parks.

More at www.goco.org/news/goco-board-awards-69-m...-communities-program