The future of Santa Rita Park as a city space may be permanently secured because the city is working on a land transfer with the Colorado Department of Transportation.
However, the park’s offerings will be changing with the opening of the playground and the closing of the volleyball and basketball courts when the sewage plant expands.
The city has been leasing the land, but it is now negotiating a transfer for $1 that would require continuous use of the land for utility and park purposes, city staff said Wednesday.
“For $1, we really can’t go wrong,” said Utilities Director Steve Salka.
The city must also pay $25,000 to appraise the land.
The Parks and Recreational Advisory Board backed the land transfer Wednesday, and board members discussed the need to find a new location for sand volleyball courts.
The expansion of the sewage-treatment plant, which is being designed now, will take over the courts. No other volleyball courts exist in town.
“I do think the critical infrastructure loss is the sand volleyball courts,” said Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz.
The city has asked Fort Lewis College if it would be interested in having sand volleyball courts near the Smith Sports Complex.
“They were open to dialogue,” Metz said.
The hottest topic for the Parks and Recreation Department right now is the Santa Rita playground, she said.
The playground at Santa Rita Park will likely be open in two weeks – after crews fix the irrigation system and add sod and wood chips, said Scott McClain, a city parks open space and trails specialist.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
