Colorado used to be beautiful, and Durango as well. Part of that was thoughtful land-use planning and the abundance of green spaces. Now, we’re a tiny, overcrowded, over-regulated area that needs better land planning, fewer developers, better city and county management, and fewer people moving in.
This morning, a couple of friends and I were walking our dogs on leashes at a local park. We were talking about the dog park and how hard it is for people who don’t drive to access it with their furry friends. All of the sudden the dog catcher arrives. All three dogs were walking on leash and not bothering anyone. That’s a waste of tax dollars and infrastructure we so badly need.
Here’s a solution, Durango. Parks and empty lots like the former garbage dump that’s been empty for 50 years on Holly Avenue, and Ryler Park (which has gained the attention of developers despite there being no support for more development on Florida Road, especially where adding a road for access makes no sense) could be easily and cheaply transformed into multiuse parks.
Since Florida Road is grossly accessible for people labled disabled and parking can likely be more reasonably achieved, it would be a great place for dog-accessible and human-accessible parks. Perhaps the Arbor Day Foundation would again donate trees to help us reduce climate change. We don’t need more housing or more people. We do need more green space.
Christa Leigh Turnell
Durango
