CPW's Arkansas Headwaters Rec Area invites public to 'Gear Up' for summer with festival in Salida on Saturday
Bill Vogrin
May 9, 2023
CPW's Arkansas Headwaters Rec Area invites public to ‘Gear Up for Summer’ with festival in Salida on Saturday
SALIDA, Colo. – To kick off the summer outdoor recreation season, and educate people about the ways to stay safe around water, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) is hosting “Gear Up for Summer” on Saturday at Riverside Park in Salida.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff from AHRA, Area 13 in Salida and the Mount Shavano Fish Hatchery will have booths at the festival to welcome guests. There will be free gifts, news about summer events and information about how to get geared up for summer.
“We’ll have free swag for guests,” said Corrine Servis, AHRA operations manager. “In fact, the first 50 kids will get free Personal Flotation Devices to keep.
“And there will be lots of activities for families with kids of all ages.”
A big goal of the event is to spotlight CPW’s Statewide Boating Program to raise awareness of the need for safety in and around the water. This is a particular emphasis for AHRA, which is a 152-mile linear state park along the Arkansas River stretching from Leadville to Pueblo.
This event will also showcase CPW’s partnership with federal and local partners including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA), cities of Buena Vista and Salida as well as local non-profit agencies that help to manage the natural resources and promote safe recreation and stewardship.
“We want to get our local communities in the Upper Arkansas River Valley excited about getting outside and ready for a safe and fun summer,” Servis said.
She encouraged kids to be sure to meet CPW mascots Elbert, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and Talon the red-tailed hawk for photo opportunities.
For more information, contact AHRA at 719-539-7289 or GARNA at 719-539-5106.
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What: Gear Up For Summer Event hosted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Date: Saturday, May 13
Location: Riverside Park, Salida
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The AHRA stretches 152 miles along the Arkansas River from Leadville to Pueblo. It is managed through a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Formed in 1989, this partnership allows agencies to provide visitors with recreation opportunities and care for significant natural resources of the upper Arkansas River valley.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.