Outdoor recreation opportunities are about to become more abundant around Durango.
The Schneider Skate Park opened Monday with a handful of safety guidelines in place. Lake Nighthorse will open for three days May 15-17 to paddlers only and will reopen seven days a week beginning May 22 to paddlers as well as motorized boats. Previously, the two areas had been closed in an effort to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
“We are starting the process to open some facilities this week,” said City of Durango Parks & Recreation Director Cathy Metz. “We are going to start with this and see where we are heading.”
This weekend’s opening of Lake Nighthorse will have modified hours because of COVID-19 guidelines. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow watercraft that does not require inspection for invasive species such as canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. No trailers will be permitted.
Daily operations set to begin May 22 also will be limited to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watercraft with a valid green seal and a receipt to verify proper inspection and decontamination will be allowed entrance. No full decontaminations for invasive species will be conducted at Lake Nighthorse until a later date to be determined.
“We will have reduced hours at the beginning of our opening in May to get our staff trained and ready to greet the public,” Metz said. “We will update the schedule for the remainder of the summer at the end of May.”
The skate park reopened Monday with safety measures largely ignored. Metz said no more than 10 people are permitted at the facility, and park users must wear a mask and keep a social distance space of six feet from other park users. As of Tuesday evening, there were no signs posted at the skate park to instruct users of the guidelines, and most who used the facility were not wearing masks.
Many athletes continued to use the skate park during its closure. They said a complaint would eventually be issued and the police would then kick them out of the park.
All parks and recreation programs remain postponed or canceled at this time, including adult and youth team sports programs.
While team sports remain on hold, Metz said there is a possibility of more programs opening this summer. Metz said the city will continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and San Juan Basin Public Health directives along with those orders issued by Gov. Jared Polis.
“We are looking at outdoor recreation programs and organizing those programs that are able to be held outside,” she said. “Programs like BMX at Cundiff Park and outdoor fitness classes that typically would be held indoors but could be held outside in small groups. We are watching to see what happens around the country as well as Colorado as more programs open up.”
Metz also said the Gametime summer childcare program for children between kindergarten and fifth grade also is a priority, as it can be conducted outside at parks and elementary schools.
In terms of adaptive and adult summer league sports, Metz said more time is needed to see if there is a possibility of some form of city league seasons this summer.
“With the coronavirus, we are trying to open carefully and slowly and respect what health officials are trying to do and accomplish,” she said. “Athletes often share equipment, and so those team sports are not allowed. We are watching to see if we can go ahead and open up programs like softball with the appropriate guidance from health officials. If the program can be safely offered and we have the opportunity to have a season, we will do so.”
Metz stressed continued patience will be necessary as moves are gradually made to restore city offered programs.
“We are seeing things done on two- and three-week increments,” she said. “When an order is relaxed, it’s a chance to see how we are doing in terms of COVID-19 cases and if it can be done safely. Our goal is for people to recreate and stay healthy. We are doing the best we can to try to make that occur in a prudent fashion.
“Things are moving fairly quickly around the U.S. in terms of things opening up. We in Durango are trying to move in a very methodical, careful manner. Everyone is eager to get out and recreate in ways we have historically enjoyed, especially in the summer. Stay tuned, as things are changing daily.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name for Zee Wallach, who was photographed and named in a photo caption.
