The city of Durango is gathering input on how it should spend millions of dollars on parks and recreation opportunities over the coming decade, and the time to weigh in is now.
The city recently mailed thousands of surveys to gather statistically valid data on how residents think money should be spent to improve recreational opportunities in town. But for those who live outside the city limits or who did not receive a paper survey, the city launched an identical online survey to gather ideas, Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz said.
The in-depth survey covers all aspects of the Parks and Recreation Department, including parks, open space, trails and indoor facilities.
The input will help update the city’s Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation Master Plan, a document that guides decisions on how dedicated sales tax revenue for parks and rec will be spent.
“This is our foundation and our guideline of how we are going to go forward,” Metz said.
The previous master plan survey found residents valued trails above other recreation opportunities, which guided spending toward hard- and soft-surface trails, Metz said.
Compared to the previous survey, the newly released survey asks more questions about the need for indoor facilities. Residents have expressed interest in indoor tennis, year-round ice skating and an indoor turf facility, among other requests, Metz said.
The city is also asking what areas residents might want to be preserved as open space because while the city may not be buying large parcels of open space as it has in the past, there is still opportunity to set aside land, she said.
In addition to asking about future investments, the city is asking residents about maintaining current properties, which has been a high priority previously, Metz said.
“I think that it is super important we reach out to the community to get that message,” she said.
In addition to the survey, the city has held meetings and gathered feedback via email, she said.
“The survey is really a critical element, but it’s not all of it,” she said.
The survey will be available online until Feb. 23 at durangogov.org/virtualcityhall
mshinn@durangoherald.com
