The proposed Animas River Trail north extension is the wrong trail in the wrong place at the wrong cost at the wrong time.
This trail is poorly designed and expensive. It involves an awkward and dangerous railroad crossing at 36th Street that may never be approved by the Public Utility Commission. It involves the construction of a massive and expensive wall over the edge of wetlands.
This trail extension conceived some 12 years ago no longer makes sense.
Trails are needed south of town where Durango is growing at Three Springs. Major trail repairs are needed elsewhere in town.
What’s worse, Parks and Recreation is not only pushing to start construction in the dead of winter, it’s doing so without any assurance that the trail can be legally finished. The city is on notice of possible litigation regarding its proposed use of private property for the trail. We may be wasting tax money on a “trail to nowhere” that may never be finished.
This is just one more example of mismanagement and waste by the city. You know – the people who want to raise your taxes.
I would strongly urge City Council to postpone signing any construction contract for this misplaced trail until its merits, if any, can be reevaluated.
Durango can’t afford to spend money on another boondoggle.
Tim Wolf
Durango
