Colorado State Parks

Colorado State Parks
Agency overview
Headquarters	1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado
Agency executive	Dean Winstanley, Director
Parent agency	Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Website
http://parks.state.co.us/

Colorado State Parks manages the Colorado state parks system. The system administers 42 parks.

History

• 1937. The state legislature appointed a land board to create the first State Parks Board.
• 1951. The State Parks Board leased Cherry Creek recreation area from the Army Corps of Engineers.
• 1963. State Parks was merged with the Division of Wildlife.
• 1971. The State Recreational Trails Program was created.
• 1972. State Parks and the Division of Wildlife were separated.
• 1977. State Parks was requested to manage the snowmobile program for the state.
• 1984. State Parks became responsible for licensing river outfitters.
• 1990. State parks began managing the off-highway vehicle program.

Currently there are forty-two State Parks open to the public. Staunton and Lone Mesa will open in the coming years.

The Colorado State Parks Board is a layman's group of five members who are appointed by the Governor with legislative approval. The Board is charged with representing various geographic regions of the state while providing oversight and setting agency policy in a democratic way to assure the agency is responsive to the citizens of Colorado. This board meets every other month to review and set policy.

See also

• List of Colorado state parks

References

External links

• Colorado State Parks