Mark Madsen Accessibility Celebration

August 10, 2020 is the 5th anniversary of Mark Madsen’s passing, and it’s hard to believe that much time has passed already. In those years, and thanks to the many incredible donations by all of you, we have purchased 5 Action trackchairs at a cost of $15,000 each and helped get this ground-breaking program off the ground. Colorado Parks & Wildlife created the Staunton Track-Chair Program, and Staunton volunteers have taken over 500 visitors with disabilities in the track chairs allowing them to hike, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors with their friends and families. Every year, the Action trackchair reservations are booked out through the summer once the program opens in the spring and multiple track chairs hikes are scheduled every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June through October. The immense and continuing popularity of this program is a testament to the amazing Staunton volunteers and staff dedicating their time and passionate effort, CPW’s committment to accessibility, and the tremendous need for a program such as this.

With consideration of everyone’s health and safety due to COVID-19, we have decided not to hold our traditional BBQ potluck Mark Madsen Accessibility fundraiser. Instead, we will be have a table under our tent at the intersection of the Staunton Ranch Trail and Dines Trail where, as our thanks to all of you who have supported us over the years, we will be giving out small goodie bags containing, among other things, the coupons below for you to take to the listed participating area restaurants, Aspen Peak Cellars, Brooks Place Tavern and Rocky Mountain Wraps, who have generously offered to support Friends of Staunton State Park by donating a portion of their sales for the day to us! In addition to some of their proceeds, Aspen Peak Cellars would like to do a drawing for an annual Colorado State Park Pass (value $80.00)! Be sure to fill out the contact information and take it to the winery on Saturday or Sunday to qualify.
**You must turn in the drawing slip AT Aspen Peak Cellars on Saturday the 15th or Sunday the 16th- it will not be added to the drawing if left at Brooks Place Tavern or Rocky Mountain Wraps, or if posted online.**

With the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we’ve seen record-breaking numbers of new visitors to Staunton State Park. People have discovered how healing and beneficial it is to be outdoors, and hopefully are realizing how important it is to Preserve, Promote and Protect our natural lands. The support that Friends of Staunton State Park provides for education programs, trail signage, visitor center displays, our preservation of the historic Staunton Homestead Cabin, and other amenities is needed more than ever.

We greatly appreciate any donations you can make, and hope you will continue to help us in our mission, “working in partnership with others to preserve, promote and protect the wildlife, natural beauty and historic legacy of Staunton State Park for present and future generations.”

Thank you all! We look forward to seeing you on the trails and at the 2021 Mark Madsen Accessibility Celebration.