U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse announced Monday that he has secured $1 million in federal funding for Estes Park’s proposed public safety center and is seeking an additional $3 million to relocate horse barns at the site.
Neguse made the announcement during a visit to Estes Park that included meetings with local officials, a public meet-and-greet, and the swearing-in ceremony for the Estes Valley Fire Protection District’s new chief.
Neguse, a Democrat from Lafayette who represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, began the afternoon at Estes Park Town Hall, where he met with Mayor Gary Hall and local business and civic leaders to discuss issues affecting the Estes Valley.
In an interview with the Estes Valley Voice, Neguse said he secured the $1 million in federal community project funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the town’s proposed public safety campus.
The funding, approved through the congressional appropriations process, is expected to begin flowing next year as the town submits reimbursement requests for eligible project expenses.
“By way of background, every member of Congress generally identifies 13 to 15 projects within their community to fight for at the federal level as part of the community project funding process, and so we included the Town of Estes Park’s request as part of their upgrade for the public safety new campus,” Neguse said.
Neguse also said he is pursuing an additional $3 million in federal funding to relocate the horse barns currently located on the property at the corner of Manford Avenue and Community Drive, a step he said is necessary before construction of the public safety campus can begin. The additional funding request has not yet been approved by Congress.
From town hall, Neguse walked across the street to Bond Park for a “Congress on the Corner” meet-and-greet, where residents and visitors had an opportunity to speak with him one-on-one.
He was joined by Colorado State Sen. Janice Marchman, a Democrat from Loveland who represents Estes Park and surrounding communities in Colorado’s 15th Senate District.
The event unfolded against a classic Estes Park backdrop as roughly three dozen elk grazed in Bond Park while more than three dozen tourists looked on. Public safety officers reminded visitors, including the congressman and senator, to keep their distance from the animals.
Neguse and Marchman then attended the 3:30 p.m. swearing-in for Kevin Nunn as chief of the Estes Valley Fire Protection District. More than 70 people gathered at the Dannels Fire Station for the formal change-of-command ceremony. Interim Chief Warren Jones removed the chief’s badge from his uniform and pinned it on Nunn’s chest. Board President Sandi Smith then administered the oath of office.
Addressing the audience, Neguse said, “It’s a privilege to be here in Estes Park celebrating a really important new chapter, as was so well described, for the fire protection district.”
He thanked the firefighters, emergency responders, law enforcement officers, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office personnel, Rocky Mountain National Park representatives, and members of the Estes Valley community for their service.
“Thank you all so much, of course, not just for being here to support and celebrate Chief Kevin Nunn as he takes his official oath of office, but also for the work that you do each and every day,” Neguse said.
Following the ceremony, Neguse and Marchman toured the site selected for the proposed public safety center before concluding their Estes Park visit at a private fundraising event hosted by Jan and John Gehlhausen.
Neguse serves as ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Lands, where he focuses on issues affecting national parks, public lands, and western communities. He also serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Rules.
Marchman chairs the Colorado General Assembly’s Joint Technology Committee and serves as vice chair of the Senate Education and Senate Finance committees. She also serves on the Legislative Council.
Both Neguse and Marchman will stand for election this November. Republican Kelley Dennison of Estes Park is running for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, and Republican Rob Woodward is running for Colorado State Senate District 15. Woodward held the seat before losing to Marchman in 2022. This is Dennison’s first campaign. She has not held office before.
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