City of Fruita awarded Tourism Management Grant for Infrastructure Improvements at North Fruita Desert.

March 25, 2022

The City of Fruita, on behalf of the Fruita Trails Initiative, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Colorado Tourism Office to construct infrastructure improvements at the North Fruita Desert (“18 Road”) Special Recreation Management Area. These improvements will directly enhance visitor experience through increased access and allowing users the ability to spread out by having additional trail options. This grant will help the Fruita Trails Initiative construct three to four miles of new trails at 18 Road, as part of the implementation of the North Fruita Desert Master Plan. This is the second award that the Fruita Trails Initiative has been awarded for new trail construction, along with a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (“GOCO”), that will fund a separate four to five miles. Construction of these new trails is projected to be complete by May 2023.

The North Fruita Desert Master Plan is the result of significant community input and engagement, as well as partnerships with multiple groups including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Mesa County Public Health, the City of Fruita, the Colorado Plateau Mountain Biking Association (COPMOBA), and many local and regional businesses. Through all of the engagement, the plan identified needs to improve camping, infrastructure, facilities, signage, access, event capacity, maintenance, and adding 32 miles of new trails. Several of these improvements have already taken place including the BLM adding 56 new campsites, new trailhead access, expanded parking, three additional vault toilets, an event staging area, and new signage. This grant from the Colorado Tourism Office, in addition to the grant received from GOCO, aids in these goals and addresses a portion of the need for additional trails to alleviate crowding and minimize environmental impact.

“We are excited to be carrying out the goals of the North Fruita Desert Master Plan, goals that will directly enhance and maintain the experience for locals and visitors for many years to come. This is a direct result of the City’s partnerships with many local, state, and federal agencies, and we are thankful for their support as we all work together to implement this plan.” – Shannon Vassen, City of Fruita Assistant to the City Manager.

The City of Fruita would like to thank the Colorado Tourism Office for their ongoing partnership and their support of the implementation of the North Fruita Desert Master Plan. The Fruita Trails Initiative consists of staff from the City of Fruita, the Bureau of Land Management, Mesa County Public Health, the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Association, and several other local businesses. The Fruita Trails Initiative has been a part of many local projects and understands the importance of maintaining existing trails and having a sustainable plan for maintenance before building more trails. The Grand Valley Non-Motorized Trail Maintenance Crew launched in 2020 and will maintain the North Fruita Desert Trails and other regional trail systems in the future.

To learn more about the North Fruita Desert Master Plan visit fruita.org.

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Media Contact: Ciara DePinto, Communications and Engagement Specialist, cdepinto@fruita.org, 970-858-3663