Colorado
Opinion: More funding for Colorado’s overwhelmed Outdoor Equity Grant Program is imperative to keep outdoors open to all
In a state celebrated for its breathtaking mountains, verdant valleys and endless opportunities for adventure, it is disheartening to recognize that equitable access to the great outdoors remains elusive for many Coloradans.
At the Colorado Mountain Club, we are deeply committed to fostering inclusive outdoor experiences that ensure everyone — regardless of background — can forge a meaningful connection with nature. That is why we wholeheartedly champion the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program, or OEGP, which embodies our shared commitment to bridge this critical gap.
Established in 2021, the OEGP addresses the barriers that have historically prevented marginalized and underserved youth from experiencing the splendor of Colorado’s natural landscapes. For example, The Latinx population in the United States, estimated to compose 28% of the country’s population by 2050, has a long history of public land use. Yet while research on Latinx outdoor recreation in urban green spaces has increased over the past 20 years, research on Latinx outdoor recreation on federal and state public lands has waned.
Fortunately, organizations like The Colorado Mountain Club have benefited from the $50,000 grant received through the OEGP, enabling us to welcome individuals who might otherwise lack the resources to participate in our programs.
The OEGP has proven to be transformative. Since 2021, it has allocated an impressive $8.5 million to enhance outdoor experiences for 65,000 youth across 51 counties. This includes youth of color, low-income youth, those with disabilities and other marginalized groups. From the Four Corners to the Eastern Plains, this OEGP is opening doors for young Coloradans, allowing them to reap the abundant benefits nature has to offer.
However, the demand for these grants far outstrips the available funding. While the program is primarily financed through Colorado Lottery spillover dollars, its current cap of $3 million falls drastically short of the more than $21 million requested in the most recent grant cycle. This disparity means numerous promising initiatives remain unfunded, leaving many young Coloradans without access to transformative outdoor experiences.
We urge Colorado lawmakers to embrace the vision of a fully funded OEGP that provides youth with educational, recreational, cultural, workforce and conservation opportunities in our cherished outdoors by supporting House Bill 1215. In the years the overall lottery revenue exceeds the projected cap, the bill would add an additional 30% of those additional funds to the OEGP fund. By increasing investment in this already successful program, we can ensure that more youth and families enjoy the recreational opportunities that make Colorado such a remarkable place to call home.
The case for more funding goes beyond simply experiencing the outdoors; it is an investment in Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy. Introducing youth and families to the joys of outdoor activities cultivates a culture of belonging for communities historically excluded from our shared public lands. When young people engage with the outdoors, they develop healthier habits, enhance cognitive function, and foster stronger community ties. Additionally, by nurturing the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, we lay the groundwork for future environmental stewards and advocates.
We also wish to express our gratitude to the bill sponsors who have ensured the OEGP made it into committee: Reps. Rick Taggart and Junie Joseph and Sens. Jeff Bridges and Barbara Kirkmeyer. Your dedication to expanding access to our beautiful landscapes is commendable, and we are grateful for your efforts in championing this program.
The bipartisan support for expanding the OEGP reflects a collective aspiration to make Colorado’s outdoors accessible to all. It acknowledges that fostering inclusion within our stunning landscapes enhances the overall well-being of our communities and economy.
But we cannot stop here. To achieve true equity, we need sustained, long-term investment in the OEGP — a commitment to ensuring every Coloradan can thrive in the outdoors, enjoying the myriad physical and mental benefits that come with it.
With increased funding, we can envision a future where all Colorado youth, regardless of their backgrounds, can embark on their first hiking experience without the complications of transportation or navigating new terrain alone. We can create programs that offer immersive environmental education, cultivate leadership skills, strengthen communities, and nurture lifelong conservation advocates. For the Colorado Mountain Club, this funding will allow our conservation education initiatives to flourish, integrating these vital lessons into all aspects of our work.
Colorado decision-makers, we call on you to secure additional sustainable funding for the OEGP, making it possible for all Colorado youth and families to experience the immense beauty of our public lands. By expanding outdoor access, we can ensure the vibrancy and resilience of our communities for generations to come. Together, we can unlock a “Colorado for All” — a state where everyone feels a profound sense of belonging and stewardship in the great outdoors.
Gabriel Romero of Golden is the development director of the Colorado Mountain Club.
The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy. Learn how to submit a column. Reach the opinion editor at opinion@coloradosun.com.
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Colorado
Colorado weather: Up to 14 inches of snow forecast for mountains
Snow started Monday night in Colorado’s mountains and will continue throughout the week, likely making its way into the Denver area on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
Colorado’s mountain roads, including Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel and Berthoud Pass, were already snow-covered Tuesday morning, according to the weather service.
“With more snow to come throughout the day, a Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the Front Range Mountains,” forecasters said.
That advisory will be in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday for parts of Jackson, Larimer, Boulder, Grand, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit and Park counties, including Rocky Mountain National Park. Additional snow accumulations between 6 and 14 inches are possible on Tuesday, forecasters said in the alert.
As of Tuesday, the weather service’s snow forecasts included:
- 2 inches on I-70’s Vail Pass, with up to 3 inches possible
- 3 inches in Winter Park, with up to 4 inches possible
- 4 inches in Eldora and on U.S. 6’s Loveland Pass, with up to 5 inches possible
- 4 inches on U.S. 40’s Berthoud Pass near Winter Park, with up to 7 inches possible
- 5 inches at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, with up to 7 inches possible
- 6 inches on U.S. 34’s Milner Pass in RMNP, with up to 8 inches possible
- 7 inches on Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass near Fort Collins, with up to 8 inches possible
- 9 inches on Mount Zirkel, the highest summit of Colorado’s Park Range of the Rocky Mountains, with up to 11 inches possible
“Travel could be very difficult,” weather service forecasters stated in the winter weather advisory. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.”
Snow is expected to pause in the mountains Wednesday and resume Thursday before wrapping up early Saturday morning, according to hourly forecasts from the weather service.
In the Denver area, snow is most likely between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, the hourly forecasts show. Rain is also forecast for the metro area during that time, so it’s unknown how much snow will stick.
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Colorado
Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com
In NHL.com’s Q&A feature called “Sitting Down with …” we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. This week, we feature Kim Weiss, assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles, the Colorado Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate. Weiss was named assistant for the Eagles on Jan. 16, joining Seattle Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell as the only women in the NHL or AHL to be a full-time assistant coach.
Kim Weiss doesn’t think about the history she’s made that often.
The 36-year-old is too busy with her duties that come with being the Colorado Eagles’ assistant coach, including breaking down 5-on-5 video — she was the team’s video coach prior to her promotion — presenting it to the team, pushing pucks and running practice drills.
“When the title change happened and the promotion happened, I left the office of the general manager (Kevin McDonald), and I got back to work,” Weiss told NHL.com. “In the moment you’re not really thinking about that kind of stuff, but obviously it’s an honor.
“I’m especially grateful just because of my background. I didn’t play on a national team, I didn’t grow up in Minnesota or any kind of a hockey hotbed. So to get at this level and to have this legacy, for lack of a better word, from the place I’m from, a kid from Maryland that played Division III (hockey at Trinity College), it makes me even more proud to show people that you can get somewhere no matter where you start from. Then you add in being a female and all of that, I’m really proud of my journey and I’m proud of all the people who helped me along the way to get here.”
It’s been quite a ride for Weiss with the Eagles, who are second in the AHL Pacific Division. Last week, Weiss talked to NHL.com about her new duties, working with the Avalanche and more women in hockey.
So what was it like the day McDonald called you into the office to give you the news of your promotion?
“Honestly, it’s an affirmation of the work you put in. That’s what the GM said to me. Last season I had a different head coach (Aaron Schneekloth) and we had a different assistant (Dan Hinote) that both moved onto the NHL, and they both spoke highly of me to our GM in the summer and to our new head coach (Mark Letestu). Getting to know Mark this year and working for him, everything that he had heard of me got confirmed through the first few months of the year.
“I don’t exactly know how the process went about to change the title, but I think he went to Kevin, and I know Kevin said this to me, this line of, ‘You’re doing all the work that the assistant does, so why aren’t we calling you one?’ I’m already on the ice with the team and I run skill skates and scratch skates and present (video). I’m doing everything the assistant coach does; I just had a different title. So I really appreciate them just giving me the opportunity to kind of advance my career and keep doing what I love to do, which is coach hockey.”
Letestu also had you run one of the practices earlier in the season. How did that come about?
“Every assistant got (that chance). The big thing coming in was, he had been an assistant coach before and he wanted to make sure we all had a voice and a say, and we weren’t just coming onto the ice for practice like, ‘Oh, here we go. Push some pucks. Put my track suit on for 20 minutes, push some pucks and jump off.’ He wanted to make sure we had the platform in front of the players.
“It started with our longest-tenured assistant coach, Tim Branham. It was nothing new or scary for any of us, but just a different dynamic. Not every staff allows their assistants to take full responsibility of a full practice. Then Derek (Army) took it and then the next week I took one.”
Colorado
How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster
The Colorado Rockies are seeking the right balance and experimenting under their first full-year manager, Warren Schaeffer.
It’s a different Rockies roster compared to last season. There are new faces on the active roster for the start of the 2026 season. Having a team with youth and a mix of veterans can be a successful formula for the Rockies.
Knowing how the elevation affects things in Colorado, the Rockies will see which pitcher can thrive playing in Coors Field. Anything can happen this season.
The Rockies Must Have A Roster That Can Stay Durable
A Rotation of Veterans
Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta added several arms over 34, including Michael Lorenzen, Jose Quintana, and Tomoyuki Sugano.
The fifth starter will be a competitive battle. The Rockies have options in who will win that fifth and final spot. Here is the prediction of the Rockies’ starting rotation:
- Kyle Freeland
- Michael Lorenzen
- Ryan Feltner
- Jose Quintana
- Chase Dollander
Ryan Feltner has battled injuries. The 29-year-old suffered back spasms and shoulder injuries, preventing him from performing in 2025. He’s determined to have a breakout season.
He had a lot of momentum in his final 15 starts of the 2024 season. Feltner posted a 2.75 ERA and finished with a career-high 162 1/3 innings. Feltner has been building his weight-room capacity and getting himself ready for the new season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and produce.
Flexibility on the Infield
The Rockies’ acquisition of Willi Castro was a smart move. We know the Rockies’ future at shortstop is Ezequel Tovar. However, the Rockies organization is being cautious. They want to make sure they have an extra body on hand in case something goes south. Castro is a former All-Star and a versatile defender.
Eduoard Julien is known for playing second base, but he can also play first base if the Rockies need him there. It all depends on many situations and circumstances. Julien is one of the players on the Rockies roster who must prove his worth.
In terms of first base, TJ Rumfield is a front-office option to serve that position. He has the size, length, and youth to play the position. Rumfield is having an impressive start to the spring so far.
Current Roster and Opening Day Prediction Lineup
Ezequiel Tovar, SS
Tyler Freeman, 2B
Mickey Moniak, DH
Hunter Goodman, C
Kyle Karros, 3B
Jordan Beck, RF
Brenton Doyle, CF
Jake McCarthy, LF
TJ Rumfield, 1B
The lineup can change overnight, and especially in the next few weeks. If, for some reason, Freeman can’t okay second base to start the season, then Castro is the leading man to take the spot.
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