Colorado Parks and Wildlife

History

• 1937 – The state legislature appointed a land board to create the first State Parks Board.
• 1951 – The State Parks Board leased Cherry Creek recreation area from the Army Corps of Engineers.
• 1963 – State Parks was merged with the Division of Wildlife.
• 1971 – The State Recreational Trails Program was created.
• 1972 – State Parks and the Division of Wildlife were separated.
• 1977 – State Parks was requested to manage the snowmobile program for the state.
• 1984 – State Parks became responsible for licensing river outfitters.
• 1990 – State parks began managing the off-highway vehicle program.
• 1992 - Voters approved the Great Outdoors Colorado constitutional amendment directing Colorado Lottery revenues to the outdoors, including 10 percent directly to state Parks and Wildlife division. About half goes to Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, which in turns grants money to the agency.
• 2011 - Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are merged into Colorado Parks and Wildlife.