colorado byline spring 2015

COLORADOCOLORADOSPRING/SUMMER 2015SPRING/SUMMER 2015SPRING/SUMMER 2015SPRING/SUMMER 2015SPRING/SUMMER 2015

BylineBylinePARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION

Funding the Ways Colorado Plays:

The Colorado Lottery

Funding the Ways Colorado Plays:

The Colorado Lottery

Focus: Southwest Colorado Alamosa, Delta, Durango, Montrose, Pagosa Springs, Ridgway State Park



PARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Member Spotlight .............................................................................. 4

President’s Letter ............................................................................... 5

Funding the Ways Colorado Plays: The Colorado Lottery ................6

Southwest Colorado: Alamosa, Delta, Durango, Montrose and

Pagosa Springs .....................................................................................10

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

P.O. Box 1037 • Wheat Ridge, CO 80034 (p) 303-231-0943 (f) 303-237-9750www.cpra-web.org, [email protected]

Spring 2015 • Colorado Parks and Recreation 3

PRESIDENT Carolyn Peters Highlands Ranch Metro District 720-240-5931 [email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECT Patrick Hammer Town of Superior 303-499-3675 [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT Jayna Lang City of Lakewood 303-987-5419 [email protected]

AT-LARGE Mike Sexton City of Pueblo Parks & Recreation 719-553-2804 [email protected]

SECRETARY/TREASURER Amanda Peterson City of Northglenn 303-450-8950 [email protected]

AQUATICS Heather Deal City of Longmont 303-774-4718 [email protected]

CARA Brian Magnett City of Northglenn 303-450-8899 [email protected]

CASC Kate Fisher City of Northglenn 303-450-8841 [email protected]

CTRS Sarah Braun City of Colorado Springs 719-385-6855 [email protected]

DIRECTORS Carrie Ward Highlands Ranch Metro District 720-240-5950 [email protected]

FACILITY MANAGERS Andy Fraser Town of Parker 303-805-6310 [email protected]

FITNESS Tehra Porterfield City of Northglenn 303-450-8947 [email protected]

PARKS Jim Haselgren City of Lakewood 720-963-5242 [email protected]

PLAAY Yasmin Cassini Commerce City Parks, Recreation & Golf 720-977-5916 [email protected]

SMALL COMMUNITIES Jay Cochran City of Fort Morgan 970-542-3929 [email protected]

WESTERN SLOPE Wilma Erven City of Delta 970-874-0923 [email protected]

CPRA VISIONThe Colorado Parks and Recreation Association is a dynamic, proactive organization that creates healthy residents and livable communities by promoting excellence in parks and recreation.

CPRA STAFF Allison Kincaid, Executive Director [email protected]

Ashley Perillo, Professional Development Program Manager [email protected]

Melissa Daruna, Strategic Partnership Coordinator [email protected]

Natalie Flowers, Communications and Office Assistant [email protected]

COLORADOPARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION Byline

4 Colorado Parks and Recreation • www.cpra-web.org

If anyone can say they have seen it all…it’s Cosme (Coz) Sisneros. Coz started his career with the Montrose Recreation District (MRD) in 1974. He has been with the District ever since. As one of the longest serving employees in Montrose, it seems like everyone in town knows him. It is not uncommon for Coz to have overseen programs and activities for three generations of families.

Coz has had a great influence on the Montrose community, as well as each of the employees he has worked with. He has served as an unofficial mentor to countless P & R professionals. Says Liz Gracesun, MRD Aquatics Coordinator, “Coz leads by example, he is always the first one to volunteer and his work ethic is an inspiration and motivator.”

As MRD prepares to open the doors on the community’s new 82,000 square foot recreation center, and Coz’s nears his 40th anniversary, it seems appropriate both events are coinciding. “Coz is the very definition of a parks and recreation professional”, said Executive Director Ken Sherbenou. “His devotion to achieving the MRD mission of building community

and bettering the quality of life has stood the test of time. His tremendous work ethic, infectious enthusiasm, applied experience, positive attitude and team focus, are just some of the qualities that Coz brings. In short, he personifies everything MRD stands for. Thanks for 40 years of service!”

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Member SpotlightCARA Member SpotlightCosme (Coz) Sisneros

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Dear Members,

I hope this issue of CPRA Byline finds you in the midst of a healthful, energetic spring. The CPRA board and advisory council continue our twist to the annual board tours. While recognizing that most members affiliate with one of the sections, board members are “touring” section meetings throughout the year to listen and learn about section needs and focus. Advisory council representatives have been instrumental in preparing both board and sections for idea exchanges. One recent visit Allison and I made was to the Western Slope meeting in Delta this past March. Thank you to Wilma for hosting the meeting, I really enjoyed meeting you all and hearing ways we, as your association, can reach out to you. And that takes us to another type of tour that you all can share with us.

The second focus of tours this year is one we hope you enjoy. In this and upcoming Byline issues, we can all take a visit to the Western Slope through some focuses on member agencies. Be sure to check out the awesome stories and highlights.

May is the mid-point of my term as your president. This year is moving quickly and along with Patrick, Jayna, Mike and Amanda, your board has been spending some time carefully reviewing the financial sustainability of the association. As one of the vision plan task forces, we felt that that board should together address and prioritize our fiscal direction. Investments, policy and goals are being reviewed and updated. A retreat day in June is planned so we can spend time adjusting our sights as a non-profit board that can best serve its members. I will update you all on this important task in the next issue.

I wish you all a spectacular summer – please contact me with any suggestions or input you may have.


PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By CPRA Board President, Carolyn Peters, CPRP

Carolyn Peters & CPRA Staff

2015 CPRA Annual ConferenceStrengthening Your Blueprint

October 13-16 Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center

For more information, visit the Annual Conference page on our website, cpra-web.org!


Where The Money GoesColoradans live to play. We hike, bike, run, camp and fish. We swing, slide, splash, climb and ski. Each day Coloradans find hundreds of ways to play, and the Colorado Lottery helps make them all possible. Over the

last 31 years, the Colorado Lottery has proudly contributed more than $2.7 billion to our state – funding parks, open space conservation, wildlife habitats and much more. Lottery proceeds build pools and recreation centers. They fund state parks, dog parks, skate parks and trails. They create community playgrounds and gathering places, and even fund community events. The Colorado Lottery has made a positive impact on every county in our state. And with each passing year, Lottery players help make Colorado an even more beautiful and playful place to live.

With each Scratch or Jackpot ticket sold, the Lottery funds more outdoor opportunities across Colorado. Profits from the Lottery have created or enhanced more than 1,100 community parks and outdoor areas, provided wildlife education for more than half a million children, built or maintained more than 750 miles of hiking and biking trails and protected more than one million acres of beautiful Colorado wilderness.

Colorado is unique in that it is the only state where 100 percent of state Lottery proceeds support outdoor recreation and preservation. There are only two other states in the U.S. that distribute a portion of proceeds to natural resource initiatives. Fifteen percent of Oregon Lottery proceeds fund state parks and the outdoors. In Minnesota, 40 percent of Lottery proceeds go towards their Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The Lottery’s four beneficiaries work hard to make sure proceeds have a lasting impact on the ways Coloradans play. In FY14 alone, the Colorado Lottery generated more than $130 million for our beneficiaries to invest in various recreation and conservation projects around the state. Here’s how they utilize Lottery proceeds, making our state a better place to live.

Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO) (http://www.goco.org/)

Great Outdoors Colorado gives money to projects that impact communities across the state. GOCO is funded solely by the Colorado Lottery, receiving 50 percent of proceeds, up to a $35 million cap in 1992 dollars, adjusted for inflation. Remaining funds exceeding the adjusted cap go to underfunded public school districts to address facility safety issues through the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program. In FY14, the distribution to GOCO was $60.3 million.

• In its first year, GOCO’s School Play Yard Initiative provided 10,000 Colorado schoolchildren with grants for improved playgrounds and outdoor classrooms. One condition of the grants is that the kids themselves must be involved in the design. Many of the school playgrounds serve the greater community, extending the benefits of these projects far beyond the student body. One principal noticed a decrease in behavior problems after the new play yard was installed.

• Flood relief – Since the devastating floods along the Front Range in 2013, GOCO has invested $5 million in helping affected communities repair local parks, trails and recreation facilities.

• Cuatro Vientos/Four Winds Park – GOCO invested Lottery funds in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood to bring residents a new park – the first new park in that area in 30 years.

Funding the Ways Colorado Plays: The Colorado Lottery


• Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) (http://www.dola.state.co.us/)

• The Conservation Trust Fund receives 40 percent of Lottery proceeds. Local parks and recreation departments receive money from CTF in proportion to their population so all municipalities, counties and a number of special districts in Colorado benefit from Lottery funds. The Lottery distributed more than $52 million through CTF in FY14 for open space and land acquisition, equipment purchases, facility development, park maintenance, and renovation or restoration of local facilities.

• The Town of Swink in southeast Colorado saved their CTF funds for 30 years and used the funds as a match for a GOCO grant to build Reynolds Park, the only park in town. Now the community has a place to gather, play, and relax.

• The North Fork Pool, Park and Recreation District in Paonia replaced their community tennis courts that were originally built in the 1970s. The District utilized $30,000 in CTF funds as a partner match with a GOCO grant. The district is now able to recruit players from around the region and state for tournaments and provide play space for the high school tennis team.

Colorado State Parks & Wildlife (CPW) (http://parks.state.co.us/)

• Colorado State Parks and Wildlife (CPW) receives 10 percent of Lottery proceeds. Colorado’s 42 state parks use Lottery money for trail construction and maintenance, land acquisition, equipment and facility purchases, and maintenance of state parks facilities. The Lottery improves the state park experience for more than 12 million annual visitors. In FY14, $13.0 million was distributed directly to state parks.

• Lottery proceeds provided financial assistance for CPW’s Canada Lynx reintroduction project by successfully establishing a breeding population in Colorado.

• Funding from the Lottery helps support a variety of outdoor sporting programs including CPW’s Angler Education Program which introduces people to the sport of fishing, and the Colorado Birding Trail that provides Coloradans and visitors the opportunities to see and learn more about the birds that call Colorado home.

• The mission of S.O.L.E (School & Outdoor Learning Environments) is to get kids connected with the outdoors. Lottery proceeds help fund the partnership program with CPW and GOCO. In the 2014-15 school year, S.O.L.E. will serve nearly 2,000 students by providing field trips to state parks, in-class presentations and a family nature night.

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Public school capital construction – Building Excellent schools today (BEST) program (www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/capconstbest)

Proceeds amounts beyond the GOCO cap are directed to the Colorado Department of Education’s Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund and are used to address health and safety issues in public schools. In FY14, $4.7 million was distributed to improve conditions at some of Colorado’s underfunded schools.

• Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS) opened in December 2014 utilizing a portion of Lottery proceeds. It was a long journey for RMDS to have a place to call home. Prior to the new and technologically cutting edge facility being built, RMDS had previously been housed in a church basement and a strip mall.

• Lottery proceeds helped fund Longfellow Elementary School in Salida which opened in August 2014. The school was beyond capacity and Lottery funds helped build a state-of-the-art facility that has become the pride of the community.

• The Lottery is Self-Funded!

• The Colorado Lottery is designated as an enterprise fund. This means the Lottery doesn’t receive any tax money from the state’s General Fund to support the Lottery’s business operations. All of the Lottery expenses – salaries, infrastructure, retailer commissions, and prizes – are paid from the sale of Lottery products.

Outreach and proceeds awarenessLast spring, the Colorado Lottery launched a proceeds awareness campaign which included both thirty and sixty second TV spots. Look for them again in 2015 as Colorado residents gear up to head outdoors in the spring and summer. Check out the proceeds commercial through the Giving Back section on the Lottery website at https://www.coloradolottery.com/GIVING-BACK/GIVING-BACK/

You can also find out how many Lottery dollars have been invested in your community along with a list of projects within each county at https://www.coloradolottery.com/GIVING-BACK/WHERE-THE-MONEY-GOES/PROJECTS-BY-COUNTY/

For additional information about the Colorado Lottery such as Scratch and Jackpot game details, winner photos and reactions and entering Second Chance Drawings check out www.coloradolottery.com.

In addition to the website, there are a variety of ways to stay connected and find out what is happening at the Lottery and where the funds go, “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Stay connected and download the new lottery apps today!Putting new tools and technology at players’ fingertips, the Lottery recently launched new Scratch and Jackpot mobile apps. Both are available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, and are compatible with most mobile devices. The apps do not allow for the purchase of Lottery tickets. The Scratch App is swift and convenient, offering players the ability to scan and check Scratch tickets for winners, get in-depth information on active Scratch games and new releases, manage their MyLottery Players

Club profile and easily enter Second-Chance drawings. The Jackpot App allows users to view Jackpot amounts, store their lucky numbers and check winning numbers for Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto, Cash 5 and Pick 3.

Here are examples of the more than 4,500 projects GOCO has funded throughout the state in urban and rural areas in all 64 counties without tax dollar support.

93 cents of every dollar STAYS in Colorado

62 cents is paid to winners

7 cents goes to retail commissions

24 cents goes to proceeds — creating parks, trails, recreation areas, and protecting open space and wildlife in Colorado

7 cents goes toward administrative fees

Here’s how the Lottery invests its dollars:

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POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS: HOW ONE COMMUNITY IS ENRICHING RECREATIONAL YOUTH PROGRAMS

Alamosa Parks & Recreation strives to enhance the quality of life by providing affordable, year-round recreation, leisure, and community activities. To achieve this mission, a partnership with Adams State University Athletics has been cultivated. In recent years, this alliance has provided superior coaching to the community’s children. The latest example is that of the ASU Volleyball team, who only just completed an extensive service project which included coaching and officiating throughout the 8-week volleyball program for boys and girls in 2nd-6th grades. The kids in the program are so fortunate to receive top of the line instruction from the ASU players, who are true mentors of the game. This leadership not only creates a positive and memorable experience for each child, but it also supports our volunteer coaches, who typically are parents with children in the program. The ASU athletes benefit from this collaboration, as they develop valuable coaching skills and are rewarded from the satisfaction of helping others. Additionally, quite a few athletes have been hired on as sports officials and front desk support staff.

Adams State University’s Basketball, Climbing, Football, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Track & Field, and Volleyball teams have all contributed in various capacities to Alamosa Parks & Recreation endeavors over the past few years. ASU’s continued support has made quite an impact on Alamosa’s recreational sports programs. One notable statistic is that since 2012, the youth volleyball program has grown by an average of 20 percent each year, which is phenomenal! The efforts of ASU Athletics are very much appreciated and continued collaboration is on the horizon.

ALAMOSA

As part of the ongoing efforts to serve the Health and Wellness needs of Delta and surrounding communities, the City of Delta completed a master plan in 2009, to bring the Bill Heddles Recreation Center into the 21st Century; including updating 20 year old equipment that was beginning to fail.

At this time a Task Force was put together to develop a campaign to put before the voters, asking for an extension of the three-fourths of a percent tax they were already paying. The ballot issue specifically included capital and expansion improvements. The vote resulted in a 72% voter approval with a sunset scheduled for 2020.

In 2013, FCI Contractors out of Grand Junction, CO was selected to manage the expansion, using Bruce Flynn with Flynn Planning and Design as the LEED Architect. We broke ground on April 30, 2013 and completed the Fitness Expansion in mid October and the Pool Expansion November 27, 2013.

The project added 6, 900 square feet to our natatorium, which includes a Wellness Pool of warmer water, a walking river and a new Hot Tub; all using UV sanitation. This also included 2 much needed Family Changing Rooms. We added 2,900 square feet to the Fitness area, which allows the free weight users to have a safer space to lift in; the weight machine users have their own space; a stretching area; a cycle room; a cardio space that has incredible views to the Grand Mesa and Confluence Lake. This expansion also included replacing existing locker room floors and upgrading the lighting in the existing natatorium.

The total project was $2,700,000 which included operating reserve (1% sales tax & user fees), citizen donations, and grants from El Pomar, Gates Family Foundation and Daniels Fund.

DELTA


DURANGO OPENS NEW WHITEWATER PARK

Durango is an outdoor recreation mecca and the Durango Parks and Recreation Department completed the construction of a new Whitewater Park on the Animas River in 2014. The in-stream whitewater improvements were designed by the world renowned firm, S20 Design and Engineering, and the regional paddling community is very pleased with the new in-river features. Paddlers from throughout the southwestern Colorado and the four corners region are traveling to Durango to experience the new Whitewater Park. The Parks and Recreation Department is currently completing the upgrades to the shoreline improvements adjacent to the Whitewater Park to include construction of the Animas River Trail, amphitheater style seating for viewing the action on the river, picnicking areas and landscaping which will be completed in the summer of 2015.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Ridgway State Park is nestled at the base of the spectacular San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado and is a valuable gateway to an unparalleled diversity of recreation. Ridgway State Park is located near Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton Colorado as well as within a days’ drive of two National Parks. Activities at Ridgway State Park include hiking, biking, swimming, boating, fishing, and camping. The area surrounding the park offers many activities as well including 4-wheel routes, rock climbing, hot springs, gondola and train rides, and lots of shopping.

DURANGO

RIDGWAY STATE PARK

RIDGWAY STATE PARK

After experiencing record levels of events and visitors throughout its parks system in 2014, the Town of Pagosa Springs Parks and Recreation Department is priming for another demanding – yet fulfilling – summer season.

While enjoying financial assistance from Archuleta County for some recreation initiatives, the town manages every developed, municipal park and government-sponsored recreation program. Naturally, this scenario strains the town’s ability to provide quality levels of service for over 12,000 residents and countless tourists.

How does a full-time, summer staff of eight with a small-town budget try to manage the crush? By seeking “outside” help.

To meet growing demands and offset costs, the town continually partners with local volunteers and coalitions. The town’s skate park, horseshoe pits, outdoor pickleball courts, and community gardens were conceived and are now maintained with aid from volunteer-based associations.

Reservoir Hill, a 150-acre woodland park in downtown Pagosa Springs, offers several volunteer-wrought amenities, including new trail signage, an 18-hole disc golf course and a hilltop observation deck. The donation of a rustic, log-framed gazebo by philanthropist S.R. Bass graces the hill’s “festival meadow” and is another example of local generosity. The structure offers eagle-eye views of the San Juan Mountains and accommodates 40-60 people, making it an attractive venue for weddings, concerts and other special events.

However, the town’s signature, summertime attraction is the San Juan River. Through the ongoing dedication of Town Parks Superintendent Jim Miller and volunteer efforts of local donor Davey Pitcher, the river boasts six (soon to be seven) sets of whitewater features and provides a playful haven for myriad rafters, kayakers and inner-tubers.

In conclusion, the town’s summer goals include repaving portions of the San Juan Riverwalk, developing outdoor-education programs for youths and installing new playground equipment in town parks. With selfless support from volunteers, they will all be achieved.

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A COLORADO CITY ON THE RISE!

Montrose, in the center of the beautiful western slope of Colorado, will soon experience a dramatic improvement. Thanks largely to a sales tax increase that passed last year, Montrose will be getting a new multi-purpose Community Recreation Center in late 2016. This facility will be over 82 thousand square feet, making it the largest on the western slope. “This new community asset will add greatly to the quality of life in the Montrose Community”, said Executive Director Ken Sherbenou. “It is designed to elevate the health of the community, physical, social and economic”.

The facility will feature 3 middle school gyms, a 5000 square foot leisure pool, a wellness pool, a 25 yard by 25 meter lap pool, an indoor walking track that includes a hill course where the elevation changes, and a stair course using the stairs to go around the gym, two racquetball courts, climbing wall, game area, indoor play, child watch, fitness/weight room, aerobics studio, administrative space and physical therapy space operated by the local hospital.

Although the facility will be managed and owned by the Montrose Recreation District, another entity, the City of Montrose, ‘loaned’ their taxing authority, the sales tax, to the Recreation District. A groundswell of public engagement and support built in this typically tax averse community, which led to success at the ballot box. Foundation grants have also been a central piece of

the financing puzzle. Several grants have been earned to date, the largest of which, from the Daniels Fund at $500,000, is the biggest given by the Daniels Fund on the western slope.

Next time you are on the western side of the state, Ken encourages you to please stop by to check out the new community hub!

MONTROSE

Montrose Community Rec Center: Lower level floor plan


KEEPBUILDINGFORTS

Every Colorado Lottery game you buy helps satisfy Colorado’s never-ending need to play. From parks and trails, to wilderness and recreation areas, the Colorado Lottery is funding the places where Colorado plays.

FUNDING THE WAYSCOLORADO PLAYS

© 2015 Colorado Lottery

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P.O. Box 1037 Wheat Ridge, CO 80034

COLORADOPARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION

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