GOCO Celebrates 30 Years

GOCO celebrates 30 years of partnership with Colorado’s park and recreation community

By Diane Metzger, Communications Manager, GOCO

Since our creation by Colorado voters, GOCO has invested $1.4 billion in Colorado Lottery proceeds in our state’s great outdoors. Some of that funding has helped partners like you create and improve 1,777 parks and outdoor recreation areas across the state. We’re grateful that your work helps ensure that all Coloradans have access to the joy, health, and connection that comes from getting outside. You’re elevating community priorities, building exciting amenities to explore, and leading initiatives that break down barriers to outdoor access. To celebrate this work, let’s take a closer look at just a few of our partners delivering recreational opportunities that Coloradans will enjoy for years to come.

Las Colonias Park Grand Junction, Colorado

Over $640,000 in GOCO grants supported the City of Grand Junction in developing Las Colonias Park located along the banks of the Colorado River. The 130-acre park offers river and pond recreation, a playground, a native arboretum, an amphitheater, dog parks, and more. Amenities are designed to cater to all ages and ability levels and include everything from kayaking and paddle-boarding to picnicking and wading in the water. Park plans were developed through a significant community outreach effort involving more than 200 youth from the Riverside and Orchard communities and many local businesses and organizations. Ride on, Grand Junction.

Photo by Friends of Salida Skateparks

Salida Skate Park, Salida

Crown Mountain Bike Park El Jebel, Colorado

Now that’s some air! A $168,000 GOCO grant helped Eagle County’s Crown Mountain Bike Park and Recreation District expand its BMX track into a full 3.75-acre bike park complete with features for people of all ages and ability levels. As the largest park in the Roaring Fork Valley, Crown Mountain Park attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually, providing open space for a wide range of activities and programming. In addition to track access, the park also provides free equipment to youth and families through a bike library. The plan for Crown Mountain was the result of public meetings, stakeholder surveys, interviews, and a needs assessment.

A $350,000 GOCO grant helped the City of Salida support a community-led effort by the Friends of Salida Skateparks to construct an impressive 16,000-squarefoot skate park in downtown’s Centennial Park. The finished park includes street and transition features, lighting, shade, a bathroom, and an art wall displaying art murals contributed by local and regional artists and school groups. The park also incorporates distinct town characteristics like river rocks and boulders. About 60% of the town’s population (or 3,235 people) live within two miles of the park. We thank all of our partners and the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association for your steadfast commitment to Colorado communities and outdoor access. Here’s to 30 years more!