Chapman Hill, the city’s public ski hill, soon may get a new role as a summer destination.
Trails 2000, a Durango-based nonprofit that builds, maintains and promotes trails, is proposing a bike terrain park for summer months at Chapman.
Mary Monroe, executive director of Trails 2000, presented a preliminary proposal to the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board last week. Trails 2000 is working with Alpine Bike Parks, a Whistler, B.C.-based bike park and trail consultant, to flesh out a more-detailed proposal for Chapman Hill, Monroe said.
The initial proposal envisions a bike track on the lower portion of the hill, with a “skills area” above that.
Still up in the air are operating hours, responsibility for park maintenance and liability issues. The advisory board asked Monroe to report back at the board’s June 15 meeting, once the city has had an opportunity to provide notice to Chapman Hill neighbors.
“It sounds like a great idea that needs to be explored and fleshed out,” said board member Bill Zimsky.
Alpine Bike Parks has advised for parks in Boulder, Idaho, California and Pennsylvania, according to its website. One of its principals previously lived in Durango, Cathy Metz, Parks and Recreation director, said.
