After going inactive and dissolving over the past two years, the Friends of Black Canyon National Park is relaunching with new leadership, and the fundraising organization is looking to kick things off with a bang.
“Because it went dormant for more than two years, (former president Joel Evans) basically had to dismantle (the Friends organization),” said current president Ally Gerken. “We had to redo everything from the start.”
The reformation of the organization coincides with Black Canyon National Park’s 25th anniversary, which is less than two weeks away, on Oct. 21.
It was 1999 when the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was officially designated a national park, as signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
“We plan on turning the birthday celebration, or anniversary, into an annual event,” Green said. “We want to eventually get to the point where we hold a 5K run in the park.”
This year, however, the Friends organization will hold its birthday kickoff celebration on Oct. 12 at Pomona Brewing Company. Then on Oct. 18, the organization will hold its official birthday fundraiser at Bluecorn Cafe.
The Pomona Brewing Company event on Oct. 12 will last from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Pomona will debut its Black Canyon IPA beer in conjunction with the celebration.
The first 50 people to RSVP for the event will receive a free pint, and Pomona will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the Black Canyon IPA batch to the Friends organization.
The official fundraiser at Bluecorn Cafe on Oct. 18 will last from 7 to 9 p.m. The Black Canyon Boys will play live music. There will be appetizers, as well as a cash bar. Tickets are $35 for that event.
Friends organizations around the country partner with National Parks to fundraise, advocate and educate. They typically work in close coordination with national park superintendents. The Friends of the Black Canyon National Park are no different.
“We work with (superintendent) Stuart West directly,” Green said. “He will direct park projects for us, whether that’s enhancing trails, or park cleanup that needs to happen. We’re considering putting in areas for tent camping, which would be a volunteer project, as well.”
The Black Canyon National Park is closely linked to Montrose, but the Friends organization feels the community could do more to stay linked with its national park.
“It’s incredibly underutilized by our local community,” Gerken said. “So our 2025-26 mission for the Friends group is going to be to get more locals to the park.”
For more information on the birthday celebration, visit friendsoftheblackcanyon.org/happybirthday
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
