You need to check this out. By the “Demon Bridge” across from the Fairgrounds, there’s this bench overlooking the Animas River. Thing is, the bench was installed right next to a sewer vent. While the view is quite nice, the same can’t be said of the aroma. Could the city move the bench to someplace not so stinky? – Sign me, Red O’Lent
Action Line has walked past that bench a gazillion times over the years and wondered when someone would ask about the absurdity of having a restful bench located next to a venting sewer station.
Obviously, the bench installers took leave of their senses. We’re talking about two kinds of senses: common sense and sense of smell. But both the bench and the sewer station are city projects, so that helps explain the dubious juxtaposition.
Durango has become quite adept at mixing recreation with sanitation.
Consider that we spent almost a million and a half dollars on “fixing” the river at Durango’s Whitewater Park.
Apparently, the word “fixing” means “to make rapids more dangerous in high water while reducing the flow of water into the sewage treatment plant.”
And now we’re investing $60 million in a badly needed new sewage treatment plant adjacent to the new and improved rafting and kayaking park.
It brings up an interesting question. Shouldn’t we change Whitewater Park’s name to Greywater Park?
To put this spending in perspective, for $61.5 million, the city could buy 2,196 Arc of History sculptures and have 12,000 bucks left over for affordable housing.
Action Line is going to miss that Arc when it becomes history. Let’s hope something else will come along that’s so divisive it ends up unifying the community.
But none of that has to do with a park bench placed next to a sewer vent. It’s much ado, this hullabaloo about a Pew with a Loo Phew and a View, Too.
Nevertheless, the bench just doesn’t pass the smell test and it didn’t sit well with a loyal reader. So Action Line did some sniffing around.
A call was placed to the Rec Center, where our good friend and all-around good sport Cathy Metz tirelessly toils as director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Let’s be absolutely clear. Cathy did not put the bench where it is. It was placed there way before her time.
But here’s where it gets weird. Benches with olfactory issues are an unforeseen woe for her department these past couple of days.
Not only does Cathy have to deal with Action Line’s pesky query about a bench with a stench, but also bizarre instances of vandals prying off sewer lids and chucking them into the river.
Seriously.
Some ne’er-do-wells are messing with the ickiest of infrastructure. As a result, there is a lot more sewer gas wafting around Rank Park and several benches are downwind. It brings new meaning to the term Rank Park.
In any case, Cathy said moving the bench “is certainly possible” and “we’ll certainly take a look at it.”
That’s the great thing about Cathy. She never whiffs at the chance to freshen up Durango.
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you see the remaining slabs of stone from the Arc of History and think, hmmm ... maybe a small patio or a path to the shed.
