SAN LUIS VALLEY — A collaborative effort between public and private partners is financing an educational and recreational plan for the area in Conejos and Costilla counties near the historic Lobatos Bridge, which will soon begin construction. 

 The Great Outdoors Fund (TGOF), in partnership with numerous stakeholders, including Conejos and Costilla counties, has received a $352,818 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado's (GOCO) Community Impact program. This grant will move the Lobatos Bridge Outdoor Classroom and Recreation Enhancement Project into its next phase: construction. 

This project is the result of years of dedicated community efforts and a collaborative fundraising campaign led by the Outdoors Fund.  

The fund recently received a grant of $101,928 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which was secured through a partnership with the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable. 

Lori McCullough, founder of the Great Outdoors Fund, told the Valley Courier the cost estimates for the project is about $5,000 less than initially estimated. The $697,693 project is now fully funded. 

The Lobatos Bridge, a double-span truss built in 1892 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company, is one of three remaining. According to documents filed to obtain a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, this type of structure 'never quite took off.' Only 30-40 of these types were built, and at the time of listing, it was one of three remaining. The Great Outdoors Fund is working on a recreation and education project for the area near the bridge. 

The project's primary purpose, which is adjacent to the historic bridge, is to develop a nature-based classroom to interpret the rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage of the Rio Grande Natural Area. This project will also enhance public access and recreation opportunities. 

McCullough states, "It will benefit people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds, especially the surrounding underserved communities." 

Plans call for a boat ramp, shade structures, picnic tables, and educational signs.  

As part of that nature-based classroom, the fund is working on ten interpretive signs to tell the region's natural and human history. Topics for the signs include the Battle of Kiowa Hill, the ferry crossing, the Lobatos Bridge, human history and Navajo sacred lands. The signs are the product of a team of researchers that includes historians, anthropologists, and tribal members led by Kelly Ortiz, an architectural designer. 

After nearly four decades of grassroots efforts and dedicated community engagement, the project was identified as a top priority of local officials. Over the past two years, The Great Outdoors Fund spearheaded an extensive outreach effort that brought together a wide range of partners, including the Bureau of Land Management, Conejos County, Costilla County, Adams State University's Department of History, Anthropology, and Political Science and the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center, Gates Family Foundation, Occidental, RG Bank, Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, SLV GO!, Trinchera Blanca Foundation, and numerous individual donors. The newest partners, GOCO, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and Rio Grande Basin Roundtable, helped us achieve our fundraising goal. 

The TGOF was founded in 2017 and began a collaborative effort with the Bureau of Land Management, an assistance agreement in 2018, and a cooperative agreement in 2022 to identify outdoor classroom and recreation sites. 

According to Tressesa Martinez, Conejos County Administrator, "The Lobatos Bridge is a significant historic landmark for Costilla and Conejos Counties. It has been used since the 1800s and has had a huge economic and communal impact between Conejos and Costilla counties. For many years, both counties have been great partners in maintaining the bridge. Now we are united to be great partners in developing this site to accurately tell the stories of this area that has become a cultural crossroads over time." 

According to McCullough, "The project also addresses the critical lack of public outdoor spaces in Costilla County, where 99% of the land is privately owned. By creating a vibrant recreational destination, the Lobatos Bridge project will benefit underserved communities, enhance local tourism, and stimulate economic growth across the Southern San Luis Valley." 

"GOCO's support to develop the Lobatos Bridge Recreation & Interpretive Education Project helps Costilla County satisfy its priorities for open space by giving residents and visitors new opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation and enhance the visitor experience of this beautiful landscape gem," said Lawrence Pacheco, Costilla County open space coordinator. "By preserving the important stories, local history, and rich culture of this area through education, we ensure future generations will be able to experience and learn the heritage of this unique site in perpetuity." 

"We are grateful to everyone who has supported this project, but these last two grants are a turning point for the Lobatos Bridge project," said TGOF Founder Lori McCullough. "It allows us to shift from fundraising to delivering tangible results. Together with our partners, we're creating a space that will provide equitable outdoor access, preserve cultural history, and inspire stewardship for generations to come."