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Bike & River Park

City is responsive and on the right track developing key recreational amenities

Pump track, log ride, skills trails. The makings of a bike park in Durango could be a step closer to reality thanks to city council’s nod last week to staff to set in motion the purchase of 3.35 acres of open space near the top of Tech Center Drive. The approval is a great example of city staff and council seeing and seizing opportunities to continue to grow recreational opportunities in Durango, be environmentally and fiscally responsible and responsive to neighborhood concerns.

The purchase will accomplish several things including relocating the mountain of dirty oil- and gravel-laden snow plowed from city streets in winter to near the city garbage collection and recycling center, a more compatible location than Cundiff Park. With it, run-off from melting snow that polluted the river from spring sometimes into August will disappear, as will the middle-of-the-night snow plows and noise that negatively affected Rivergate residents in winter.

It will free up Cundiff Park for recreational development that could include a bike park adjacent to the BMX track and provide improved river access, restrooms, picnic grounds and other amenities. The acquisition also will create a trailhead alternative to Crestview’s residential streets, a dedicated parking area and additional access to Overend Mountain Park.

This new acquisition will simultaneously and comprehensively meet several community-wide needs. It is also an example of our sales tax collections at work. Specifically, the 2005 citizen-approved half-cent sales tax, that launched the city’s open space program, is the source of funds for the $374,000 purchase. Set to expire in 2026, the city has used those funds to purchase open space in Horse Gulch and at Twin Buttes. Kudos to them for making good use of these funds. The Tech Center Drive property is a smart new addition.

City staff has included funding in their 2017 budget request to conduct a community process to guide the development of the 17.5 acre-Cundiff Park, the first phase of which could be completed next year. We are a river and biking town. Further development of these amenities is a win-win for our kids, our community, residents and visitors alike.



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