I would like to respectfully respond to concerns regarding the partying and bad behavior at Rim Drive (March 31, “Drug sales, use at Rim Drive parking lot must stop”).
Although you’ve expressed important, valid concerns, I wanted to give another perspective to the topic. Rim Drive (called “Lions’ Den” by locals)is a special place for teenagers in our community. For me and my friends, its a place we can go to safely to see people we don’t get to see, watch the sunset and make new friends, something that during this pandemic has been difficult. During the world of cohorts, there are few ways to socialize, leaving Rim Drive as our last shred of normalcy. Despite the issues that should be addressed, I ask that we try to find solutions rather than taking away the privilege all together.
To address concerns about littering, let’s ask the city to provide a dumpster or set of trash cans in the parking lots. Kids will use them.
Secondly, I wouldn’t say that a higher police presence is unnecessary, however, I will say that to call what goes on at Lions’ Den “partying” is unfair. Whatever “teenageness” occurs at Rim Drive stays tame and relatively harmless. In all honesty, there are a lot worse things that the teenagers of Durango could be doing in their free time than socializing and enjoying the view.
To ask the city to close off a place where kids go to be kids doesn’t make sense. The issues occurring there are worth solving, especially when Lions’ Den is an important part of our lives.
Maggie VanbuskirkDurango
