HomeMy Public PortalAbout01 HTA Fraser Request
Headwaters Trails Alliance P.O. Box 946 Granby, CO 80446 (970)726‐1013
http://www.headwaterstrails.org
November 15, 2016
Town of Fraser
Fraser, CO 80442
Dear Fraser Town Council,
We are deeply appreciative of the Town of Fraser’s continued support of Headwaters Trails Alliance
(HTA) since its inception in 1997. HTA is a non‐profit organization dedicated to the advocacy of trails
in Grand County. Our mission is to identify, maintain and expand an accessible, interconnecting trail
system for appropriate multi‐user groups. Our goals include collaborating on local, state and national
levels to bring funding and other resources to Grand County for the benefit our local trail system. HTA
aims to expand its capacity in terms of organizational and financial stability, program quality, and
growth, while working with all of the local governments, land management agencies, private land
owners, and other non‐profit groups to ensure the viability and sustainability of a recreational trail
system for Grand County residents and visitors. HTA continues to provide online and paper trail maps,
maintain our new website and social media sites, advocate for federal and state trails funding for
which HTA and the Town regularly applies, and provide outreach for youth organizations, putting
them to work on our trails.
HTA is submitting this letter of inquiry about the transportation tax initiative in order to request
funding for 2016 for project implementation. Specifically, HTA requests financial support from the
Town to assist with matching funds for this summer’s collaborative “Smart‐Sizing Trail Project” with
the USFS Sulphur Ranger District. In cooperation with the USFS, HTA is soliciting contributions as
matching funds to commitments from the USFS. The proposed action of the “Trails Smart‐Sizing
Project” aligns with the goals and objectives of HTA’s Strategic Trails Plan and HTA supports the
following within this proposed action:
New trail construction to link isolated trail systems and to improve safety by creating parallel
routes along roads to keep trail users off of roads;
Trail reroutes to decrease overall environmental impact of the trail system and to temper
recreational desires with the need for healthy watersheds, flora and fauna;
Trail width reductions for better recreational experiences for trail users and to decrease
overall impact;
Construction of bridges to lessen impact in riparian zones and streams;
Enhancing trailheads to provide more information and parking to trail users;
Closing and decommissioning trails that are not designated as system trails to both reduce
management issues and to improve ecological functionality.
The proposed adjustments to the trail system will be highly beneficial to the local community, as well
as the recreational tourism that our economy depends upon. Grand County is part of the Northwest
Region of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. The region itself is responsible for
Headwaters Trails Alliance P.O. Box 946 Granby, CO 80446 (970)726‐1013
http://www.headwaterstrails.org
$6.9billion of the $34.5billion created by outdoor recreation in Colorado. Outdoor recreation creates
$1.4billion in federal, state, and local tax dollars in northwestern Colorado. As gateway communities,
Winter Park and Fraser are reliant upon these tax dollars to function as towns. As more and more
Colorado towns turn to outdoor recreation as economic drivers, these tax dollars will be dispersed
across the region. Towns such as Winter Park and Fraser that have existing trails must improve and
diversify their trail systems in order to compete with neighboring communities for financial resources.
This Trails Smart‐Sizing Project has an estimated cost of $750,000 over five years and will require
collaboration between HTA, USFS, local partner groups, and municipalities in order to make a larger
outdoor recreation impact in the community. For the 2016 field season, the USFS has committed
$30,000 to the Trail Smart‐Sizing Project and HTA has committed an additional $20,000. HTA has also
received funding from the Town of Winter Park for the trails project ($30,000 received and $30,000
requested). We are hopeful that the Town of Fraser will also consider matching funding for
implementation of the Trails Smart‐Sizing Project for 2017.
While our existing partner commitments provide operating capital for HTA each year, the funding
levels make it challenging for HTA to complete projects outside of the basic scope of the organization.
Thank you for your consideration of this funding request and please contact me with additional
procedural details.
Very truly yours,
Meara McQuain
HTA Executive Director
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