Collaborative Effort between Public and Private Partners is Bringing Community-Centered Vision to Life in Colorado's San Luis Valley
Conejos and Costilla Counties, CO– The Great Outdoors Fund (TGOF), in partnership with numerous stakeholders, including Conejos and Costilla Counties, is excited to announce a $352,818 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado’s (GOCO) Community Impact program which will move the Lobatos Bridge Outdoor Classroom & Recreation Enhancement Project into its next phase: construction. This milestone is a direct result of years of dedicated community efforts and a collaborative fundraising campaign led by TGOF. This announcement follows closely on the heels of another significant grant of $101,928 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, secured through a partnership with the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable.
After nearly four decades of grassroots efforts and dedicated community engagement, the project was identified as a top priority of local officials. Over the past two years, TGOF spearheaded an extensive outreach effort that brought together a wide range of partners, including the Bureau of Land Management, Conejos County, Costilla County, Adams State University’s Department of History, Anthropology, and Political Science and the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center, Gates Family Foundation, Occidental, RG Bank, Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, SLV GO!, Trinchera Blanca Foundation, and numerous individual donors. The newest partners, GOCO, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Rio Grande Basin Roundtable helped us achieve our fundraising goal.
“We are grateful to everyone who has supported this project, but these last two grants are a turning point for the Lobatos Bridge project,” said TGOF Founder Lori McCullough. “It allows us to shift from fundraising to delivering tangible results. Together with our partners, we’re creating a space that will provide equitable outdoor access, preserve cultural history, and inspire stewardship for generations to come.”
According to Tressesa Martinez, Conejos County Administrator, “The Lobatos Bridge is a significant historic landmark for Costilla and Conejos Counties. It has been used since the 1800s and has had a huge economic and communal impact between Conejos and Costilla Counties. For many years, both counties have been great partners in maintaining the bridge. Now we are united to be great partners in developing this site to accurately tell the stories of this area that has become a cultural crossroads over time.”
The project also addresses the critical lack of public outdoor spaces in Costilla County, where 99% of the land is privately owned. By creating a vibrant recreational destination, the Lobatos Bridge project will benefit underserved communities, enhance local tourism, and stimulate economic growth across the Southern San Luis Valley.
“GOCO’s support to develop the Lobatos Bridge Recreation & Interpretive Education Project helps Costilla County satisfy its priorities for open space by giving residents and visitors new opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation and enhance the visitor experience of this beautiful landscape gem,” said Lawrence Pacheco, Costilla County open space coordinator. “By preserving the important stories, local history, and rich culture of this area through education, we ensure future generations will be able to experience and learn the heritage of this unique site in perpetuity.”
