News
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Opens the Floor for Public Voice in 10-Year Strategic Plan
<p class="" data-start="357" data-end="525">Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from the people it serves. And it’s not just a formality — this is about shaping the next decade of outdoor life in the state.</p>
<p class="" data-start="527" data-end="806">With its current strategic plan nearing the end of its run, CPW has launched a statewide call for anonymous public input. Anyone — from anglers and hikers to conservationists and ranchers — has until May 26 to help chart the course for the agency’s future from 2026 through 2036.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="808" data-end="837">Why the timing matters now</h2>
<p class="" data-start="839" data-end="885">Let’s be real — a lot has shifted in 10 years.</p>
<p class="" data-start="887" data-end="1126">Back in 2015, when the current strategy was adopted, there were different worries: fewer wildfires, less crowding, and frankly, less pressure on the state’s natural resources. That plan served its purpose. But 2025? It&#8217;s a different story.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1128" data-end="1302">“While this plan has guided the agency’s efforts well since then,” CPW officials said in a statement, “it’s no surprise that the world has changed significantly in 10 years.”</p>
<p class="" data-start="1304" data-end="1330">That’s putting it lightly.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1332" data-end="1544">There’s been surging interest in outdoor recreation. Wildlife patterns have changed. Climate conditions have become more erratic. And there’s more friction between preservation and public access than ever before.</p>
<p data-start="1332" data-end="1544"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12192" src="https://budgyapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/colorado-parks-and-wildlife-strategic-plan-public-comment.jpg" alt="colorado parks and wildlife strategic plan public comment" width="629" height="354" /></p>
<h2 class="" data-start="1546" data-end="1576">Who&#8217;s being asked — and how</h2>
<p class="" data-start="1578" data-end="1638">This isn’t just a survey slapped on a website and forgotten.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1640" data-end="1748">CPW says it’s working hard to reach a wide range of stakeholders — not just the usual crowd. That means:</p>
<ul data-start="1750" data-end="1929">
<li class="" data-start="1750" data-end="1778">
<p class="" data-start="1752" data-end="1778">Indigenous tribal partners</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1779" data-end="1800">
<p class="" data-start="1781" data-end="1800">Conservation groups</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1801" data-end="1823">
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1823">Farmers and ranchers</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1824" data-end="1845">
<p class="" data-start="1826" data-end="1845">Hunters and anglers</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1846" data-end="1865">
<p class="" data-start="1848" data-end="1865">Backcountry users</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1866" data-end="1899">
<p class="" data-start="1868" data-end="1899">Newcomers to outdoor activities</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1900" data-end="1929">
<p class="" data-start="1902" data-end="1929">And yes, the general public</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="" data-start="1931" data-end="2031">The goal is clear: gather broad, meaningful feedback. But keep it anonymous, so people speak freely.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2033" data-end="2182">All input is being gathered through an online form that’ll stay open through May 26. And no, you don’t have to be a policy expert to fill it out.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="2184" data-end="2216">What’s actually on the table?</h2>
<p class="" data-start="2218" data-end="2282">CPW hasn’t locked in a draft yet. This stage is about listening.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2284" data-end="2452">But based on public meetings and early discussions, a few key areas are already drawing strong interest. These are expected to shape the backbone of the 2026-2036 plan:</p>
<ol data-start="2454" data-end="2667">
<li class="" data-start="2454" data-end="2502">
<p class="" data-start="2457" data-end="2502">Balancing public access with conservation</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2503" data-end="2552">
<p class="" data-start="2506" data-end="2552">Wildlife management in changing ecosystems</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2553" data-end="2591">
<p class="" data-start="2556" data-end="2591">Sustainable recreation policies</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2592" data-end="2630">
<p class="" data-start="2595" data-end="2630">Equity in outdoor opportunities</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2631" data-end="2667">
<p class="" data-start="2634" data-end="2667">Climate adaptation strategies</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p class="" data-start="2669" data-end="2914">Some residents are pushing for stronger protections in wilderness areas. Others want expanded access for off-road vehicles and remote camping. And of course, the wolves are back — with all the politics and passions that come with reintroduction.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2916" data-end="2949">So yeah. There’s a lot to unpack.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="2951" data-end="2980">The next steps, mapped out</h2>
<p class="" data-start="2982" data-end="3185">Once the public input phase closes in May, CPW will start building out a draft version of the new plan. That process will include data analysis, stakeholder meetings, and expert reviews. It’ll take time.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3187" data-end="3233">Here’s a quick breakdown of what happens next:</p>
<div class="group pointer-events-none relative flex justify-center *:pointer-events-auto"><button class="hover:bg-token-main-surface-secondary text-token-text-secondary pointer-events-auto rounded-lg px-1 py-1 opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-200 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:opacity-100"></button></p>
<div class="tableContainer horzScrollShadows relative">
<table class="min-w-full" data-start="3235" data-end="3628">
<thead data-start="3235" data-end="3270">
<tr data-start="3235" data-end="3270">
<th data-start="3235" data-end="3243">Phase</th>
<th data-start="3243" data-end="3255">Timeframe</th>
<th data-start="3255" data-end="3270">Description</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody data-start="3307" data-end="3628">
<tr data-start="3307" data-end="3388">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3307" data-end="3322">Public Input</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3322" data-end="3349">Now through May 26, 2025</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3349" data-end="3388">Online feedback form open statewide</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="3389" data-end="3475">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3389" data-end="3406">Drafting Phase</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3406" data-end="3431">Late 2025 – Early 2026</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3431" data-end="3475">CPW compiles input and crafts draft plan</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="3476" data-end="3552">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3476" data-end="3492">Public Review</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3492" data-end="3506">Spring 2026</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)/3)]" data-start="3506" data-end="3552">Draft plan released for additional comment</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="3553" data-end="3628">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3553" data-end="3570">Final Adoption</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="3570" data-end="3582">June 2026</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)/3)]" data-start="3582" data-end="3628">CPW Commission votes on new strategic plan</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p class="" data-start="3630" data-end="3700">The full implementation would start soon after the June 2026 approval.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="3702" data-end="3739">Why it’s not just “another survey”</h2>
<p class="" data-start="3741" data-end="3819">You might be thinking, “Sure, I’ll give my opinion — but will it even matter?”</p>
<p class="" data-start="3821" data-end="3835">Fair question.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3837" data-end="4044">In the past, CPW has directly incorporated community feedback into actual changes. Think improved trailhead signage, wildlife corridor protection policies, and adjusted hunting tags based on local herd data.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4046" data-end="4246">More importantly, officials have acknowledged the need for deeper community trust, especially when it comes to land use and Indigenous input. That’s a shift from the top-down planning of the past.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4248" data-end="4375">This isn’t about rubber-stamping the old plan with new language. It’s about listening to voices that haven’t always been heard.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="4377" data-end="4418">Outdoor lovers are already weighing in</h2>
<p class="" data-start="4420" data-end="4571">Even before the form went live, buzz was building in outdoor circles. Hikers in Grand Junction. Campers near Steamboat. Fly fishers along the Arkansas.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4573" data-end="4604">It’s clear people care. Deeply.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4606" data-end="4770">One user on a western Colorado message board wrote:<br data-start="4657" data-end="4660" />“Finally a chance to tell them that over-tourism is killing the experience. Let’s hope they actually hear it.”</p>
<p class="" data-start="4772" data-end="4921">Another chimed in:<br data-start="4790" data-end="4793" />“I want my daughter to have the same wilderness I had growing up. They’ve got to start planning like we’re running out of time.”</p>
<p class="" data-start="4923" data-end="4971">There’s frustration, yes. But there’s also hope.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4973" data-end="5034">People want a say. CPW, this time, says it’s ready to listen.</p>