The Town of Orchard City is trying to get the attention of GOCO.

The GOCO acronym stands for Great Outdoors Colorado.

It is the grant-making agency that hands out lottery dollars to local governments for open space, recreation, and parks.

The Town of Orchard City is currently making its third try for a grant to complete improvements at Orchard City Park, and town trustees are asking the public, youth sports organizations, and other users of Orchard City Park to help.

At the town board’s Nov. 4 meeting, Trustee Marsha Thomas read a letter that has been prepared for publication asking the public to contact GOCO directly and voice support for the town’s current grant bid.

The letter states in part, “Orchard City has applied to GOCO for financial assistance with the Orchard City Park. Our application for assistance has been denied the last two years. This is our third application for this project. We are intending to construct a 60-foot by x 100-foot pavilion with barbecue facilities, picnic tables, concrete pathways for handicap access, additional grass for play, and additional parking space. The cost for this project will be $218,484, we are requesting $123,528 in GOCO funding and the Town’s portion would be $94,956.”

The letter goes on to explain the park’s use on a regional level, its playing fields, and other facilities.

Regardless of GOCO’s denial of funding for the park’s final phase, the town has moved forward making improvements on its own. After the last GOCO grant bid rejection, the town board moved forward with its own funds and money donated by the county to buy playground equipment. The equipment was assembled by volunteer labor donated by community members, including town board members.

The volunteer work saved the town an estimated $11,00 on the project.

Dozens of bare root stock cottonless cottonwood trees were planted at the park when an opportunity came along to get the trees for very little cost.

“We are making every effort to continue this level of service. We are perplexed as to why we cannot get any response from GOCO. This is exactly what the purpose of the lottery funds are to be used for,” the trustees’ letter states.

According to Great Outdoors Colorado, a grant of $40,000 was awarded to Orchard City for the Field of Dreams Phase II in 1996. In 2005, says GOCO, Phase III of the park’s expansion and development received a $200,000 award from Colorado Lottery funds.

The town trustees are asking the public to offer their voices of support for the town’s current grant application at any of the following: E-mail to localgovernment@goco.org; by letter to Great Outdoors Colorado, 1600 Broadway, Suite 1650, Denver, CO 80202; or, by phone to 303-863-7522.

Comments must be made soon, because a decision on award of grants is expected in early December.

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