Committee advances bill to create Selden Canyon state park

The Appropriations & Finance committee voted to advance a bill that would establish a state park in Selden Canyon along the Rio Grande, moving the measure toward floor consideration.

Supporters told the committee the area is a scenic stretch of the Rio Grande with recreation opportunities and limited public access; they said creating a park would improve visitor safety and expand regional tourism. "It's beautiful country that deserves more protection and safety for visitors," Representative Silva said during committee discussion.

The bill's sponsor and staff described the site as public state property with constrained access and identified a range of recreational uses that the proposal would support, including river floating, camping and equestrian use. A committee member asked whether off-highway vehicles would be allowed; staff said the terrain is split by a north–south highway and that some nearby parcels and county roads do allow off-highway vehicle use, while the proposed park footprint itself would not provide vehicular access across the entire area.

Committee members also asked whether creating the new park would divert maintenance funding from existing parks. A staff presenter pointed to the capital budget for parks this year, saying it includes $40,000,000 for state parks and noted three new positions in the budget intended to help statewide capital and maintenance needs. "We hope that one of those can be used for capital needs statewide," the presenter said.

A committee motion to give the bill a due pass was moved and seconded in committee. Representative Chatfield made the motion, and Representative Silva seconded. The chair asked for opposition; none was registered aloud at the time the motion was called.

The discussion identified the size of the proposed park as approximately 922 acres across three parcels in and around Selden Canyon, and lawmakers noted the potential to add additional land later: the legislation authorizes acquiring additional acreage from willing sellers.

The committee's action advances the measure to the next legislative stage; no final floor action on the bill was recorded in the committee transcript.

Looking ahead, staff comments and members' questions suggest follow-up work on access, allowed activities and operational staffing will be part of debates if the bill reaches the floor.