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NoCo Places outlines recreation, trail ambassador and unauthorized‑trail work; Clear Creek asks for equity in regional grants
Summary
New NoCo Places executive director JD Tanner described regional conservation and recreation initiatives, a proposed trail ambassador program, unauthorized‑trail mapping/rehab and grant work; Clear Creek commissioners emphasized equity for smaller counties when regional grants are allocated.
JD Tanner, newly appointed executive director of NoCo Places, briefed the Board on Oct. 21 about regional recreation and conservation work the Northern Colorado partnership intends to pursue, including a regional trail ambassador program, research and unauthorized‑trail mapping and rehabilitation.
Tanner said NoCo Places expects formal nonprofit paperwork in the coming weeks and has applied for a CPW/GoCo regional implementation grant (roughly $2.5 million over three years) that would fund a region‑wide volunteer trail ambassador program, unauthorized‑trail remediation and research capacity. Tanner said the grant decision timeline (announcements expected in early November) may be unpredictable and that CPW/GoCo appears likely to fund projects that benefit the entire five‑county region (Boulder, Larimer, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Jefferson).
Program details: Tanner described a planned ambassador program to place trained volunteers at busy trailheads to provide Leave No Trace and safety outreach (ambassadors may meet visitors, advise on safety and reduce search‑and‑rescue strain). NoCo Places has already mapped hundreds of unauthorized trails across the region and proposes a rehab plan that could include shutting down some routes or integrating others into master plans. Tanner said NoCo Places intends to coordinate marketing and messaging with county partners and with Rocky Mountain National Park and other agencies.
Clear Creek concerns: commissioners from Clear Creek emphasized the county’s high visitor load relative to its small tax base and asked for equitable distribution of regional grant funding and capacity support — for example, applying some NoCo resources to Clear Creek’s visitor pressure and emergency‑response burdens. Commissioners asked Tanner to prioritize assistance for smaller counties that lack internal grant‑writing and project development capacity; Tanner said he would pursue diversified funding and regional collaboration to address equity concerns.
Ending: Tanner offered NoCo Places technical support and invited county staff to prioritize sites where ambassadors and unauthorized‑trail work could help; commissioners said they will coordinate with Tanner on potential project lists for regional grant proposals.
