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Key Funding For Parks, Recreation Awaits Renewal In Congress

Bob Wick
/
Bureau of Land Management
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

A fund that helps preserve some of the nation’s most iconic natural areas is set to expire in 2015 if it’s not reauthorized by Congress.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was created in 1965, uses royalties from offshore oil and gas development to build, maintain, and protect public access to outdoor recreation areas – from local community parks to the majestic Continental Divide Trail, which runs through Colorado.

Advocates of the program say the fund is critical for Colorado, where outdoor recreation contributes around $13 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports nearly 125,000 jobs.

"This is a real important part of our economy -- and it's a real important part of the state's identity, and the reason why people come here in droves to visit our outdoor resources and to leave some money behind when they come," said Jim Petterson with the nonprofit Trust for Public Land.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D), who supports funding the program, has said it is a "critical tool" to boost Colorado tourism and the recreation economy.

Tuesday, the city of Denver was awarded $250,000 from one of the LWCF’s competitive grant programs to preserve 4.5 acres of open space in the Montbello neighborhood. More than 98 percent of the nation's counties have a park funded by the program.

The U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday to consider the LWCF’s $900 million funding request for 2016 [.pdf]. If Congress doesn't act, the program will sunset Sept. 30, 2015.

As the host of KUNC’s new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
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