Events in La Plata County deliver almost endless topics on which to opine, and 2020 will no different.
Election candidates, of course, which The Herald’s editorial board will address last.
Durangoans love their parks, and we look forward to seeing the plan for Santa Rita Park after that location served as a staging ground for the new sewage treatment plant. That it is on the Animas River gives Santa Rita Park special appeal, even if crossing U.S. Highways 160/550 on foot is daunting.
The water park, already improved from what mother nature provided, may receive further tuning. Can its boulder-created shape work well in high water as well as mid-level and low?
Will there be any improvements at Durango Mesa Park where donor Marc Katz holds his bluegrass jamboree? It is a large property which requires significant infrastructure. We hope yes, but guess no. Its planning will continue.
At the north end of town, River Bend Park has been a long time in the making: It will be usable in 2020 and attention will turn to connecting Three Springs.
What will link the river trail to downtown Durango is a pedestrian underpass, or two underpasses under Camino del Rio. Biking and walking will increase immensely when the river trail and downtown are safely linked.
Single-use plastic bags are under attack and we expect the City Council will have a question on the ballot in April. Will voters have a choice between banning or paying? Requiring a charge (10 cents?) rather than a ban may be more popular with those who believe government can be heavy-handed.
Residential density is certain to be an issue, not only in 2020 but for the future. Durangoans want to live close-in. The three-story front on the hotel on Del Camino, built right to the sidewalk, is a sign of what is to come. Looking north with the hotel on the left has put its metal and wood in front of a mountainside backdrop; view corridors have to be maintained.
Expect additional development height at some locations, with less proportional parking than in the past. There will continue to be more emphasis on biking and walking. No congestion charges for four-wheel vehicles, yet.
That hotel, and two others downtown which are under construction, should mean additional tourism; competition should reduce rates.
Court proceedings involving the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the 416 Fire will likely surface, giving railroad defenders and critics an opportunity to speak.
Now, politics. A new Durango city manager will be chosen, and after a honeymoon there will be plenty of opinions as to whether she is right for the job, or not, and what should be changed. The two county commissioner seats which will be vacated by incumbents have contested races. The candidates who can appeal to rural residents as well as to Durangoans will stand the better chance in November, and two candidates are running as unaffiliated with that in mind. Bringing city and county together – with both seats – will be worthwhile.
In March, the two parties have their primaries. Several Democrats want Republican Cory Gardner’s Senate seat, as does one Republican. If Denver television could reach this corner of the state, that is the race we would see over and over again.
And then there is the presidency. That will be a battle of opinions.
In addition, expect comments from letter and editorial writers on at least a couple of dozen topics which cannot be predicted. The issues are out there, in the grass, poised to bloom. Hang on, The Herald’s opinion pages will be full in 2020.
