Keep Colorado Wild Pass Raises $41M for Colorado State Parks, Search and Rescue Volunteers, and Avalanche Safety

DENVER ~ Denver, CO - The Keep Colorado Wild Pass has proven to be a successful initiative in its second year of being on sale, with over 1.5 million Coloradans opting to purchase the pass. This has generated a total of $41 million in revenue, which will go towards supporting Colorado state parks, local search and rescue volunteers, and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).

The goal set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) was to raise $36 million annually from pass sales. The first $32.5 million will be allocated towards state park maintenance and development, while the next $2.5 million will go towards search and rescue teams. Additionally, $1 million will be given to the CAIC. Any additional revenue beyond this goal will be used for wildlife projects and outdoor educational programs.

Governor Jared Polis expressed his pride in seeing so many Coloradans investing back into the lands they love through purchasing the low-cost Keep Colorado Wild Pass. He also expects these numbers to continue growing as the popularity of state parks increases.

The Keep Colorado Wild Pass was launched by CPW and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in January 2023 at a cost of $29 per pass. The first fiscal year of sales ended on June 30, 2024, with a total revenue of $39.7 million.

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Justin Rutter, CPW's Chief Financial Officer, shared his excitement about the success of the Keep Colorado Wild Pass in its second year of operations. He stated that this increase in revenue is significant for their agency and will greatly benefit state parks, wildlife conservation efforts, search and rescue teams, and avalanche forecasters.

The Keep Colorado Wild Pass offers a 60% savings compared to a traditional annual state park pass that costs $80. It allows entry into all Colorado state parks for cars, bikes, and foot traffic.

Residents can choose to opt-in or opt-out of the pass annually when registering a passenger vehicle, light truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle with the DMV. When a resident purchases the pass, it will be printed with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife logo on their DMV-issued vehicle registration card.

The revenue generated from Keep Colorado Wild Pass sales will be used for various projects and initiatives. This includes improving existing state parks by updating facilities such as boat decks, bathrooms, parking lots, picnic areas, and shade shelters. CPW also plans to make ADA improvements at state parks.

In addition to state park maintenance, $2.5 million will be allocated for local backcountry search and rescue teams. This funding will go towards rescuer training, mental health programs, and team equipment. CPW will also divide $1.5 million into county allocations for eligible counties to purchase items based on a county-designed project over a two-year period.

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The CAIC will receive support from the Keep Colorado Wild Pass revenue to provide better avalanche safety information to the public. This includes implementing a new forecaster staffing model, adding specialized support roles in communications and technology, and replacing outdated infrastructure with a modern forecasting platform built in partnership with Avalanche Canada.

Furthermore, the KCW Pass helps fund outdoor educational programs and events hosted by CPW at state parks and in local communities. This allows for more opportunities for outdoor learning in Colorado while keeping these programs accessible to all Coloradans.

CPW Director Jeff Davis emphasized the importance of this pass in giving back to outdoor spaces and recreational programs that are treasured by local communities. He also mentioned that it helps CPW staff implement non-game species work to maintain diverse and thriving wildlife ecosystems.

For more information on the Keep Colorado Wild Pass or to purchase one, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/keep-colorado-wild-pass.

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