GREELEY, CO – A key recreation site in north-central Greeley received a much-needed facelift thanks to a collaboration between The Great Outdoors Fund (TGOF), Occidental (Oxy), City of Greeley, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW). Team members from Oxy joined representatives from the city and TGOF to install new information kiosks at Poudre Ponds Recreational Fishery, a 63-acre reservoir that serves more than 30,000 anglers and recreationists annually. New picnic tables will be installed in the coming weeks.
The upgrades are part of a broader plan to improve infrastructure and accessibility at the popular site, located on the south bank of the Cache la Poudre River. It has become one of the city’s most frequented water-based recreation areas.
“This is the kind of project we’re always looking for—one that’s locally driven, has clear community value, and needs financial support to become a reality,” said Lori McCullough, Founder and CEO of TGOF. “Our mission is to identify these types of opportunities and then match them with strategic funding partners looking to give back to their local community.”
With funding from a CPW Fishing is Fun grant, Oxy, support from The Great Outdoors Fund, and additional city resources, the full scope of improvements at Poudre Ponds includes a new precast-concrete boat ramp, shade structures, updated signage, benches, trash receptacles, and new ADA-compliant amenities. A crew from the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps was on-site ahead of the workday and prepping the area for installation.
“Public-private partnerships like this one are essential to creating greater positive impact,” said Justin Scharton, Division Manager of Greeley’s Natural Areas & Trails. “They help us leverage limited resources to make meaningful, visible improvements to safety, accessibility, and the overall outdoor experience for Greeley residents and visitors alike.”
Oxy’s involvement represents a broader commitment by the company to support communities in which it operates, with a specific focus on environmental stewardship and outdoor access.
“Oxy is always looking for ways to support projects that strengthen the communities where we live and work,” said Jason Sevin, Rockies Business Unit President and General Manager for Occidental. “Investing in public areas like Poudre Ponds not only helps protect natural resources, it also creates spaces where our employees, their families, and others in the community can spend quality time together outdoors.”