Governor Polis Visits Lathrop State Park, Colorado's First and Favorite

WALSENBURG - Today, Governor Polis visited Colorado's first state park to celebrate Lathrop State Park's victory in Governor Polis's Colorado State Park March Madness Bracket and meet with the dedicated staff who keep it running for Coloradans and visitors. Lathrop State Park was selected by Coloradans as the winner of Colorado's State Park Bracket. To celebrate Colorado's 43 state parks, Governor Polis hosted a bracket where Coloradans voted on their favorite state park.

"It's fitting that as we celebrate Colorado's 150th birthday, our state's very first state park was recognized by Coloradans in our annual March Madness bracket. Coloradans have been fishing, camping, and watching the sun set behind the Spanish Peaks at Lathrop State Park for more than six decades. As Colorado's first state park, Lathrop set the standard for how we can protect Colorado's iconic outdoors and provide Coloradans and visitors places to get outside, stay active, and explore. I'm proud to be here today with the hardworking Colorado Parks and Wildlife workers who keep Lathrop Park safe, clean, and accessible for all of us," said Governor Polis.

In 2021, Governor Polis signed legislation creating the Keep Colorado Wild Pass, which reduced Colorado's state parks pass to just $29, breaking down barriers to the outdoors. The pass became available on January 3, 2023. Coloradans who qualify can also sign up for the Centennial State Park Pass, which costs just $14.

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