With the $75,000 GOCO grant, the City will complete 30% construction plans for a 2.6-mile section of the LoVa Trail that would connect West Glenwood Springs to South Canyon (at Exit 111 along Interstate 70).
Great Outdoors Colorado announced Dec. 8 that the City of Glenwood Springs was among the first recipients to receive Connect Initiative Trail Planning Grant funding. The new Connect Initiative is designed to complete trails where there are gaps and improve outdoor access across Colorado. Connect Initiative Trail Planning Grants assist municipalities to hire professional trail planning consultants. With the $75,000 GOCO grant, the City will complete 30% construction plans for a 2.6-mile section of the LoVa Trail that would connect West Glenwood Springs to South Canyon (at Exit 111 along Interstate 70). LoVa Trail Phase III, between West Glenwood Springs and South Canyon, would include two pedestrian bridges across the Colorado River to access the city-owned Chatfield Property below the Wastewater Treatment Facility and extend to the South Canyon Recreation area and soft trails.
The Lower Valley Trails Group (LoVa) was established in 1999 with the goal of providing a trail along the Colorado River corridor from Glenwood Springs to Mesa County. The LoVa Trail was named one of Colorado’s “16 in 2016” highest priority trails by Gov. John Hickenlooper.
The City of Glenwood Springs has been working collaboratively with the Colorado Department of Transportation, the LoVa Group, Garfield County, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association, and the Town of New Castle on the LoVa Trail, which once completed will act as a commuter and recreational trail for the region.
This grant will allow the City to hire a consultant to prepare preliminary engineering documents, including preliminary pedestrian bridge designs, and evaluate right-of-way and environmental concerns for LoVa Trail Phase III. In the future, the City plans to pursue additional grant funding for final construction plans and costs.