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

• Description: Durango RICD
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 10/16/2001
• Author: Department of Planning and Community Development, Department of Parks and Recreations, Winston Associates, Ciavonne & Asscoiates
• Title: Parks Master Plan: An Element of the Durango Comprehensive Plan: Durango, Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

As Durango and the region continue to grow, the City's park and recreation
facilities will be subject to greater use. It is important that our park and recreation
facilities keep pace with community needs. In order to do so, this plan addresses a
number of important parks and recreation questions:
2. Refurbish and make selective improvements to several parks. Most of
Durango's existing neighborhood parks are quite adequate. A few parks need
upgrading and correction of deficiencies. Potential improvements fall into
three categories:
a. Safety - Replacing play equipment, installing /upgrading safety surfaces,
improving accessibility for people with disabilities;
b. Improving maintenance efficiency - Creating mulch beds around trees to
reduce hand trimming of grass; and
c. Aesthetics - Upgrading the appearance of the parks through consistent,
attractive signage; well- designed landscaping; gradually upgrading
structures; and paying attention to overall park layout in conjunction with
functional improvements.
3. Implement the Animas River Greenway. Initial efforts should focus on
improvements for boating /kayaking, working toward acquiring /developing a
major civic park parcel in the downtown core and other targeted acquisitions.
4. Monitor the use of City recreation facilities. This could be done through
continued monitoring of registrations, as well as doing spot surveys at
• Are (will there be) enough facilities to meet current and future needs?
• Are the facilities located in the right places? (to be accessible to most
residents)
• Do the parkland dedication requirements for new development adequately
provide for their own residents?
• Can City, School District and private resources be integrated so as to avoid
costly duplication and still provide a well- rounded spectrum of recreation
Today our socializing has
choices?
become Tess formal and
official, more casual, but we
. If choices or trade -offs must be made, what should the priorities be?
are still concerned with
providing ways to be among
The purpose of this Master Plan is to identify the needs of today's residents, to
other people — to watch, to
anticipate those of tomorrow, and to assure they will be met through proper
be watched, to meet and
planning.
interact The outdoor cafe,
the public urban park, the
rock concert, and the street
1.2 PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS
ore among today's
This plan was developed through a variety of public inputs, including: focus group
equivalents of yesterday's
agoras, baths, and
interviews, public meetings, and public review of the draft document and public
squares — clearly identifiable
hearings. It also incorporates data from opinion surveys conducted prior to the
places to meet, talk and be
formulation of the Master Plan.
among people.
1.3 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MASTER
The Nature of Recreation,
PLAN
Group for Environmental
Education (GEE), 1972, MIT
Press
1. Begin immediately to locate and plan one or more major sports field
facilities in community or regional parks. Durango's current facility needs
are primarily in the category of turf sport athletic fields — baseball, softball and
soccer. Existing shortages, the potential loss of the Fort Lewis College fields
by 2004, and the long lead times required to acquire land and plan for this kind
of facility reinforce the importance or need to begin immediately.
2. Refurbish and make selective improvements to several parks. Most of
Durango's existing neighborhood parks are quite adequate. A few parks need
upgrading and correction of deficiencies. Potential improvements fall into
three categories:
a. Safety - Replacing play equipment, installing /upgrading safety surfaces,
improving accessibility for people with disabilities;
b. Improving maintenance efficiency - Creating mulch beds around trees to
reduce hand trimming of grass; and
c. Aesthetics - Upgrading the appearance of the parks through consistent,
attractive signage; well- designed landscaping; gradually upgrading
structures; and paying attention to overall park layout in conjunction with
functional improvements.
3. Implement the Animas River Greenway. Initial efforts should focus on
improvements for boating /kayaking, working toward acquiring /developing a
major civic park parcel in the downtown core and other targeted acquisitions.
4. Monitor the use of City recreation facilities. This could be done through
continued monitoring of registrations, as well as doing spot surveys at