Burkett: Investing in Our Community Must Include Outdoor Access
Matthew Burkett
Matthew Burkett fly fishing with his daughter.
Throughout Colorado’s history, folks in our community have lacked equal access to the bounty of our public lands. Many still do. We have kids here in Five Points who have never been out of the city, let alone had the opportunity to spend time in Colorado’s high country, experiencing the joy of catching their first fish or completing their first 14-er.
This public land is as much theirs as anyone’s. Yet, black folks only make up about 1% of visits to the state’s national forests. A bill recently signed into law sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, alongside state Rep. David Ortiz, Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, and Senate President Leroy Garcia, stands to help change that.
House Bill 1318 establishes the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program, which aims to increase outdoor access and opportunities for underserved youth and their families, funded annually at $3 million per year.
Gov. Polis and Rep. Herod at bill signing in Lincoln Hills.
These grants will be given to organizations that provide outdoor education and recreation, increasing access for folks who may not have had the opportunity or the means to enjoy Colorado’s open spaces, state parks and public lands – organizations like Lincoln Hills Cares.
Growing up fly fishing, I recognized that supporting the vitality of my community meant more than just investing in the buildings or experiences here. It meant investing in people. In our economic livelihoods, but also our physical and mental health. Nature is such a powerful tool in that effort. We have some of the most beautiful land in the world here in Colorado, and I wanted more people in my community to be able to experience that.
I co-founded Lincoln Hills Cares with Robert F. Smith to provide outdoor education and recreation to empower youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity due to economic, social, or family circumstances. Today, thanks to the herculean efforts of Robert, Dr. Nate Howard, our CEO, and Managing Director J.R. Lapierre, this program has connected many with meaningful outdoor experiences.
A lot of people still aren’t familiar with the legacy of Lincoln Hills or its connection to our community. Lincoln Hills is a little resort town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Back in 1922, when it was founded, and for years afterward, it was the only vacation resort west of the Mississippi River that catered to the black community.
People from all over the country were drawn to the property by its natural beauty and the haven it offered from the harsh social conditions found elsewhere. This was where we could go to relax and commune with nature and with one another. The value in that experience cannot be overstated.
In restoring this property, we wanted to carry on the rich culture and history associated with Lincoln Hills. Through our Youth Outdoor Education Programs, Pathways, TeamWorks and revived Nizhoni Equestrian Program, we are working to continually reconnect with the communities originally associated with Lincoln Hills.
It’s fitting that this bill was signed at Lincoln Hills – a place that represents the very best American ideals of vision, equity, justice and community. I look forward to seeing what organizations like ours are able to do to expand outdoor access as a result of this bill and encourage our community to seek out the new opportunities made available by this fund.