The Colorado Lottery will deliver a $57 million jackpot to protect more than 138,000 acres of land in the state for future generations, Gov. Bill Ritter said Monday. The money, in the form of Legacy grants drawn from Lottery proceeds, will sponsor 15 projects to expand urban green belts, provide wildlife habitat and protect scenic views. Land trusts, local governments and state agencies partnered to win the grants from Great Outdoors Colorado, which receives half the proceeds from the Colorado Lottery.
"The investments in our natural assets by the GOCO board are not just good for the assets themselves, but they are good for our citizens and our economy," Ritter said. The money will provide additional dollars to nine projects that previously received GOCO grants, along with six new initiatives. "We are very excited to be able to help start six new efforts, all centered around one of the state's most valuable assets — rivers," said GOCO board chairwoman and former state Sen. Norma Anderson.
The new corridors funded, and the amount each will receive are: The Northeast Greenway project sponsored by Adams County and the South Platte Greenway project sponsored by Arapahoe County, each receiving $5.25 million; Fountain Creek corridor in El Paso, Pueblo, Lincoln and Crowley counties for a total of $4.75 million; the Rio Grande River corridor in the San Luis Valley, $7.38 million; the Crystal watershed in Pitkin, Garfield and Gunnison counties, $5 million; and Upper San Juan watershed in Archuleta and Mineral counties, $4.15 million.
"Our concept with this grant is to try to protect as much as we can of this Crystal watershed before the development boom going on everywhere else catches up to it," said Dale Will, Pitkin County open space and trail director. Pitkin County will use the money to protect the watershed, build the first leg of a recreational trail and open new river- and climbing-access points along the way. Pieces of two historic ranches are on the land. Adams County will use the grant to protect three farms covering 300 acres along Riverdale Road to create an 800-acre contiguous block of protected farmland and wildlife habitat.
"This is going to help us preserve the South Platte River corridor and the working farms that still exist," said Crystal Gray, Adams County parks director. Open space gives occupants of heavily urban Arapahoe County an opportunity to connect with nature, said Arapahoe County Commissioner Susan Beckman. "It is important that people can see, feel, touch — nature, wildlife. It is important for kids in the community to have that kind of open space."
Source: DenverPost.com