Go Back

Funding the great outdoors

Funding the great outdoors
How are parks, open space and trails paid for? The city uses every way it can to pay for improvements to parks, open space and trails and to buy new parkland for residents to enjoy. Review all the ways taxpayer funds and other dollars are put to work to help you enjoy the great outdoors in Lakewood.

  • Open Space Fund: This is a specific fund in the city’s budget that comes from Lakewood’s share of Jefferson County’s Open Space Tax. In 1972, voters approved a one half of 1 percent – or 0.5% -- sales tax on goods to help pay for buying and improving parks and open space throughout the county. The money in this fund can only be spent on parks, open space and trail needs.
  • TABOR: This stands for the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, a complex state law that affects all governments in Colorado by placing limits on their budgets. Voters, however, can approve lifting the TABOR limits and allow that money to be keep in government budgets. Lakewood voters approved lifting TABOR limits on the city’s budget from 2017 to 2025, and they designated a portion of those funds to be spent on parks and open space. Watch "TABOR in 90 seconds"(External link) video or read more in the "Learn about TABOR" section to the right.
  • Grants: The city seeks grants from numerous organizations such as the state’s Great Outdoors Colorado agency; Colorado Parks and Recreation Association; State Historic Fund; Scientific and Cultural Facilities District; Jefferson Open Space that provides grants in addition to the city’s share of the sales tax; and other organizations.
  • Conservation Trust Fund: These funds come from the city’s share of the state lottery proceeds.
  • Federal funds: The city receives federal funds designated for each city called the Community Development Block Grant that can be used to support parks and open space, and Lakewood also applies for grants from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
  • Other funds: The city’s longstanding Neighborhood Participation Program has supported improvements to neighborhood parks. In some specific instances, economic development funds that come from a lodging tax on hotel rooms have been used along with the city’s General Fund.
  • Donations: The city also has received donations and sponsorships supporting outdoor program needs.
  • Golf Enterprise Fund: The maintenance and operation of the city’s two golf courses are funded by the fees that golfers pay to play at the courses.