As it marks its 15th anniversary of awarding grants for open space protection, outdoor recreation, trail, and wildlife projects, the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board is asking for help in planning for the future.
 
Members of the Board and the GOCO staff will hold a series of meetings across the state to seek input from grantees as well as the public about the future use of GOCO's portion of Lottery proceeds in the next five to ten years.
 
GOCO is the result of a citizens' initiative that was passed by 58% of the voters in 1992. It receives approximately half of Colorado Lottery proceeds-$54.3 million in Fiscal Year 2009. It awards grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks. More than 3,000 projects have benefited from GOCO grants since 1994 when GOCO awarded its first grants. All 64 counties in Colorado have received GOCO grants.
 
Demand for GOCO dollars continues to outpace funds available. In addition, current population projections for Colorado indicate that another 1 million people will move to the state by 2020 creating a need for additional outdoor recreation areas, and a need to continue to protect valuable land that marks our rich western heritage and draws new residents and tourists to the state.
 
September hearings have been scheduled in the following locations: 

 

FORT MORGAN - September 3, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
American Legion Building, 121 Nelson Road
 
PUEBLO - September 8, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main Street
 
ALAMOSA - September 9, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Alamosa County Service Center, 8900 Independence Way
 
MANITOU SPRINGS - September  14, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Manitou City Hall, 606 Manitou Avenue
 
FORT COLLINS - September  15, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive
 
Additional hearings will be held in Routt, Douglas, Denver, La Plata, Mesa, Bent and Jefferson counties-locations and times for these meetings will be announced shortly.

The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) is pleased to announce the release of the revised standards for agency accreditation. Culminating after a two-year process involving input from a multitude of stakeholders, the Fourth Edition standards provide enhanced clarity and focus to the agency accreditation process.
 
Highlights of the changes include an overall reduction in the number of standards by combining related standards, as well as the addition of several new standards to address, sustainability, recycling, technology, succession planning, volunteer management and records retention.

The new standards will help agencies evaluate their organization's policies, procedures, and services against the national standards for accreditation. 
 
More information, including the accreditation standards and application forms, is available at www.nrpa.org/capra or by calling 800.626.NRPA (6772).

How does your agency's management and operations stack up with that of other agencies your size? Find out now-compare your performance using the latest benchmarking data in the field.
Earlier this year, more than 670 local public agencies across the United States responded to an invitation to participate in the 2009 Operating Ratio Study. This Study provides a comprehensive analysis of components concerning the management and operations of park and recreation agencies. The resulting reports and online database offer baseline data on community demographics, land area, budget, personnel, programs, and facilities; providing broad "yardsticks" against which an agency's operations can be measured.
 
Get your first taste of the results with the free Executive Summary. For more detailed results, purchase a subscription to the Online Searchable Results. With your subscription, you will receive the Industry-Wide Report and six detailed reports (Jurisdiction Type, Operating Budget, Jurisdiction Population, Population Density, Number of FTEs, and Number of Parks/Sites). Your subscription features access to the online database where you can perform an unlimited number of custom searches by Agency Name or select Agency Demographics. To learn more about the study, contact Meredith Bridgers at mbridgers@nrpa.org.

Denver Office of Cultural Affairs
Denver Urban Arts Fund
Eligibility: Applicants must solicit and receive the support of at least one Denver City Council member as a sponsor. Read the application process for more details.
Amount: $500-$7,500.
Purpose of Grant: To prevent graffiti vandalism by generating positive, well-tended and active community gathering spaces, and by producing opportunities for young people to participate in diversionary art and leadership programs.
Contact: http://www.denvergov.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.denvergov.org/artculturefilm http://www.denvergov.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.denvergov.org/artculturefilm
Deadline: September 15, 2009.

Tony Hawk Foundation
Supporting Youth and Public Skateparks
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) public charities or a state or local agency, including public school systems or public projects.
Amount: $1,000-$25,000.
Purpose of Grant: To support high-quality, public skate parks in low-income areas throughout the United States.
Contact: http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/grant_application.asp
Deadline: October 1, 2009.

 

Sprint Foundation
Grants to Charitable Organizations
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) charitable organizations within key Sprint communities, including Denver.
Amount: Varies.
Purpose of Grant: Interest areas of the foundation include K-12 education, arts and culture, youth development and diversity.
Contact: http://www.sprint.com/responsibility/sprint_foundation/index.html
http://www.sprint.com/responsibility/sprint_foundation/index.htmlDeadline: November 21, 2009.