Barb Bell’s recent op-ed in the Herald (“
Barb mentions multimillion dollar projects being proposed that are indeed questionable. She also mentions the millions of dollars that the Parks and Recreation Department has at its disposal, but for what?
Parks and Recreation refuses to use funds to repair portions of our existing trails that are in terrible condition. Yet Parks and Recreation is pushing hard to build a new trail extension to the north, partly outside the city limits.
This trail extension is less than a mile long and plagued with problems. Its costs are exorbitant. As part of the trail project, the actual trail cost is estimated at $6 million. Its destination, Oxbow Park, another $2 million. The pedestrian/bicycle bridge at 31st Street, $1 million. The ridiculous 32nd Street pedestrian/bicycle overpass, $2 million.
The city/Parks and Recreation also paid $1 million to the railroad not just to use railroad right-of-way but to have the railroad’s team of lawyers in Denver harass private property owners in the “taking” of their private property through litigation or condemnation. Total estimated costs for this project, an outrageous $12 million.
City Council needs to step up and take a new look at how our taxes are being frivolously spent, especially by Parks and Recreation. We don’t need more taxes. We need new priorities from City Council in this time of budget crisis.
Tim Wolf
Durango
