Fishers Peak State Park, Colorado's 42nd and newest state park opened in 2020, will attract outdoor enthusiasts from across Colorado and neighboring states. |
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My Fellow Coloradans,
Our state park system is the pride and joy of Colorado. Our public lands define us, and spending quality time in our vast, great outdoors is a big part of what makes it special to be a Coloradan. Over the past sixteen months as our state, our nation, and the world faced this once in a lifetime pandemic we have seen firsthand just how important and fortunate we are to be able to go outdoors and recreate in our beautiful state and I’m proud that Colorado was one of the only states to keep our state park system open during the entire pandemic. In keeping with my Keep Colorado Wild platform, my administration prioritizes providing more ways to enjoy the great outdoors and save people money. I am excited to share with you the recent progress we have made in this area:
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Cut State Park Annual Pass price in half or lower. It's my goal to save people money and expand access to our public lands for all Coloradans, and this week I signed SB-249 which will reduce the price of an annual park pass from $80 to under $40, with a goal for the pass to cost between $20 and $30. You will also be presented with the opportunity to purchase this reduced-cost park pass with your vehicle registration, helping to drive down the cost by making it easier for all Coloradans to participate in the care and enjoyment of our outdoors. The new law states that the new Keep Colorado Wild Pass will be available no sooner than January 1, 2023, but no later than January 1, 2024, and it is my goal to have Colorado Parks and Wildlife meet the Jan 1, 2023 date, about eighteen months from now, for the major price cut for an annual state park pass. With this new lower price, we can broaden and diversify support for our state parks and make it more affordable for everyone to enjoy them.
Improvements at State Parks. On March 21, 2021, I joined Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioners, Park Manager Jason Trujillo, and others at Cherry Creek State Park to sign the bill to direct $20 million in state stimulus to expanding capacity and making major improvements to our state parks. The funds will result in a long-overdue new boathouse at Cherry Creek, one of our more popular state parks. In addition, we will be making major improvements including more parking, trails, campgrounds, and better service buildings at state public lands, and will use the appropriation for capital construction projects at locations across our state like: Boyd Lake State Park, Lake Pueblo State Park, Fishers Peak State Park, Cherry Creek State Park, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Ridgway State Park, Steamboat Lake State Park, North Sterling State Park, Chatfield State Park, Jackson Lake State Park, Navajo State Park, and the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex.
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One-time funding for new state parks and important wildlife needs. This week I signed a bill that we pushed hard to direct $25 million in stimulus funds to build new state parks, and address urgent needs. I was proud to open the 42nd state park at Fishers Peak last year, and with record visitation across the system, we know that our state would benefit from several new amazing locations to recreate. We kicked-off a new process recently to allow the public to suggest new state parks, and lots of great ideas came in. Look forward to some exciting announcements in the weeks and months ahead about where and when our 43rd, 44th, and 45th state parks will open. This funding will also go to support critical needs in our State Wildlife Action Plan, and support first responders who work tirelessly to keep outdoor visitors safe in the backcountry.
Opening up state trust lands to visitation. Other than federal lands, the biggest landowner in the State of Colorado is our State Trust Lands. State Trust Lands were established for the state of Colorado in the Enabling Act that made Colorado a state in 1876 and "are hereby granted to said state (Colorado) for the support of common schools." What I found extremely nonsensical is that even though these lands were publicly owned, they were mostly closed to public access. So we set about to change that and through the Public Access Program collaboration between the State Land Board and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, I'm proud to announce that we have now opened access to close to one million acres of State Trust Land. Access requires a fishing, hunting, or state wildlife area use license which can all be purchased at cpwshop.com. Our Colorado State Recreation Lands brochure describes these wild areas and how to access them (with more on the way!) (pages 30-51)
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Celebrating the signing of the Colorado Outdoor Equity Fund at Lincoln Hills, Black Hawk, CO |
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Investing in Our Great Outdoors and Ensuring an Equitable Outdoor Future With Lottery Dollars. Part of the package of public lands legislation I signed this week included a bill ensuring a boost in valuable resources to one of the long-standing and historic conservation funding policies central to Colorado’s public lands - Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) along with Colorado Parks and Wildlife from lottery revenue as directed by the will of the voters in 1992. This bill will further the intention of the voters by ensuring we continue to invest intended revenues into CPW from state lottery proceeds, a concept that, like the ‘Keep Colorado Wild Pass’, is a game-changer for sustainably funding our great outdoors. Yet this legislation goes even further by keeping its eyes on the future, specifically investing in an equitable, diverse and welcoming outdoors future. I’m proud to have signed into law our state’s first “Outdoor Equity Fund,” that will make meaningful investments, with a sustained funding source, in programs and opportunities for Colorado youth to discover the wonders and benefits of nature, particularly those traditionally kept from the benefits of the outdoors by means, ability, or geography. The Outdoor Equity Fund is a truly groundbreaking achievement in ensuring everyone can enjoy the great outdoors in Colorado for All.
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Increasing Conservation Opportunities. Conservation efforts are more important than ever before, as our state’s world-class outdoors and wildlife face increased strain from population increases, habitat fragmentation, and a changing climate. In addition to the state-led efforts that comes with the added funding, state-side Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars, and smart-planning policies like the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative initiated via executive order, private conservation is a key part of our state’s land and water future, helping us to meet critical environmental goals while also helping private landowners, often family farms and ranches, yet limited conservation easement benefits have resulted in less conservation. This week I’ve also signed into law a bill that will enhance the benefits that private landowners can receive when they agree to preserve their property in perpetuity, ensuring resources are better utilized to protect the ecosystems and wildlife habitats that need conservation the most. This voluntary tool will help boost the geographic diversity of lands protected across the state and address even more critical conservation needs.
Sincerely,
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Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
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