Colorado Parks and Wildlife book wins national award for state park history
Courtesy photo/Colorado Parks and Wildlife
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife book chronicling the history of the state’s parks has earned national recognition.
“At Home in Nature: The History of Colorado’s State Parks” won the Ney C. Landrum History Award from the National Association of State Park Directors earlier this month during the group’s annual conference in West Virginia, according to a news release. The award honors outstanding original research and storytelling related to the history of state parks.
Written by Colorado author Mary Taylor Young in partnership with CPW staff and published in 2024, the hardbound book details the evolution of Colorado’s 43 state parks, tracing stories back more than 12,000 years and highlighting the role of tribes, women leaders, staff, volunteers and outdoor advocates.
The award committee praised the book for its depth of research and engaging presentation, calling it “a legacy gift to future generations.”
The book has earned multiple honors, also being named Best Anthology Book of 2025 by the Colorado Authors League and winning second place in the Association for Conservation Information’s national awards.
“We are so proud of this work that highlights the history and impact of the state parks system. It was a collaborative labor of love,” said CPW Capital Development Program Manager Margaret Taylor in the statement.
“At Home in Nature” sold out its first printing but is available at state park visitor centers and online at CPWShop.com.
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