Gov. John Hickenlooper this week outlined the first steps in a conservation and outdoors recreation initiative that ultimately aims to enable every Coloradan to live within a 10-minute walk of a “vibrant, green space.”

“Our goal would be to get the majority of Coloradans to, on a regular basis, appreciate that space,” Hickenlooper told reporters.

The governor had previously announced his Colorado Beautiful initiative during his State of the State address to lawmakers in January. During an event on Thursday in downtown Denver, the governor outlined specific initial steps in the initiative’s development.

Those steps will include creation of an interactive trail and recreational lands map and identifying 16 high-priority trail projects to help connect people to more recreational opportunities.

Hickenlooper said the map would identify all the state’s trails, open spaces, parks and protected lands in a single site.

“It’s technology that will connect people to outdoor opportunities,” said Hickenlooper, who expects the map to be available by next year.

Hickenlooper also announced that the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, along with Great Outdoors Colorado, known as GOCO, and other groups, will work to identify 16 trail projects in an effort to fill trail gaps or un-built trails across the state.

Those efforts will go toward the larger goal of Colorado Beautiful.

Hickenlooper’s announcement took place at the Outdoors Summit, an event aimed at getting all Coloradans, especially kids, involved in outdoor recreation and to foster a greater appreciation for the outdoors.

In addition to the governor’s announcement, the event was held to launch a separate GOCO-backed, 5-year initiative aimed at motivating young people to get more connected with nature. GOCO receives lottery proceeds to help preserve the state’s outdoor spaces.

The “Inspire Initiative” will partner will five pilot communities to “address local barriers that prevent kids from getting outside,” according to a GOCO media release.

The grant-based initiative will invest up to $25 million to fund outdoor recreational projects in 15 communities across the state. Investments will be made in the building or enhancing of parks and trails; the expansion of outdoor education and recreation programs; and in the funding of youth employment opportunities, in hopes of attracting youth to careers in the outdoors.

The event included remarks from former U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who talked about the importance of maintaining Colorado’s vibrant open spaces and recreational areas during a time of booming population growth.

Salazar, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general, said that Colorado’s population is expected to grow beyond 8 million by 2040.

“How will we grow in a way that protects Colorado and the beauty that it stands for?” Salazar asked.

Salazar said he doesn’t want the Front Range to look like a “non-stop city” like Los Angeles and said the best way to do that is to protect open spaces and preserve recreational lands.

“How we take care of those places is something that’s very important,” Salazar said.

— Twitter: @VicVela1