[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E755-E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             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

[[Page E756]]

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.

                          ____________________