Trails Partnership Program Awards 2024
One of the many components of Jeffco Open Space is the Trails Partnership Program. The TPP is a grant program that provides supplemental funding to assist partners in implementing their priority trail projects within Jefferson County. These grants are awarded on an annual basis, provided that funding is available.
At the November 2nd (2023) Open Space Advisory Committee meeting, Open Space staff presented to OSAC an overview of the TPP applications and proposed funding amounts for 2024. Resolution #23-12, which includes the following projects, was approved that evening:
| Applicant | Project Name | Jeffco Open Space Match | Applicant Funding | Project total |
| Wheat Ridge | Peaks to Plains Feasibility Study | $45,000.00 | $45,000.00 | $90,000.00 |
| Wheat Ridge | Clear Creek Trail Improvement Projects | $252,650.00 | $252,650.00 | $505,300.00 |
| Wheat Ridge | Hayward Park Trail Replacement | $32,069.00 | $96,207.00 | $128,276.00 |
| Pleasant View Metro District | Westblade Park Trail Connection | $29,321.40 | $100,995.95 | $130,317.35 |
| Ken Caryl Metro District | South Valley Trail Replacement | $333,206.00 | $333,206.00 | $666,412.00 |
| Foothills Park & Recreation District | Wayfinding | $100,000.00 | $100,154.00 | $200,154.00 |
| Arvada | Colorado Front Range Trail | $2,383,797.28 | $2,383,797.28 | $4,767,594.56 |
| Deer Creek Metro District | C470 Trail Connection | $330,724.25 | $578,751.75 | $909,476.00 |
| Apex Park & Recreation District | Apex Center connection | $76,209.00 | $76,209.00 | $152,418.00 |
| Jeffco Transportation & Engineering | Enhanced Crossing at Easley & Fairmount Trail | $16,950.00 | $16,950.00 | $33,900.00 |
| TOTAL | $3,599,926.93 | $3,983,920.98 | $7,583,847. | $7,583,847.91 |
Three additional project overviews were presented for OSAC consideration, but it was determined that more work was required on each of these before they could be considered for funding through the TPP grant program:
- Apex Park & Recreation District – Lauri Dannemiller Park Connection
- More work needed to finalize canal crossing agreements
- Claymore Properties LLC – Welch Ditch Trail Connection
- Trails Partnership Program not best mechanism for pursuing this project
- Evergreen Park & Recreation District – Evergreen Key Connections
- More work needed to finalize agreements with private property owners
The TPP recommendation for funding is scheduled to be brought before the Board of County Commissioners on 12/19/23, and a full BCC hearing will be scheduled in January 2024. Upon project completion, funds will be distributed to the requesting project partners.
TPP partners include entities such as cities, recreation districts, metro districts, and County departments. Any prospective project organization has to manage public land and/or provide public park and recreation services in Jefferson County. If it’s a local project, that is, it will serve the immediate neighborhood or community, or is a new trail within a neighborhood park, or is a trail connector from a school to a local park, the TPP match can be as much as 25%. If the project is regional in scope, that is, it serves multiple jurisdictions, or is a trail connection to a currently existing regional trail or is a Jeffco Trails Plan regional trail itself, it can merit up to a 50% match. Trail connections, trail maintenance, trailhead amenities such as benches, kiosks and restrooms, all qualify for the TPP.
For the years 2021 to 2025, $15M was allocated for the Trails Partnership Program. To date, the following funds have been awarded:
2021: $2,717,629.56
2022: $2,672,183.25
2023: $1,738,100.00
Total awarded: $7,127,912.81
Funds remaining for 2024 & 2025: $7,127,912.81
At the time of this writing, it’s anticipated that applications for the 2025 Trails Partnership Program will be available in mid-July 2024.
The Jeffco Trails Partnership Program, working in conjunction with local and regional trails planning projects, is improving bicycle and pedestrian safety by creating a network of safe, convenient trails and on-street facilities that improve trail connections. This goal dovetails with the Jeffco Conservation Greenprint Goal #8: ‘Easy and Equitable Access’.
For more information on the Trails Partnership Program go to https://www.jeffco.us/4138/Trails-Partnership-Program
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