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'ity of Durango Search Our Site i) j. Figure 3: Fishing remains on of the most popular uses for the river Fishing Social Gathering Bird / Duck / Wildlife Viewing Hiking / Walking Wading Bike Riding Painting / Drawing Swiftwater Rescue Training Education / Nature Studies Kayaking /rafting One potential way to preserve and enhance these activities for future generations is through the creation of the Animas River Greenway as a long, continuous, natural (and City -wide) park. The Greenway is currently envisioned (and recommended) from the lower end of the Animas Valley (north of the City limits approximately parallel with the Iron Horse Inn resort) down to the Farmington Hill area. This extent should be viewed as flexible, given that the City will be considering the expansion of its urbanizing boundary south into the Koshak Mesa area in the near future, as well as expanding its boundary on the north. While much of the land along the greenway is privately owned, there are some significant public lands along its route. Key parcels to consider for formal inclusion in the Greenway include: the Kroeger Ranch floodplain and other floodplain parcels north of 32nd Street, including the Cottonwood Forest property; Durango Parks Plan 28 various properties in the Central Business District, such as the Whitney and former Precision Imports properties; properties along the east side of the River in the vicinity of State Highway 3, including the Becay property, and on the west side of the River, the Carvon floodplain and riparian properties; further south, the Gardella, Escalante Crossing and the University of Colorado Regents property; and other privately and publicly held lands that can contribute to the continuity and preservation of the greenway. The Animas River Greenway can and does have many and varied values for the Durango community if approached and understood in a comprehensive fashion. Maintaining diversity in its form and function can help the community achieve many needs, values, and conditions. There is still much to learn about how the Animas River Greenway can and should function, but for now, it is clear that its creation, preservation and protection is a goal high up on the list of goals that local citizens want the City of Durango to take an active, even aggressive, role in attaining. Durango voters recently passed a sales tax increase for the new indoor Recreation Center, which also included resources for the Animas River Trail and Greenway. While the Trails Master Plan includes the steps necessary to achieving the Animas River Trail, the Greenway component of the Animas River is a logical part of this Parks Master Plan. That is because the Animas River Greenway concept includes Page 7 of ttp: // web. durangogov .org:88 /isysquery /3e5177b6- 9341 - 4802- 9b32- 9da5120e9f66161doc/ 2/9/200