With a little more momentum, Colorado drivers could soon display their Rocky Mountain pride on their bumpers.

The Rocky Mountain Nature Association, a nonprofit that works to benefit Rocky Mountain National Park, is looking to create a license plate featuring the Park and benefiting youth and educational projects.

The plate features a bull elk standing among sunflowers in its center, with a background a nighttime sky, snowy moonlit peaks and greenery around the word “Rocky Mountain National Park.”

“It’s supposed to evoke a feeling of being on the tundra in the evening,” said Rocky Mountain Nature Association development manager Julie Klett.

Through an online petition, the Rocky Mountain Nature Association needs to collect enough signatures to bring the proposed plates to a vote in the Colorado state legislature. The petition needs 3,000 Colorado resident signatures in support of the initiative first, and the license plate initiative has already experienced some delays.

“We’ve been trying for a deadline of the end of (2013), but we didn’t make that,” Klett said. “So we’re going to continue to gather signatures.”

The association had originally planned on a bill for the license plate going to the Colorado legislature in January, with the aim of having the plates ready for the Park’s centennial in 2015. As of Dec. 8, the online petition has garnered 2,544 signatures. Although 3,000 are needed for the initiative to move forward, the association has set the goal to 4,000 signatures to serve as a buffer. Some signatures might not be complete or from out-of-state residents, Klett said, and having a buffer will help prevent further delays.

By signing the petition, supporters are pledging to purchase the license plates if they’re approved by the state legislature. Use of the plates would require an initial $25 donation to the Rocky Mountain Nature Association in addition to vehicle registration fees. Plate renewal will cost $20 in addition to registration fees.

All proceeds will directly support Rocky Mountain National Park, going to projects and programs like the American Conservation Corps, Junior Ranger program, youth seminars, research fellowships, internships and other educational programs. Colorado residents can sign the petition by visiting http://www.rmna.org.

“It’s going to take a little longer than hoped, but we’re sure we’ll be successful,” Klett said.

Leia Larsen can be reached at 970-887-3334 ext. 19603.