A park in Colorado Springs collected the Colorado Lottery’s first-ever People’s Choice Starburst Award for its redesign.
The Lottery said improvements at Panorama Park increased opportunities for wellness and recreation activities in a “diverse and underserved community.”
Colorado Springs used a $350,000 Lottery grant allocated to Great Outdoors Colorado to expand the park. It is now the largest recreation facility in the Colorado Springs area.
Record number of submissions this year
There were 13 Starburst Award recipients this year. Submitted projects were judged on creativity, impact on the local community, and overall impact on the state.
In addition to traditional park amenities, Panorama Park features a climbing boulder, fitness stations, a bike park, a community-made art mural, and other public art pieces. Located in Southeast Colorado Springs, the park hosts family-friendly activities like drop-in art programs and trail walks.
The Colorado Lottery disbursed nearly $9 million in grants after sifting through a record number of submissions. The lottery funds those grants with ticket sales, but they don’t offer online sales. However, players can purchase tickets through Jackpocket Colorado, a third-party app DraftKings owns.
The Lottery launched the People’s Choice Award to allow the public to vote on their favorite outdoor or conservation project. Residents submitted more than 16,000 ballots between June 15 and July 15. Panorama Park came out on top with 1,858 votes.
Colorado Lottery director Tom Seaver said he was ecstatic with the public’s participation.
“We were blown away by the overwhelming response to our first People’s Choice Starburst Award. Our Starburst Award winners came out in full force to compete for this award, but to me, all of these projects are winners.”
All Colorado Lottery proceeds go to outdoor projects
As the result of a 1992 voter mandate, all Colorado Lottery proceeds go to open space, parks, recreation, rivers, trails and wildlife projects.
The following groups receive funds:
- Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
- Conservation Trust Fund (CTF)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Building Excellent Schools Today Fund
- Outdoor Equity Fund (OEF)
Other 2024 Starburst Award winners
Other winners of 2024 Starburst Awards included a diverse cross-section of projects across the state.
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Ranger Program – $23,768 (GOCO)
- Town of Castle Rock & Meadows Metropolitan District No. 1, Butterfield Crossing and Possibilities Playground – $421,196 (CTF)
- Crown Mountain Park & Recreation District Bike Park – $239,783 (GOCO $168,091, CTF $71,692)
- The Town of La Junta, Brick and Tile Park – $2.7 million (GOCO $350,000, CTF $84,017)
- Town of Erie Coal Creek Park – $555,596 (GOCO)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Winter Wildlife Conservation Initiative – $32,500 (GOCO)
- The Town of Castle Rock Colorado Front Range Trail – $2 million (GOCO)
- Vibe Tribe Adventures, Black Girls Hike, Urban Trekker, and American Adventure Sports Club – $65,000 (OEF)
- Larimer County Conservation Corps, Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative – $65,275 (GOCO)
- Great Outdoors Colorado & National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, RESTORE Colorado – $1 million annual/$4.5 million to-date (GOCO)
- Hinsdale County, Lake San Cristobal Island Acquisition – $1.3 million (GOCO)
- Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Delhi Ranch Conservation Easement – $200,000 (GOCO)
The Lake San Cristobal Island project came in second in the People’s Choice awards, just 52 votes behind Panorama Park.
Seaver said all the projects improve quality of life in Colorado.
“The incredibly impactful projects represented here showcase critical funding for everything from important planning grants and connecting communities through trails, to open space conservation and the protection of vistas, and demonstrate how Lottery dollars have helped make Colorado what it is today.
“This year’s Starburst winners are exemplary advocates for their communities, making a difference one project at a time.”
