Friends of Lory:

Supporting the Natural Legacy of Lory State Park

History

The Friends of Lory State Park began in the fall of 2012 with a “steering committee.” In April 2013, the committee voted to incorporate as a non-profit organization with the purpose of supporting the Park. The Friends of Lory applied for 501(c)(3) non-profit status in March 2014 and received that status September 18, 2014. The FoLSP Board of Directors is a volunteer working board that guides park projects. Our goal is to maintain and improve the 2,492-acre state park.

The Board relies on donations and memberships to fund park improvements.

VISION

Friends of Lory State Park helps the Park with day-to-day management and promotes stewardship, education and recreation programs for any and all visitors through volunteer assistance and financial support. 

MISSION

Friends of Lory State Park is dedicated to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Park. 

Photo by Skip Harper

Accomplishments

The Friends of Lory and Lory State Park are usually planning or in the midst of executing projects to enhance park stewardship, education and recreation opportunities. We rely on grant funding and donations to provide the capital for most projects. The majority of the planning and physical work is done by dedicated volunteers in support of park staff. We are grateful for our volunteers and for the project funds we have received. The park and the Friends always need volunteers. If park stewardship, education, recreation and, well, fun, interest you, email us at info@loryfriends.org or sign up as a volunteer through CPW Connect. 

Get the Kids Outside Environmental Education Scholarship

Launched in 2015, this scholarship program provides transportation funds for school groups to visit Lory State Park and enjoy an outdoor educational program with the Park’s Naturalist and Environmental Educator and Park volunteers. The scholarship is overseen by the Friends’ Environmental Education Committee, which awards grants to schools that need financial assistance. Since its inception, the scholarship has helped about 500 students every year to participate in outdoor educational experiences.

Equestrian Course Rebuild & Maintenance

In 2013, the Friends received an $8,000 grant from the Foundation for Colorado State Parks to design and rebuild the equestrian jump course that had been destroyed in the March 2013 Galena Fire. With expert guidance from renowned course designer James Atkinson, work started in the summer of 2013. The Friends raised additional funds from private donors – and muscle and perseverance – from a cadre of volunteers. The work was complete and the course reopened in September 2015. The Friends and additional volunteers provide regular maintenance. The course at Lory State Park is one of the few public-lands equestrian jump courses in northern Colorado. 

Bridge Rebuilding & Fire Recovery

The 2013 Galena Fire also destroyed most of the bridges on Park trails. Many donors stepped forward and gave thousands of dollars to purchase materials and hundreds of volunteers, organized by the Friends and Park leadership, came together to collect and remove the old material and build new bridges. The project was completed in 2015.

Homestead Accessible Trail

The Homestead Accessible Trail was dedicated in September 2025. It is the park’s first trail accessible for people using wheelchairs, walkers, for people pushing strollers, for the visually challenged and the hearing challenged. The trailhead is next to the Homestead Picnic Area and winds for one quarter of a mile to different views of the park and back to the picnic area. A new restroom facility was also installed for the trail and picnic area. Planning for the trail began in 2020 with the Friends Vice President Rick Bunch. Rick raised the money and cheered on Park staff and volunteers as the project unfolded and, with his wife, Kay, took the first tour of the trail and were followed by dozens of volunteers, donors and park staff.