The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Grants of all sizes awarded up and down the valley
By Mark Reaman
The Gunnison County Metropolitan District (MetRec) awarded $729,784 in grants to 27 different local organizations as part of the organization’s 2025 Recreation Grant Program. Grant sizes ranged from $1,400 to $100,000. The largest award of $100,000 went to the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association for trails while the smallest grant of $1,400 went to the City of Gunnison Parks and Rec program for some equipment upgrades.
“We’re thrilled to support these incredible local organizations that work tirelessly to strengthen our community,” said executive director Derrick Nehrenberg. “The dedication and impact of these groups truly exemplifies the community spirit of Gunnison County, and we’re honored to help amplify their vital work.”
This is the third year MetRec has awarded such grants throughout the community. So far, the organization has distributed $1,871,952 in grant funding with the largest one being $1.2 million to assist with the turf field being installed at the Crested Butte Community School.
According to a press release from the organization, MetRec’s Recreation Grant Program fulfills a key part of the organization’s mission, as the awards enable recipients to improve community connection and wellbeing through recreation offerings, access and information.
“It’s really unbelievable when you look at what this valley has to offer in terms of recreation and creative opportunities,” said board director Mary McAllister. “It’s a beautiful thing and difficult thing at the same time. Because ultimately there were requests for about $220,000 more than what we had budgeted.”
Recipients range from the Gunnison Senior Center and Crested Butte Mountain Theater to the Gunnison Hinsdale Early Childhood Council and Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory—ensuring financial support for a variety of populations and interests.
“There wasn’t any one toughest decision,” said Nehrenberg. “The hardest part is awarding grants within the budget knowing that you’re going to really disappoint some organizations.”
Organizations in the North Valley are allowed to tap into funds generated by a special property tax approved by voters in the north district for such projects. Organizations from the south district get money from the MetRec’s general fund. Nehrenberg explained that the one district-wide mill can fund both north and south subdistrict grants. “The north subdistrict voters approved an additional two mills to fund recreation, so it has its own recreation budget that can only be spent on north subdistrict rec projects,” he said. MetRec has been saving about half of the North subdistrict budget since 2023, which is how it could support the CBCS field and playground.
“We recognize that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to community wellbeing,” he said. “That’s why we trust these specialized organizations—they know their populations and can deliver targeted programs that address real needs with proven expertise.”
Other examples of the 2025 grant awards include: $57,682 to the town of Crested Butte for a Mineral Point Trail; $25,000 to replace playground equipment in Mt. Crested Butte’s Ted Scheske playground; the CB Avalanche Center received $40,000 primarily for staff; the CB Land Trust got $51,000 for operational expenses; the CB Mountain Theatre got $21,000 to support the artistic director role; CB Nordic pulled in $75,000 for trails and programming; $25,000 went to Gunnison Trails for trail maintenance expenses; and the Gunnison Senior Center received $11,627 for outdoor recreation programs.
MetRec offers five types of grants: Capital, Operations, Community, Multi-Year Operations and Multi-Year Community. An independent volunteer Grant Review Committee evaluates applications based on a rubric scoring alignment to MetRec’s mission, community needs, impact, accessibility, diversity of user groups, fiscal viability and value to the community. The committee then provides the Recreation Committee with suggested awards, after which the Board of Directors ratify the awards.
Applications for the 2026 Recreation Grant Program will open next spring. Visit the MetRec website for more information on the program.
