Great Outdoors Colorado drafted a strategic plan to guide it through the next five years and now is seeking public input. Those who wish to comment must do so by March 3.
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) takes a portion of money raised by the state lottery and uses it to protect resources and develop recreation opportunities around the state.
GOCO began forming the five-year strategic plan about a year ago. GOCO officials were in Durango on Aug. 6 as part of a statewide tour to get public input on its funding priorities. After making final changes, the new plan is expected to be adopted at the GOCO board’s April 16 meeting at the Aurora Municipal Center.
The draft’s strategic plan lists three overarching goals and five priorities to guide GOCO’s investments and funding.
The goals:
Protect more land and wildlife.
Connect people to the outdoors and connect trails, parks and open spaces.
Inspire Coloradans to take care of the great outdoors.
The priorities:
Protect our land, water and wildlife.
Increase access and opportunity to connect people to the outdoors.
Connect trails, parks and open spaces.
The cornerstone initiative (engage youths and families with the outdoors).
Take care of our great outdoors.
At the Durango meeting in August, 32 attendees pondered and discussed this question: “When I think about the future of our state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces, what I care about most is ...”
GOCO is the state organization in charge of doling out Colorado Lottery money for outdoor recreation, land conservation and wildlife. It was formed by voters in 1992 and has been handing out money to communities since 1994. La Plata County has been the beneficiary of $8.9 million in GOCO funding; much of that has gone to the city of Durango for open-space acquisitions and constructing the Animas River Trail.
Overall in Colorado, GOCO money has helped preserve 1 million acres of open space and built or maintained more than 800 miles of trails, according to GOCO.
For more information visit www.goco.org/our-story/vision. To comment, email info@goco.org by March 3.
johnp@durangoherald.com
