| 1/20/2006 9:51:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Public comment sought on whitewater park funding
Board members of lottery-funded Great Outdoors Colorado are seeking public comment on conditions it has drafted regarding funding for whitewater parks.
The constitutional amendment creating GOCO in 1992, Article XXVII of the Colorado Constitution, states GOCO cannot effect Colorado water law, but provides no specific guidelines regarding whitewater parks.
Therefore, GOCO board members agreed this form of outdoor recreation is eligible to receive GOCO Lottery grants.
To date, GOCO officials have received requests to fund 15 such projects and have awarded grants in Lyons, Pueblo, Palisade, Salida and Buena Vista.
Conditions have been drafted by GOCO members to eliminate confusion related to the stage the project must be in to receive a grant.
Board members suggest proper park design and engineering have to be presented in an application to be awarded a grant. However, the grant will not be paid until all appropriate permits for the park are in place.
Proposed conditions, detailed here, are consistent with those for all local government projects and are not more stringent for whitewater parks.
• Applicants must be able to indicate strong local partnerships with the local government and the local community.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate the water park will have sufficient water for public use of the park to be sustained for at least 25 years, demonstrating how the facility can be used in various water flow situations.
• Applicants should provide evidence of proper park design and engineering as part of the application.
Before release of funds, all design and engineering drawings should be stamped and approved by a certified engineer, consistent with state requirements.
• If funding is awarded, all appropriate permits should be in place and documentation of such permits should be provided before GOCO funds are released.
The permits would not be required at the time of application, but before payment is made by GOCO.
Public comments will be accepted until Jan. 30 via fax at (303) 863-7517, e-mail at wpiccone@goco.org or regular mail at 1600 Broadway, Suite 1650, Denver, CO 80202.
Comments will be considered at a GOCO local government committee meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 16 at 1600 Broadway, Suite 590 in Denver.
Great Outdoors Colorado awards grants with a portion of lottery proceeds for projects preserving and enhancing Colorado parks, wildlife, trails, rivers and open space.
Since 1994, GOCO has awarded $503 million in grants for more than 2,400 projects throughout the state.
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