Colorado awards $10m to advance statewide outdoors strategy

DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado announced 19 grants totaling $9.99 million on Monday to support regional coalitions working to advance outdoor recreation, conservation and climate resilience across the state.

The funding, awarded through the Regional Partnerships Initiative, marks the first round of implementation grants tied to Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. In April, CPW and GOCO committed $50 million over five years to the initiative to support on-the-ground projects that strengthen recreation opportunities, protect wildlife and natural resources, and improve land stewardship.

Recipients in this round are pursuing a wide range of projects, from habitat restoration and trail improvements to significant land conservation and agricultural preservation efforts. Regional partnerships are working in communities across Colorado to balance recreation with long-term conservation goals.

“Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy and the Regional Partnerships Initiative demonstrate what is possible when conservation, recreation and agricultural interests join with local governments and land managers to serve Colorado’s outdoors,” Polis said. “With strategic investments in our outdoor economy and land conservation efforts, signature projects like Pikes Peak Exceptionalism, large-scale land protection and the Indian Creek Trail are getting the resources needed to be successful.”

Dan Gibbs, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said the work supported by the grants is essential as the state faces population growth and climate pressures. Acting CPW Director Laura Clellan said Colorado is shifting from planning to implementation, investing in projects that deliver meaningful conservation and responsible recreation management.

GOCO Executive Director Jackie Miller said the grants turn the statewide vision into action by restoring habitat, conserving working lands and building local capacity. “When community coalitions join together like this, doors open for landscape-scale conservation and high-quality outdoor recreation,” Miller said.

A complete list of 2025 Regional Partnerships Initiative recipients includes:

$2,500,000 — Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust and Eagle County Regional Partnership
Funding will support a major conservation easement that could protect nearly 18,000 acres of working mountain ranchland in the Colorado River watershed. The property contains significant wildlife habitat, important water rights, and high climate-resilience value. The transaction is expected to close in June 2026.

$182,900 — Eastern Colorado Grassland Coalition
The coalition will expand its outreach and community engagement, refine its website and develop its social media presence, and support a wildlife habitat enhancement project with local partners as it builds its regional conservation and recreation plan.

$175,000 — Grand Places 2050
Funding will advance a phased strategic action plan for Grand County, support stakeholder outreach and strengthen the Stewardship Ambassador program, which educates visitors at high-use trailheads.

$225,000 — Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee
The committee will complete a regional conservation and recreation plan, coordinate wildlife crossing planning with the Colorado Department of Transportation, expand stewardship and ranger capacity, and install agricultural gates to reduce conflicts with recreation.

$159,600 — Metro Denver Nature Alliance
The grant will help Metro DNA strengthen its coalition, support marketing and engagement efforts, and complete its Regional Vision for People and Nature to guide coordinated conservation and recreation planning in the metro area.

$300,000 — Montelores Coalition
Funds will help finalize a regional plan for Montezuma and Dolores counties and launch a pilot conservation and recreation strike team focused on habitat improvements, weed control and trail maintenance.

$560,000 — NoCo Places
Partners will support staff capacity and begin evaluating 345 miles of user-created trails to determine restoration, closure or inclusion in the formal system, reducing habitat fragmentation and improving recreation experiences.

$150,000 — Northeast Colorado Regional Partnership
Funding will help formalize the coalition and support cross-county outreach and the development of a governance structure across seven rural counties.

$130,000 — Northwest Colorado Outdoors
Funds will strengthen collaboration in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties, support development of a regional plan and create an Outdoor Asset Map to guide planning decisions.

$1,610,825 — Outside 285
Partners will restore habitat and improve visitor experience in the Indian Creek trail system and complete work near Mosquito Range peaks, including habitat restoration and new signage. A project at Mount Silverheels will protect bighorn sheep habitat and establish a sustainable summit trail.

$86,055 — Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition
The coalition will advance its community-driven recreation plan, improve communication tools and enhance visitor experience with seasonal facilities at trailheads.

$2,500,000 — Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance
Funding will support construction and improvement of Ring the Peak Trail segments, restoration of 300 acres in Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, expanded camping opportunities along key corridors and a three-year ambassador program to educate visitors and collect data.

$87,000 — Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition
Funds will support a pilot Decision Support Tool for stewardship and education projects and expand collaboration across neighboring regional partnerships.

$388,856 — Routt Recreation and Conservation Roundtable
The roundtable will continue implementing its regional strategy, support a stewardship crew and prioritize trail and resource protection work in high-use areas.

$394,000 — San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
Funding will support coalition capacity and a wildlife-friendly fencing project along the Colorado-New Mexico border and in the Rio Grande Natural Area.

$124,575 — Spanish Peaks Outdoor Coalition
The coalition will expand community engagement, advance its regional plan and produce an outdoor guide highlighting recreation destinations and cultural sites in Huerfano and Las Animas counties.

$141,429 — West Slope Outdoor Alliance
Funds will support coordination, responsible recreation education, habitat protection and projects that reduce recreation impacts on agriculture.

$75,000 — Wet Mountain Valley Outdoors
The coalition will continue outreach to create a long-term vision and action plan for conservation and recreation in Custer County.

$200,000 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife
A direct grant will help CPW support regional partnerships with facilitation and technical services as they expand.

More information, including a map of Regional Partnerships, is available on CPW’s Regional Partnerships Initiative webpage.