On Tuesday, Aug. 20, Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) announced grant recipients for the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative establishing two new partnerships in southwestern and southeastern Colorado.
There are now 20 outdoor regional partnerships covering about 75 percent of the state. First launched in 2021, the initiative funds regional coalitions that bring broad interests together to ensure that Colorado’s lands, waters and wildlife thrive while also providing for equitable and quality outdoor recreation experiences.
“The collaborative energy behind the Regional Partnerships Initiative reflects the collaborative spirit of Coloradans. These partnerships give communities the opportunity to expand conversations around wildlife management, sustainable recreation and how we can protect our wild, open spaces,” said Polis.
“We celebrate the most recent grant recipients for the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative, a cornerstone in our efforts to foster sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation across Colorado,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “The success of these partnerships reflects the dedication of communities across Colorado to steward their natural resources and recreation opportunities.”
This grant cycle increases the amount of money invested in outdoor regional partnerships to $4.9 million, with another round of grant funding opening in the fall of 2024 for coalition capacity and regional planning efforts.
Grant recipients include six established coalitions spanning the Western Slope and central mountains, and two emerging coalitions in the southeastern grasslands and Archuleta County.
New partnerships exemplify the rich cultural, natural and geologic history that stretches along the lower Arkansas Valley, Purgatoire River and southern San Juan Mountains.
In Archuleta County, the Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition is being granted $125,000.
Blossoming from the collaborative foundation set by the Pagosa Area Trails Council, this new coalition will convene a larger and more diverse group of stakeholders with the shared goal of developing a sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation plan for Archuleta County and parts of Mineral and Hinsdale counties.
This investment will enhance the coalition’s capacity to effectively engage stakeholders, develop informed strategies, and ultimately realize its goals for sustainable recreation and natural resource conservation.
>