The publication is reproduced in full below:
JEFF SHOEMAKER
______
HON. ED PERLMUTTER
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Representative Diana DeGette, Representative Ken Buck and Representative Jason Crow to recognize Jeff Shoemaker of The Greenway Foundation on his retirement.
For more than forty years, Jeff has served as the Executive Director of The Greenway Foundation (TGF). Under his leadership, TGF has partnered with countless public and private organizations to help raise
$500 million for environmental and recreational improvements along the South Platte River and its numerous tributaries throughout the Denver metro region and beyond. These priceless amenities include the watersheds of the City and County of Denver, along with Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties, as well as a number of nearby municipalities. This collective investment over the last four decades to the reclamation and preservation of one of the region's greatest natural resources is also a result of the more than $20 billion in economic development of the surrounding areas. Today the region is home to over 100 miles of multi-use recreational trails, more than 100 acres of parks and natural areas, and over 100,000 acre feet of rivers and creeks. Jeffs outstanding work has helped improve both the water quality and access for our region.
Throughout his career, Jeff has made countless other contributions to the community through service on various boards and committees. In November 2018, Jeff served on the Executive Committee in support of the 2A ballot measure in the City of Denver which secured over $35 million per year for Denver's parks and waterways. And as the Chair of Metro Denver's Chamber's successful 7G ballot measure, he was able to help secure more than $20 million per year for the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. Jeff also served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Parks Foundation (CPF) which, working with Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) as well as numerous county, municipal and non-profit organizations, provides funding, advocacy and community outreach for the benefit of Colorado's 42 State Parks. To date, the CPF has provided over $1,000,000 of project and program-based grants since its inception in 1985. In 2010, the CPF coordinated the procedural and legislative processes resulting in the creation of a Colorado State Parks License Plate, allowing supporters of State Parks across Colorado and beyond to promote and advocate that support through the purchase of a State Parks Plate. Over 3,500 Colorado residents are now proud owners of the Colorado State Parks Plate with related proceeds providing additional financial support to Colorado State Parks which, to date, has provided over $20,000 in grants to state parks across Colorado.
In addition to Jeff's work professionally, he has served his community in other capacities. He taught as a public school teacher from 1977 to 1982, served as a member of the Colorado Legislature from 1987 to 1992 and was appointed to two terms on the CSU Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2008. Jeff was appointed to the MSU Denver Board of Trustees in 2016 and serves as the President of a local non-profit organization called Up Close and Musical, which provides professional performances of classical music to elementary schools by Colorado Symphony Orchestra musicians. Jeff is a devoted husband to his wife Nancy, and a proud dad of four adult daughters and he has two granddaughters.
We have had the privilege of working with Jeff on many different occasions and continue to appreciate his service on behalf of our community, particularly his hard work and dedication to environmental causes. We wish Jeff all the best in retirement and send gratitude for his service to our community, the State of Colorado, and the United States of America.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 119(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 119(2)
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