Parks Master Plan: An Element of the Durango Comprehensive Plan: Durango, Colorado

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This master plan addresses only the needs related to parks and active recreation facilities. Open Space and Trails are closely related elements, but are addressed in separate master plans. 1.1 THE PURPOSE OF A PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN For a number of years the Parks and Recreation Department has planned its operations primarily through an annual 5 -year capital improvements program (CIP) budgeting process, which is developed by the staff with input from the Recreation Advisory Board and the Parks and Forestry Advisory Board, then approved by the City Council. In 1997, the City adopted a Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan as an element of the Durango Comprehensive Plan While the PROS element was an important step forward in identifying Durango's parks and recreation facility needs, it was very general in nature. It did not address long -term needs of the City, nor did it provide the detail necessary for specific annual budget forecasting and implementation. This Parks and Recreation Master Plan refines and implements the general directions established in the Comprehensive Plan. This Master Plan is intended to ultimately become a stand- alone element of the Comprehensive Plan. The 1997 Comprehensive Plan reports 700,000 visitors to Mesa Verde, almost 300,000 skier days at nearby Purgatory Ski Area, over 200,000 riders on the Silverton- Durango narrow -gauge train, and approximately 200,000 airport passengers. 2 The Parks portion of the PROS element analyzed current park acreages, compared them to typical park standards and identified several deficiencies. It also proposed standards for a number of recreation facilities and established fundamental Goals, Objectives and Policies relative to parks and recreation. Recreation needs span an almost bewildering range. These needs range from quiet contemplation to vigorously active sports. They vary by age. Some are done The need for recreation is individually, some in groups. Some activities require special surfaces (golf) or a universal. Whether you specific facility (tennis, softball) and some are very general and can occur in a spend most of your day in variety f conditions Some are best enjoyed in a natural tY (p icnic kite flying). g y school, at work or at home, and whether you setting (fishing, hiking). There are many other recreation needs and activities that live in a city, die suburbs, fit in between these extremes. or the country, you share this universal need. Your To address this broad range of needs, Durango has developed an extensive park idea of recreation may be and recreation system. In addition to many standard park and recreation facilities playing a sport or watching it on television, (tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, etc.), Durango has evolved facilities that sitting under a tree, sailing make its park and recreation system unique: an extensive network of mountain a boat — or all of these — bike trails, rafting and kayak put -ins on the Animas River, a ski hill, ice arena and but for from being a the natural Durango Mountain Park. Durango is also a regional center, providing luxury in your life, active recreation programs and facilities for a large portion of La Plata County. In recreation is a necessity, addition, Durango also receives over several hundred thousand tourist visitors each The Nature of Recreation, year a significant number of whom use portions of the City's park and recreation Group for Environmental system (mountain trails, river rafting and kayaking). These non - resident users put Education (GEE), 1972 MIT an extra burden on the City's recreation facilities, but they also make a significant Press contribution to the local economy. This master plan addresses only the needs related to parks and active recreation facilities. Open Space and Trails are closely related elements, but are addressed in separate master plans. 1.1 THE PURPOSE OF A PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN For a number of years the Parks and Recreation Department has planned its operations primarily through an annual 5 -year capital improvements program (CIP) budgeting process, which is developed by the staff with input from the Recreation Advisory Board and the Parks and Forestry Advisory Board, then approved by the City Council. In 1997, the City adopted a Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan as an element of the Durango Comprehensive Plan While the PROS element was an important step forward in identifying Durango's parks and recreation facility needs, it was very general in nature. It did not address long -term needs of the City, nor did it provide the detail necessary for specific annual budget forecasting and implementation. This Parks and Recreation Master Plan refines and implements the general directions established in the Comprehensive Plan. This Master Plan is intended to ultimately become a stand- alone element of the Comprehensive Plan. The 1997 Comprehensive Plan reports 700,000 visitors to Mesa Verde, almost 300,000 skier days at nearby Purgatory Ski Area, over 200,000 riders on the Silverton- Durango narrow -gauge train, and approximately 200,000 airport passengers. 2 The Parks portion of the PROS element analyzed current park acreages, compared them to typical park standards and identified several deficiencies. It also proposed standards for a number of recreation facilities and established fundamental Goals, Objectives and Policies relative to parks and recreation.