Today , December 7th 2022, PPORA has issued a press release announcing an additional grant to the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) to advance outdoor recreation and conservation planning for the Pikes Peak region as part of a statewide initiative – the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative – funded through GOCO and CPW. The Press Release includes the announcement of the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative community listening sessions in January! To learn more about the initiative and to sign up for a listening session, visit www.OutdoorPikesPeakInitiative.org.
Below is a snapshot of the news release:
PPORA announces $150k award to advance outdoor recreation and conservation planning through Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative! Colorado Springs, CO (December 2, 2022) – The Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) is excited to announce its recent grant award of $150,000 through the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative to continue leading the regional partner effort to advance conservation and outdoor recreation planning for the Pikes Peak region. This is a second award, added to the 2021 award of $75,000 that kicked off the Pikes Peak region’s regional partnership and supported the first phase. The regional partnership has a new brand identity as well: the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative, or OPPI for short.
Since the initial award, OPPI has accomplished a number of goals! It formed a diverse Task Force comprised of land managers, and conservation and recreation partners across El Paso, Teller and Fremont counties who provide strategic leadership to the process. OPPI gathered and evaluated over 100 planning documents from the region and conducted a land manager needs assessment to learn management and operational goals and needs. It partnered with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) to create and host the Outdoor Pikes Peak Data Hub to communicate outdoor-related information to the public and community leaders of the Pikes Peak region for better understanding, recognition of value, and thoughtful fact-based planning and decision-making. Through partnership with the Colorado Tourism Office, PPORA conducted the first ever survey and analysis of the local outdoor industry to better understand its needs and aspirations and to inform this regional planning from the industry stakeholder perspective. OPPI also identified and begin evaluating creative and effective alternative management and funding models to learn what possibilities exist for our region.
This next phase of planning expands upon these accomplishments and includes some new elements, such as public engagement and development of a mapping tool. All of OPPI’s goals come together as building blocks to culminate in a comprehensive Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Plan for the Pikes Peak Region by the summer of 2024.
We appreciate the support of our partners in marketing this initiative such as Neon Pig Creative and Sticker Mule. Visit Sticker Mule and place an order for custom stickers today!
