DENVER — The San Luis Valley has won a fair share of the latest Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Lottery grants.

According to a press release, the GOCO Board has awarded $9.6 million in Lottery grants for 55 park and open space projects to benefit 34 Colorado counties.

In Rio Grande County, the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT) received $520,000 to conserve River Bend Ranch.

A $200,000 grant went to La Jara in Conejos County for a sports complex and The Fort Garland Park project in Costilla County netted $43,410.

Saguache County received $191,940 for the Vista Grande Parkland acquisition.

The board had only intended to award $8 million for this round of grant requests, but increased the amount to accommodate more projects. Grant applicants had requested $14.6 million with the majority of requests coming from local governments for outdoor recreation projects.

“At a time when people don’t have as many resources to travel, it is important to make additional dollars available to fund outdoor projects in and near their communities,” said GOCO Board chairman Norma Anderson.

The projects will result in the preservation of 43,617 acres of open space, the addition or enhancement of 37 community outdoor recreation projects, and creation of plans for five future projects.

In other action, the board voted to award grants and make investments in Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife of $34 million in Fiscal Year 2010, which begins on July 1, 2009. It also set aside $20 million for additional regional outdoor recreation projects and to help preserve additional parcels of open space that might be available in a depressed real estate market.

Great Outdoor Colorado is the result of a citizens’ initiative passed in 1992. Its mission is to help preserve, protect and enhance the state’s wildlife, park, river, trails and open space heritage by awarding funds to local governments, land trusts, Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

GOCO is celebrating its 15th anniversary of grant making in 2009.