Colorado Gov announces new state park in western mountains

DENVER (AP) — Gov. Jared Polis says a private ranch with ponds, springs and rare wetland plants in Colorado’s western mountains will be part of a new state park. Polis was joined by state and federal parks officials for his announcement Wednesday. Polis says a 488-acre ranch near Sweetwater Lake in Garfield County, a northwestern part of the state which borders Utah, will become part of the White River National Forest. The ranch land was acquired by the federal park service’s conservation fund on Aug. 31. Polis says the area was among the federal program’s top priority purchases to increase public recreation and protect wildlife and nature.