This week Great Outdoors Colorado announced it will give out $7.7 million in grants.
The money will be used to fund conservation and open space projects across the state.
Great Outdoors Colorado has awarded $4.5 million dollars to local governments and land trusts to preserve more than 40,000 acres.
In Ouray County, The Trust for Public Land was given $680,000 to purchase a 2,448-acre conservation easement on the Sawtooth Mountain Ranch.
In Mesa County, the Mesa Land Trust was awarded $475,040 to place 781 acres of the West Creek Ranch under permanent protection.
Great Outdoors Colorado has also given eight communities $2.3 million to build or repair local recreation sites.
The Town of Nucla received more than $197,000.
"We will be using the Great Outdoors Colorado funding to help us to improve our park so it’s more user-friendly for everyone one from toddlers to seniors," Tracy Smith, the town's clerk, says.
Smith says the planned upgrades include new playground equipment, a multipurpose court, and a covered pavilion.
Great Outdoors Colorado is a voter-approved entity that doles out a portion of state lotto proceeds to fund conservation and open space projects.
