Each week we highlight some of the most insightful, passionate and witty comments shared on Facebook in response to stories in The Durango Herald.

This week, readers weighed in on whatever happened to the SMART 160 Trail, the sudden death of Leo Lloyd, an extensive survey completed by downtown Durango businesses and a feature story about Durango’s urban forest.

We enjoy readers’ input and reactions to local stories: People can weigh in on our Facebook page, at the bottom of local news stories at www.durangoherald.com and by writing a letter to the editor.

Here are a few comments that stood out this week:

“Glenwood Springs-Aspen, Breckenridge-Frisco-Silverthorne-Dillon-Keystone, Greeley-Windsor, Created Butte-Mt.Crested Butte. What do all these Colorado communities have that we don’t? Trails that allow bicycles and pedestrians to avoid walking on the narrow shoulders of vehicle-congested roads.” – Steven Baker

“Completing the Smart 160 Trail will be wonderful for a lot of people. I’m looking forward to its completion!” – Suzanne Tyrpak

“This trail has nothing to do with recreation. It should be classified as a public safety project first and foremost. If you’ve never biked the section from Home Depot to Elmore’s Corner ... do it and you’ll see why we need a separate ‘rec’ path. #160=insanity” – Steven Baker

“As someone who tries to bike to town, including for shopping, I am concerned for my safety of riding from my part of Durango to the central city. I sent a PDF that includes a series of photos of my bike in the shoulder to see how tight it is to be multi-modal to (Director of Parks and Rec) Ture Nycum.” – Mick Souder

“There are some people in life that when you see them it always makes your heart light up. Leo was one of those people: generous with his time, his knowledge, his depth of caring. He was someone who led by example and shared his deep enthusiasm for living by just being himself. It’s funny how lives intersect, how some moments and simple interactions have profound impact on the lives of others. That is true for first responders in general, but Leo in particular – he was just someone who could make you feel really seen. What a special gift. Thank you so much Leo for all you did with your life – your service to your community was inspirational.” – Leigh Morris

“If businesses actually had decent managers/owners who treated the employees actually good and actually gave a livable wage, it would be different. No one wants to pay an actual living wage out here. And it doesn’t help that anyone who rents a house wants astronomical amounts for their said property.” - Brandy Ward

“Well, when it gets too expensive for the worker bee’s to live in a small town and the wages don’t reflect that which ultimately forces said worker bee’s to leave, who is going to make the food, work the convenience stores, do the construction ect. ect. for the people that want those services?” – Waylan Hayes

“Where are the people who used to work in restaurants, bars, and other retailing? Did they leave town? Or are they sitting around on some income source I don’t know about? Did they move to Purple Cliffs? I don’t know. Does our census information show a decrease in population? I don’t know. But what I do know is that my barber and my daughter’s law office are in the Smiley building. When I go there in the middle of the week in mid day, there are plenty of 20-something’s hanging out there – some sleeping on couches. How do they have an income doing that? Are these the same people who used to cook and serve my food in downtown restaurants? Can’t say for sure, but some do look familiar! All I know is that I see many young adults around town not working and wonder from where their income is coming. Wherever it comes, it needs to be cut off. Then they would go back to work and many problems would be solved.” – Richard Ruth

“I think they need to start taking care of all the ratty dead trees they already have (3rd Ave, and side streets before going all willy-nilly on new ones. A huge rotted pine (on city property) just fell on 9th Street and 4th. Good thing no one got hurt but just a matter of time before that happens or property damage.” – Josh Cool

“The Eastern redbud is beautiful and does well in our area.” – Raeann Martinez

“I have been saying for ages they need to take care of all the tree debris along the river trail. It is a mess and could look so much better. Of course, I think they can do that and take care of the chestnut trees as well.” – Lisa Myers

“With that kind of funding I wonder if we could get enough farmers in the Dolores zone to let their fields fallow to secure annual releases out of McPhee for the boaters and the fish (and the downstream users)? A man can dream, anyway...” - Jon Harvey

“Jon Harvy: So get rid of farming and food sources so we can have fishing and boating recreation? What about lawns and golf courses? Just trying to understand the thought process here.” – Mary Stoner

“Mary Stoner: Oh, believe me, I would love it if more lawns and golf courses were dewatered. I am just specifically mourning the loss of the lower Dolores River, which spends most of most years at a tiny trickle. Not much of the dammed water goes to golf courses as far as I know; it’s pretty much all ag use. If they want more water to make it downstream, I have hope that the Dolores is one place where these funds could help make that happen, thereby benefiting native fish, the ecology of the whole river corridor, and yes, recreation community. And who knows? Perhaps there are some big ag operations out there that would welcome the opportunity to be paid NOT to farm? I’m not advocating that government shut down food producers against their will.” – Jon Harvey