Big changes are in store for the summer scene at Big Molas Lake, located just north of Molas Pass. Courtesy of a Great Outdoors Colorado grant, improvements to the Molas Lake Park – a 137-acre Town of Silverton park on the banks of the lake – will be forthcoming.

The park was first designated by President Herbert Hoover in 1925, according to a recent report in the Silverton Standard. Since that time, very few funds have been available to maintain the public park.

“Roads, campsites and privies had deteriorated to the point that many campers were choosing to go elsewhere,” Silverton Planner Bev Kaiser commented. In addition the State Water Resources Engineer recently found the Molas Lake dam in poor condition and mandated improvements.

Nearly $1 million in grant funds have flowed toward the project over the past years from sources including Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the Southwest Water Conservancy.

– Will Sands