Colorado Parks and Wildlife releases new book: At Home in Nature, The History of Colorado's State Parks
Bridget O'Rourke
DENVER—Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) wrote and published the first book to chronicle the history of the Colorado state parks system and the evolution of outdoor recreation in Colorado. At Home in Nature, The History of Colorado's State Parks is now on sale at state park visitor centers and online at cpwshop.com. The book delves into the rich history of Colorado's state parks, from their inception to the present day, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the state's natural and cultural heritage. “Colorado is home to the most beautiful parks in the country, and what better way to show them off than with a bound collection of our parks’ history. In Colorado, we are breaking down barriers for Coloradans to access the outdoors, from saving people money on park passes to protecting our incredible wildlife. Colorado is leading the way to continue and expand our great state parks for generations to come, and this book will help bring our parks to even more people,” said Governor Polis.
Partnering with famed Colorado nature writer Mary Taylor Young, CPW staff created a unique hardbound coffee table masterpiece that features stunning state park photographs over the years and pictures of current and former staff, outdoor leaders, volunteers, and visitors.
Colorado is home to 43 state parks that protect 220,000 acres of land and water and host more than 18 million visitors a year. Within the pages of this book is the story of how this wonderful network of parks came to be, a history that spans back 12,000 years. It outlines the setbacks in the journey, the changes in public attitudes towards undeveloped landscapes and recreation, the trials and triumphs that shaped the parks system and the challenges that continue with us today and into the future.
“For more than 125 years, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has served Coloradans and our natural resources with unwavering dedication and determination. This book is a testament to Colorado’s incredible state park system and the people who serve as stewards to protect our public land and elevate our state parks so they provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis.
“We are so proud of this work, highlighting the history and impact of the state parks system. It has been a collaborative labor of love,” said CPW Capital Development Program Manager Margaret Taylor. “We think anyone who visits and loves our state park system and is interested in the history of how things came to be will truly enjoy this book.”
In celebration of the book launch, CPW hosted a party at Cherry Creek State Park, the first Colorado state park established in 1959. The event featured book signings by the authors, speeches on the significance and making of the book, and a guided tour of the park. Current and former CPW staff, volunteers and agency partners attended, including former Department of Natural Resources and CPW directors.
"This is an amazing book filled with our Colorado Parks history but also stories of what our Parks meant to those while in leadership, our amazing staff who work so hard to bring the top notch Colorado State Parks experience to so many Coloradans, to how our Parks reflect our values today. For Coloradans interested in our natural resources and outdoor recreation or who are just fans of our Colorado State Parks this book is a must have and I urge you to pick up a copy today,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
Plan your next outdoor adventure at a Colorado state park using CPW’s State Park Finder to discover a world of outdoor activities. Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your next vehicle registration and support Colorado state parks, search and rescue teams, avalanche safety, wildlife conservation, and outdoor education. Start your journey at cpw.info/keepcoloradowild.
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.