Green Mountain Falls Parks and Trails have been designated as a Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site.
Nancy Dixon announced the designation Nov. 4 at the town board meeting. “This is a prestigious honor,” said Dixon, a member of the town’s Parks/Trails Advisory Committee. “This was spearheaded by and is the vision of Miles Groth, sixth-grade teacher at Ute Pass Elementary School.”
Last year, Groth, who helped launch the sixth-grade Mountain Academy at the elementary school in Chipita Park, requested and received support from the town to apply for the designation.
The award is the result of collaboration of the town, the elementary school, Historic Green Mountain Falls Foundation and Friends of Ute Pass Trails.
To compete for Leave No Trace, the participants upgraded signage on the trails, led Leave No Trace educational hikes with children, and disposed of tangled fishing lines in Gazebo Lake, Dixon said.
“It’s exciting that our parks and trails are a Gold Standard Site,” she said.
According to a press release, honor is given to sites, organizations, and programs that demonstrate excellence in implementing the Leave No Trace principles which include ensuring a sustainable future for natural areas. Leave No Trace is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the outdoors, with support from communities.
In other environmental news, Nancy Dixon announced that sawyers from Mile High Youth Corps are mitigating areas around Fountain Creek and along the Anderson Trail, work funded by a grant from the town to the corps.
Pat Hill
Reporter
