About 20 volunteers armed with picks, scrapers and shovels rerouted trail sections at the Geer Natural Area in Cortez on Saturday, then enjoyed a barbecue lunch.

The event was sponsored by the city of Cortez, Southwest Colorado Cycling Association and the Montezuma Land Conservancy.

A quarter-mile section of the Mildred Road access trail was moved off private property and onto city property. Another section of trail on the western edge of the park was rerouted away from an eroding stream bank.

The Geer Natural Area contains 9 miles of hiking and biking trails and is centrally located in Cortez.

The city of Cortez recently purchased 50 acres of the trail system from landowner Keith Evans for $50,000. Evans had built trails on the parcel that connected with city trails, and he had been leasing the property to the city for public access.

Before the sale to the city, Evans had also put the land in a conservation easement with the Montezuma Land Conservancy, ensuring it will stay open space in perpetuity.

The city’s property purchase includes the Mildred Road access point, which Evans had opened to the public last year.

“We’re seeing good use on the new access,” Evans said. “It was put in to better serve the local neighborhood.”

Plans for the Geer Park area are to reduce social trails and improve signage to prevent confusion for trail users.

Trail officials ask for the public’s assistance in respecting the closure of social trails. The trails cause confusion, are not sustainable and are redundant.

Also, a half-mile flat and straight walking path is being planned along a perimeter section of Geer. It will be built wide enough so two people can walk side by side.

Creating open space and a trail system within a growing city is a long-term investment in the future, says Travis Custer, executive director of the Montezuma Land Conservancy.

“To have natural areas in close proximity to neighborhoods is really valuable, and gives people good opportunity to enjoy the outdoors,” he said.