Colorado State Parks Trails Program

Recreational trail grant awards

04/17/2008 - Colorado State Parks’ Recreational Trails Program has announced approval of over $2 million of grants for the 2008 Recreational Trails Grant cycle. The Recreational Trails Program is funded by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Colorado Lottery, the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program and the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Grant projects were funded in the following categories:

- Construction: $959,600

- Maintenance: $789,295

- Planning: $149,544

- Equipment: $56,795

- Special Projects and Youth Corp: $50,446

  “Trails are the backbone of so many forms of recreation and thanks to our funding partners, we are able to disperse funds for a wide spectrum of trails projects throughout the state,” said Lori Malcolm, Colorado State Parks Trail Program Manager.

  The Recreational Trails Program received 59 eligible applications requesting $4,184,840. The applications were rated based on trail benefits and experiences, planning, design and public involvement, environmental assessment, community partnerships, and youth and volunteer involvement.

  Sixty reviewers from GOCO, the state trails advisory committee, volunteer outside reviewers, and Colorado State Parks scored applications and recommended funding 36 of the 59 proposed projects, which were then approved by the state parks and GOCO boards of directors.

  Trails grants were awarded to the U.S. Forest Service, state parks, nine counties throughout the state, four cities, and 14 nonprofit groups such as Volunteers for Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Mountain Club and Continental Divide Trail Alliance among others.

  A complete list of these grants and the funding awarded can be found at www.parks.state.co.us/trails.

Attracting more than 11 million visitors per year, Colorado's 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone in Colorado's economy and quality of life, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. Colorado State Parks manages more than 4,000 campsites, 57 cabins and yurts, encompassing 246,000 land and water acres. For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.parks.state.co.us.