The City of Durango is about to make a tremendous mistake by paving one of the few downtown green spaces west of the Animas River.

The city proposes to put pickleball courts adjacent to the skate park and across from Roosa Avenue residences. This is the only green space park on that side of the river from Hwy 160 to 17th Street, and a great place to walk. Green space is important to filter pollutants from streets before it flows into the river, is important for cooling the air and gives everyone a space to pause.

Unlike tennis, where a court of play involves two to four players, pickleball is generally played during the day, by retirees, who take turns in doubles sets on the courts, chatting while they wait another turn. The crowd at the Durango Recreation Center in the winter is usually 20 to 30 people. Where will the 20-plus cars for these downtown pickleballers park?

There was a proposal to put the courts at the Smith Sports Complex ballfields up near Fort Lewis College. There was plenty of parking, no close neighborhood, little overlap with youth practice times, and existing pavement that does not directly impact the river corridor. Why are we paving paradise?

Chara Ragland

Durango