PALISADE, Colo. — Great Outdoors Colorado has awarded $558,025 in GOCO/Lottery funds to two Mesa County projects:

• A $484,840 grant to the Mesa Land Trust to help preserve more than 78 acres in Palisade's Grand Valley, and

• A $73,185 grant to the Town of Palisade for improvements to Peach Bowl Park

With its latest GOCO grant, Mesa Land Trust will acquire conservation easements over four non-contiguous properties in the Grand Valley, preserving them in perpetuity. Protection of these properties, which together total more than 78 acres, is part of the land trust's Fruitlands Forever Initiative, an effort to preserve 500 acres of prime farmland within five years; 115 acres have already been protected.

GOCO has awarded $552,200 in previous grants to Mesa Land Trust to help fund the initiative. The latest four properties to be preserved produce numerous varieties of peaches, wine grapes and preserve valuable wildlife habitat.

“The fruit-growing area around Palisade is a unique and wonderful resource for Colorado,” said Rob Bleiberg, executive director of the Mesa Land Trust.

The Town of Palisade will use its GOCO/Lottery grant to renovate Peach Bowl Park, upgrading the park and adding more recreation resources. The Town will improve the park's playground and walking track, redevelop the volleyball court and add a bocce ball court. Additionally, the Town will add trees, a seating area and fencing to the park's perimeters.

 

YOUTH CORPS PROJECTS ALSO CHOSEN

Additionally, GOCO allocated $500,000 it awarded in April to the Colorado Youth Corps Association for work on open space and local government park and recreation projects. Two-hundred young people ages 16 to 25 will get jobs this summer because of the funding. Mesa County's share is as follows:

• City of Grand Junction - $24,802 for West Lake, Burkey and Matchett Parks

• Mesa County - $14,150 for Mesa County Riverfront Trail