How much is your favorite trail worth to you? When every cent counts and pennies can add up to big change, ten new donation stations look to bring some cha-ching to raising funds for the Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund at several trailheads across the community.
“Our popular non-motorized trails are one of the great amenities of Steamboat Springs and the greater northwest Colorado region,” said Helen Beall, Community Impact Manager with the Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF). “It’s important that these trails are here for future generations to enjoy and this creative program will help that become a reality.”
Refurbished parking meters are finding new life and collecting credit-card donations for the Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund at Emerald Mountain, Spring Creek and Ridge/Rotary Trailheads as well as several locations along the Yampa River Core Trail. The meters have been used in other cities in their efforts to raise dollars for a variety of needs.
Decked out with local TMEF stickers from Steamboat Sign Company with design by Steamboat Design and Advertising, the meters are another means to generate awareness, while providing a convenient way to raise funds in the field. Before installing these stations, there wasn’t a method for users to donate right at the trails they love to use.
The meters have been installed near existing kiosks at trailheads and parks including the Stables, Mile Run, Blackmar, Spring Creek, Ridge/Rotary, Fetcher, Bear River, Rotary, Little Toots and Stockbridge. Calcon Constructors provided and installed the concrete base and metal poles, while IPS Group, Inc. delivered the parking meters. The meters are expected to be in place until 2026.
The ultimate goal of Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund is to raise $1M to $1.5M in funds which will ensure trails constructed are maintained in perpetuity. The Fund, held at the YVCF, was established as a permanent source to fund the maintenance of non-motorized trails in Routt and Moffat Counties. Monies are distributed to the land manager (city, USFS, BLM & State Parks) that determines how best to conduct the trail maintenance based on recommendations from the Fund Board.
The Donation Station project has been in the works since the end of 2017 and is being spearheaded by private citizen, Julie Hagenbuch, and the YVCF with support from the city, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and local businesses. To donate or learn additional information about the Trail Maintenance Endowment Fund, go to www.yvcf.org/trails.
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Contact
Helen Beall, Community Impact Manager, YVCF, 970.879.8632 or email
Winnie Delliquadri, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Steamboat Springs, 970.879.2060 or email