Friends of Ute Valley Park Year End Review - Friends of Ute Valley Park

As 2023 winds down it is typical to review our accomplishments during the year as well as noting those items that may still be on a To Do List. With 2024 rapidly approaching it also is likely you may be pondering some future plans as well. Yes, that all may describe your current life status, but it is also spot on where the Friends of Ute Valley Park currently are as well.

We have come through another year of heavy activity in the park. Always hard to root against the rain as a Coloradoan, but there was a lot of it this year that impacted us in many ways. Running water is often described as evil and with the varying topographic levels and soil composition in UVP it can wreak havoc. Plus, the wet weather succeeded in diminishing some work sessions causing us challenges with the ongoing maintenance FUVP likes to provide.

So that is the bad news, but the GREAT news is that even with those challenges and the help given by so many dedicated volunteers we experienced another terrific year of so many turning out to regularly aid with trail building and trail restoration, and general park maintenance.

Let’s look at the amazing numbers:

76 total individual volunteers
782 feet of new trail construction
2,149 of trail restoration- with some up to 40 feet wide
478 total volunteer hours of work provided.

The FUVP is very, very thankful for all those that regularly turn out and the vital and meaningful work they provide. Again this year we enjoyed hosting a celebration for our volunteers as a thank you at Red Leg Brewery.

Our volunteer sessions cease throughout the winter, but we will be back at it come Spring. Our spectacular Colorado weather allows for a lot of year-round activity in the park, so we know there will be more work needed when we resume sessions next year. Volunteer days once again will be the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. April through September. All tools are provided so if you or a group you are involved with would like to come help, we would love to have you. Time to put that on your 2024 To Do List.