VALLEY — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is expanding the successful Check-Out Colorado State Parks Program from public libraries to Colorado's publicly funded college and university libraries in 2017. Starting April 1, academic libraries across the state began to offer state park passes to “check out” along with an activity backpack.

"We hope that the ability to check out a state park pass from the local library encourages people to check out Colorado state parks,” said CPW Director Bob Broscheid. “Colorado state parks offer some of the state’s best opportunities for wildlife viewing and recreation. We want this program to be a resource for local communities and individuals to access the parks.”

Based on the positive survey data from participant evaluations, library staff and park managers, CPW is continuing the Check-Out State Parks program another year. Following the 2016 pilot program, surveys found that the program works: many visited a state park for the first time using a pass checked out from their local library.

The Check-Out Colorado State Parks Program is an initiative with the State Library offering residents the ability to reserve and check-out a free park pass for entrance into all 42 state parks along with an adventure backpack that is filled with park information, educational activities and binoculars.

The park pass and backpack can be checked out for up to seven days and may be renewed according the participating library's renewal policy.

Users are encouraged to post pictures to Instagram and Twitter using #CheckOutColorado.

Participating libraries in the San Luis Valley include:
Adams State - Nielsen Library, Alamosa
Alamosa Public Library, 300 Hunt Avenue, Alamosa
Conejos County Library District La Jara Library, 17703 Hwy 285, La Jara
Conejos County Library District Antonito Branch Library, 220 Main Street, Antonito
Costilla County Public Library San Luis Library, 418 Gasper St., San Luis
Costilla County Public Library Blanca-Fort Garland Library, 17591 E. Highway 160, Blanca
Mineral County Regional Library, 308 La Garita, Creede
Northern Saguache County Library District, 702 Pitkin Street, Saguache
Northern Saguache County Library District Crestone-Baca Library, 67487 C.R. T., Crestone
Rio Grande County Library District Carnegie Library/South Fork Branch, 31 Mall Street, South Fork
Rio Grande County Library District Carnegie Public Library (Main), 120 Jefferson St., Monte Vista
Rio Grande County Library District Del Norte Public Library, 790 Grand Avenue, Del Norte