Federal officials are devoting $3 million in revenues from off-shore oil and gas drilling to create new parks in nine cities including Denver, a push to make urban areas healthier.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on Tuesday issued a statement saying the projects are meant to give back some of what has been taken from nature.
“These investments will bring badly needed outdoor spaces and recreational opportunities to urban areas where people — especially young people — will benefit from improved places for healthy outdoor activities,” Jewell said.
In Denver, city officials and private partners plan to preserve 4.5 acres at Albrook Drive and Peoria Street in the northeastern Montbello neighborhood. That land is vacant but “at risk of development,” according to a federal document.
The plans call for creation of “a unique, natural open-space park in a densely developed residential area” including restoration of habitat for wildlife. Native prairie would be restored with a walking trail installed.
The land sits just south of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
“We want to create a trailhead into the refuge,” said Stacie Gilmore, director of Environmental Learning for Kids, a non-profit helping to develop plans.
Interior department officials gave grants to cities including Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis and Portland — under a a competitive program drawing on the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which Congress created to invest revenue from royalties paid by companies to the government for offshore oil and gas production.
The fund is due to expire this year. President Barack Obama and Secretary Jewell have been pressing Congress to reauthorize the fund with a maximum allowable $900 million.
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700, bfinley@denverpost.com or
