The Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program will provide funding to make the outdoors more accessible and enjoyable for all Colorado youth
GOLDEN, CO (June 4, 2021) — Today, legislation creating The Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program was passed by the Colorado General Assembly. The effort was championed by State Representative Leslie Herod, who was joined by Representative David Ortiz, Senate President Leroy Garcia, and State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis. With this legislation, the Program will fund opportunities aimed to provide opportunities for Colorado youth from underserved communities to enjoy the outdoors.
Colorado contains some of the world’s most treasured forests, rivers, and landscapes, including the Continental Divide Trail, but the opportunity to enjoy these places is not equally enjoyed by all. Historically, communities of color and low-income communities have been systematically excluded from the benefits that the outdoors provides, such as health benefits, social connections, and educational experiences.
“Even though many of our Colorado communities have renowned greenspaces, like the Continental Divide Trail, in their own backyard, the access and enjoyment of these lands and waters is not always equitable,” says Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. “The establishment of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program in Colorado will help to address the barriers many communities face in getting outdoors and is a step toward guaranteeing that all of Colorado’s youth get a chance to learn, explore, and heal in these special places. CDTC looks forward to working with communities all along the Divide in making the most of this historic investment in Colorado’s communities, to develop the next generation of land and water stewards.”
To counter these chronic barriers, the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program will use funding from the Colorado Lottery to provide grants to the communities most impacted, starting with $750,000 for this fiscal year and reaching $3 million by the end of the fourth year. Funds can be utilized to cover programming costs, equipment and gear rentals, staff, and transportation.
“The passage of HB21-1318 is the latest example that leadership in Colorado is providing a model on how to connect communities to the lands and waters around them,” says Luke Fisher, Trail Policy Manager at the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. “Benefits from this legislation for youth in Colorado not only help to address the historic inequalities that have been a barrier for many communities in enjoying these open spaces, but are also a direct investment in the outdoor recreation industry that fuels the local economy in many of the rural communities along the Continental Divide Trail. We at CDTC applaud Rep. Herod for her leadership, and her colleagues Rep. David Ortiz, Senate President Leroy Garcia, and State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, for their continued advocacy on this critical piece of legislation.”
The Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program follows the model of similar, successful programs in New Mexico and California. The Program in Colorado has the support of over 60 local, state, and national organizations who formed the Colorado Outdoor Equity Fund Coalition to give underserved youth equitable opportunities to experience Colorado’s outdoors.
“The creation of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program is a huge win for Coloradans. By promoting avenues for underserved communities to access the outdoors, it will help reduce the longstanding systemic barriers Colorado youth face in experiencing our state’s natural treasures, including the world-class Continental Divide Trail,” says Andrea Kurth, Gateway Community Program Manager at the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. “The transformative educational experiences that this bill supports will help inspire and enrich the next generation, in whose hands lies the future of public lands like the CDT. CDTC is thrilled by this investment in our communities, our young people, and our environment. We look forward to seeing groups funded by the program out on the CDT.”
Upon its passage, HB21-1318 will now head to Governor Polis’ desk for his signature to make this bill into law. When established, the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program will be one of the first of its kind in the nation.
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About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.
