FORT GARLAND – Fort Garland Museum has received a $2,000 grant from the Colorado Tree Coalition (CTC) for the Fort Garland Parade Ground Tree Restoration Project. 

Fort Garland Museum is a Community Museum of History Colorado. Fort Garland Museum was established in 1858 as a garrison for over 100 men. Today it features a parade ground, historic adobe buildings with re-creation of the commandant’s quarters during Kit Carson’s time. It is located in Fort Garland which is a small, unincorporated community in Costilla County with a population of approximately 350 full time residents.

The purpose for the Fort Garland Parade Ground Tree Restoration Project is that the Museum receives 10,000 visitors annually and numerous summer programs for school kids are offered under the shade of these trees.  The conditions of the trees are currently on the parade ground are not native but provide shade and ambiance to the fort. The trees and flagpole at the center of the grounds are iconic images of the Fort. The 32 trees are in various states of health ranging from good too poor to dying. The plan is to plant 12 new cottonwoods to replace the ones in poor health or creating hazards.

Through interpretive labels and guided tours, the environment and the effects of the project will have an educational piece for personnel and visitors, including on why cottonwood trees were selected by the soldiers to surround the parade ground, how they were watered and the benefits and problems with that type of tree. 

The Colorado Tree Coalition awarded nearly $35,000 to 11 organizations in 2017. Along with matching funds provided by the grant recipients this helped plant more than 360 trees in communities across Colorado. Each of these projects allowed residents the opportunity to make a difference in their community with a combined total of 3,117 hours of volunteer service.  CTC grants are made possible through the support of the USDA Forest Service, the Colorado State Forest Service, Xcel Energy Foundation, Xcel Energy Vegetation Management, Colorado Public Radio and our Colorado Tree Coalition members and supporters. Since 1991 the Colorado Tree Coalition has awarded 512 grants totaling over $878,000.  These grants have been matched with over $7.9 million in community money and/or time.  As a result of these grants over 75,180 trees have been planted throughout the state.