Drivers passing by Frisco’s Adventure Park are likely to have seen bicyclists of all ages tearing through curves, over jumps and speeding down slaloms.
The bicyclists who take advantage the bike park are benefitting from the Colorado Lottery. The town of Frisco funded more than a third of the bike park project with a $200,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant — from a funding pool that’s made up of lottery profits.
Colorado Lottery representatives recently recognized the bike park’s enhancement to the community, and are applauding Frisco for using grant funds to the fullest, with a 2013 Starburst Community Award.
“The Starburst Awards began in 1992, and are given to projects that represent excellence in the use of lottery funds,” said Matt Robbins, community relations specialist for the Colorado Lottery.
Robbins said Frisco achieved its goal of fostering a community of bicycle riders of all ages and abilities at the bike park with the successful design, production and maintenance of the facility.
The entire project, which cost a little more than $500,000 consists of trails, jumps, pump-track features, ladder bridges, landscaping, signage and a parking lot.
Frisco recreation director Diane McBride said town officials are thrilled to receive the award.
“I think it’s a huge credit to all the staff who were involved in the project, from outreach to the community, to the process of writing and securing the grant, to the actual building of the bike park,” said McBride. “It’s been a great team effort. We couldn’t be happier with the work that has been done.”
Since its creation 30 years ago, the Colorado Lottery has returned more than $2.5 billion in grant funds to the state — including $11.3 million to Summit County and $850,000 to Frisco alone, Robbins said.
“Even if you don’t play the lottery, you are being positively impacted by it,” he said.
The Colorado Lottery’s contribution of profits to parks and recreation-related projects throughout the state is unique, said Colorado Lottery media relations specialist Heather Black.
Colorado is one of three states in which lottery money is used for parks and recreation, and the only state that contributes 100 percent of the pool of funds to these activities, she said.
“That’s what makes Colorado unique and why people want to live here — our beautiful outdoors,” Black said.
Robbins said when he tells people about the lottery’s parks and rec-related grant funds, people automatically assume the organization helps build playgrounds — but the reach goes beyond that.
“The bike park is a great example of what you can do with lottery funds,” he said. “Vision is key and obviously the town of Frisco has that.”
The Colorado Lottery is a division of the Colorado Department of Revenue. Colorado Lottery proceeds are distributed to three primary beneficiaries: Great Outdoors Colorado, the Conservation Trust Fund and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. These organizations then provide grants and direct funding for parks, recreation, open space acquisition, trails, wildlife and conservation education.
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
