GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (BRAIN) — The Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association is looking to raise $30,000 by July 29 to help fund construction of the Palisade Plunge, a planned 32-mile backcountry singletrack connecting the top of Grand Mesa outside of Grand Junction, Colorado, to the town of Palisade some 6,000 feet below.
COPMOBA is raising the funds as part of a larger effort to qualify for matching funds from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's state trails program, with an application deadline of Aug. 1, COPMOBA president Scott Winans told BRAIN. Winans is also co-owner of retailer Rapid Creek Cycles & Sports in Palisade and vice president of product engineering at MRP in Grand Junction.
The projected total cost of the Palisade Plunge project is $1.6 million. The trail will be open to hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners and other non-motorized users. BRAIN reported on the trail project as part of its Grand Valley Dealer Tour last year.
The first phase of the project, which would start in spring 2019 if funding is secured, would cover 18 miles of the lower portion of the route. The second phase would follow immediately after that.
Donors can contribute on the COPMOBA website or by mailing a check to COPMOBA at PO Box 4602, Grand Junction, CO 81402. Fundraising will continue past the July 29 deadline, Winans noted.
