Posted on Mar 24, 2023

It's great news for outdoor enthusiasts in Colorado's San Luis Valley – public open space is expanding, thanks to a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). The agency recently announced $825,000 towards buying nearly 400 acres of land that straddles Rito Seco Creek.

This parcel of land connects the valley's only two formal trail networks. The northwest side joins the Greenbelt Trail System while the east features Rito Seco Park. Last summer this was celebrated with 8 miles of new trails - the first professionally-built ones to ever be available to locals living in the town of San Luis.

The public space also offers access to fishing and other water activities along its nearly one-mile stretch of Rito Seco Creek. But it has taken a long time for these services to become available for residents of Costilla County - who, due to Mexican land grants after 1821, are 99% private landowners. One local activist, Shirley Romero Otero, has previously spoken out about the lack of responsibility towards caring for communities such as hers.

Thankfully though, progress is possible through initiatives like that spearheaded by San Luis Valley Great Outdoors. The organization was granted nonprofit status in 2018 and Mick Daniel, its director, believes these outdoor experiences can begin to move communities forward - just as they have in Del Norte where downtown businesses have benefited from an influx of people drawn by trails.

It's time now for Costilla County and the San Luis Valley to experience similar rejuvenation, through GOCO's generosity and commitment to providing environment-enhancing opportunities in Colorado’s wilderness areas.

Read the story here.