Christmas came early for Fremont County officials with the confirmation that two grants have been awarded to the county for road and bridge projects as well as for more improvements to Pathfinder Regional Park.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs notified the Fremont County Commissioners that following a recommendation from the Gaming Impact Advisory Committee, Fremont County will receive a $350,000 grant for road and bridge projects to be completed in 2009. The grant must be used exclusively on county roads impacted by casino gaming traffic that travels to Cripple Creek.
The budget for the gaming dollars calls for $231,000 to be spent on an asphalt overlay project on 3 1/2 miles of Red Canyon Road starting at High Street. $50,000 would be spent on erosion control and bank stabilization on Phantom Canyon Road where flash flooding has eroded away parts of the road along some steep cliffs. Another $69,000 of the grant would be spent to install guard rail for safety improvements along High Park Road (County Road #11).
The commissioners were also notified by Great Outdoors Colorado that Fremont County has been awarded a $200,000 Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation grant. The GOCO grant will be used to construct restroom facilities, bleachers, and lighting at the outdoor arena at Pathfinder Park west of Florence. Those improvements will greatly enhance use of the arena on a year round basis.
Fremont County Commission Chairman Larry Lasha noted that Verla Noakes of the Fremont County Extension Office deserves credit for writing the grant application and being instrumental in pulling together the community wide support for the grant.
The commissioners have already made a commitment in the 2009 budget to spend nearly $265,000 in the Conservation Trust Fund (lottery dollars) on utility infrastructure improvements to get electricity and water service to the county's portion of Pathfinder Park.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs notified the Fremont County Commissioners that following a recommendation from the Gaming Impact Advisory Committee, Fremont County will receive a $350,000 grant for road and bridge projects to be completed in 2009. The grant must be used exclusively on county roads impacted by casino gaming traffic that travels to Cripple Creek.
The budget for the gaming dollars calls for $231,000 to be spent on an asphalt overlay project on 3 1/2 miles of Red Canyon Road starting at High Street. $50,000 would be spent on erosion control and bank stabilization on Phantom Canyon Road where flash flooding has eroded away parts of the road along some steep cliffs. Another $69,000 of the grant would be spent to install guard rail for safety improvements along High Park Road (County Road #11).
The commissioners were also notified by Great Outdoors Colorado that Fremont County has been awarded a $200,000 Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation grant. The GOCO grant will be used to construct restroom facilities, bleachers, and lighting at the outdoor arena at Pathfinder Park west of Florence. Those improvements will greatly enhance use of the arena on a year round basis.
Fremont County Commission Chairman Larry Lasha noted that Verla Noakes of the Fremont County Extension Office deserves credit for writing the grant application and being instrumental in pulling together the community wide support for the grant.
The commissioners have already made a commitment in the 2009 budget to spend nearly $265,000 in the Conservation Trust Fund (lottery dollars) on utility infrastructure improvements to get electricity and water service to the county's portion of Pathfinder Park.