New Grand Valley Organization Seeks Status Change of Colorado National Monument to National Park
The push to make the Colorado National Monument a national park continues to gain supporters of the idea. The change has been on the minds of Grand Valley residents for a while on the divisive issue.
As Mark Udall and Scott Tipton look to make a decision to push the issue nationally this summer, they first want to see how local residents feel about the idea. Their committee, which disbanded, had no real solid opinion of the change after a year and a half of discussions and debate.
A brand new group, Grand Valley Citizens for a National Park, is now getting support from the city councils in Grand Junction and Fruita. They are also looking to Club 20 for support of the status change for the monument. At least 360 businesses are backing the measure and see the potential of more tourism to the area if the change is made.
Grand Valley Citizens for a National Park spokesperson Terri Chappell says the change to a national park "is critical to stabilizing the local economy." After a unanimous vote Friday, Club 20 will have the full board vote to support the change to a national park. A draft resolution by Club 20 to Grand Valley Citizens for a National Park would preserve the current access to Glade Park, Colorado and Fruita, Colorado's water rights.