Grand County commissioners debate future of Trail Ambassadors program; form working group to pursue grants

Grand County commissioners met in a workshop Aug. 19 to discuss the future of the county’s Responsible Recreation/Trail Ambassadors program, whether the program should remain under county administration, and how to pursue near-term grants such as the Outdoor Recreation Initiative (ORI) and state OHV/OHVR opportunities. No formal action was taken during the workshop; commissioners agreed to form a working group to refine next steps and to allow staff to pursue a grant application that is due later this month.

The discussion matters because the program — started in 2021 — is positioned by county staff and some commissioners as a stewardship and visitor-education effort that reduces damage to trails, decreases search-and-rescue demand and aligns with the state outdoor recreation strategic plan released in October 2023. Commissioners also noted budget pressure: transient room tax (TRT) revenue previously used to help fund the program has declined, and several commissioners said the county must weigh…