Next 100 Coalition Applauds Gov. Hickenlooper’s EO on Collaboration, DEI in CO Public Lands and Outdoor Recreation Economy
Denver, CO, October 26, 2018 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed an executive order creating the Inter-Agency Trails and Recreation Council, alongside an announcement of economic contribution numbers that demonstrate the outsize impact that outdoor recreation has on Colorado’s economy.
The executive order cites the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion as the state works to meet its goals under the “Colorado the Beautiful” campaign, which aims for every Coloradan to live within 10 minutes of a park, trail, or vibrant green space. It also points to the importance of taking a broader view of what constitutes outdoor recreation and diversifying the workforce at state agencies.
In addition to directing the formation an Inter-Agency Council that will collaborate on opportunities and challenges related to Colorado’s growing outdoor recreation economy, the order specifically directs Colorado Parks and Wildlife to increase the number of diverse employees by 10% over the next five years.
The Next 100 Coalition’s Colorado Network met this week to discuss ways to leverage its priorities in the form of state policy; this executive order complements and supports that emerging work. The Colorado Network celebrates the directives within the order and looks forward to supporting their implementation through its existing relationships with the organizations on the Inter-Agency Council.
The Colorado Network, which comprises six local organizations who are national Next 100 Coalition members – Big City Mountaineers, cityWILD, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Environmental Learning for Kids, Hispanic Access Foundation, and Protégete – and dozens of allied organizations, works to ensure that public lands in Colorado reflect all people, respect all cultures, and engage all communities.
