My husband and I couldn’t help but notice a mystifying situation along the Animas River Trail. A number of benches in Santa Rita Park appear to have been positioned to prevent any pleasing views. Had these benches been moved a mere 12 feet one direction or the other, they would have offered a lovely sight of the river. Instead, they were set facing directly into trees or bushes. Perhaps this precarious placement is provided for the punishment of petulant preschoolers? – Perplexed
There’s a simple reason why the bucolic blue benches offer outstanding vistas of shrubbery: The plants and trees sprang up after the benches were installed several years ago.
Cathy Metz, director of Durango Parks and Recreation, oversees the city’s beloved river trail and promised to see if shrubbery abutting the benches warrants some maintenance.
In other words, she issued a bench warrant. The charge is felonious foliage. Judge Cathy will rule quickly.
“It sounds like the cottonwood trees have sent out suckers, and we do prune areas of whitewater park so people can enjoy the scenery,” she said.
Since we’re talking about bad views from park benches, Action Line would like to point out a placement that stinks.
Farther down the trail, just past the sewage treatment plant, a bench was installed not facing the beautiful river.
Instead, this bench overlooks the park’s cinderblock bathrooms and offers an unobstructed vista of the RV sewage pump-out. Call it a pew with a loo view.
If the city has a bench-relocation priority list, this sorry seat should be ranked No. 1 or No. 2. It’s gotta go.
So I was driving up Jenkins Ranch Road in the Skyridge neighborhood and there are a surprising number of couches lining the street. Is this upscale enclave holding a community flea market? – La-Z-Boy
Action Line checked out the situation and came to the conclusion that Skyridge should spend some money not only on removing those silly roundabouts but also require professional interior decorating services.
Sheesh, those are some really ugly sofas. Not to mention the chairs and particle-board desks.
But no, Skyridge has not created a used furniture bazaar. It’s the city’s annual fall cleanup.
In autumn, residents can hoist their flotsam and jetsam next to the street. City crews will come by and pick up the junk, including bad-taste barcaloungers.
It’s a service all residents can enjoy, thanks to the $1.50 we all pay each month on our city utilities bill.
What a deal! A trip to the dump will cost the average Joe at least $90. But for $18 per year, the city will do your dirty work.
Today marks the first day for fall cleanup at Skyridge, along with the Riverview, North College and Hillcrest neighborhoods. Dumpster divers take note – if you want to score some sketchy stuff, you’d better hurry.
Crews have already picked up junk in the Animas City, Crestview, Needham, Rockridge and Junction Street areas.
If you live in the above-mentioned neighborhoods, cleanup is over. Crews won’t be coming back. Anything set out won’t be picked up.
There’s a fine line between a cleaner-upper and a litter bug. Timing is everything.
The good folks at city operations asked Action Line to restate the rules. For a complete rundown, go to durangogov.org and click “Garbage Collection and Recycling” section on the “City Operations Department” dropdown menu.
You can set out tree branches less than eight feet long, bagged or boxed brush and leaves and furniture, including that sullied sofa, offensive ottoman and dreary dinette set.
Also accepted are large appliances, scrap metal, drywall, fencing, carpeting, tiles, and open and dried paint cans.
Don’t even think of setting out rocks, concrete, bricks, hazardous waste, old tires and batteries. Oh, and electronics.
That heavy 26-inch old-school television? The city will gladly haul away the crummy sofa on which you sit to watch crummy TV, but draws the line at the crummy TV itself.
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 ever wondered why it’s called a fall cleanup and not a fall cleandown.
