Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has raised the bar for historical state park narratives with its book "At Home in Nature, The History of Colorado’s State Parks," taking home the Ney Landrum History Award and additional honors at the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) annual conference, as reported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the book's tale spans a history reaching back 12,000 years, capturing the trials and achievements that molded Colorado's state parks, and it was selected out of nearly 60 submissions securing recognition for its exceptional research and the vivid storytelling that binds readers to the state’s natural treasures.
The NASPD, celebrating the book during their conference at West Virginia's Canaan Valley Resort State Park, heralded CPW's work as a crucial conservation of the passion Coloradans hold for their state's landscapes, a testament to the historical roots and respect for the Tribes and individuals who have called these lands home, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The recognition is one of several, with the book previously earning the title of Best Anthology Book of 2025 by the Colorado Authors League and a respectable second place in the Association for Conservation Information, proving its credentials across the board.
Margaret Taylor, CPW's Capital Development Program Manager, embraced the national attention as validation of the team's dedication, asserting that "We are so proud of this work that highlights the history and impact of the state parks system," as noted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Moreover, amidst the widespread acclaim, the project's mainstay, Mary Taylor Young, alongside other CPW staff and Wayne Lewis, transformed the manuscript into a photographic treasure, a yearlong endeavor that resulted in a captivating mix of visuals and narratives.
