Durango Parks and Recreation Roadmap and Priorities

It has been my privilege to serve on the City of Durango Parks and Recreation Advisory Board since January 2014. Members of the Board collectively provide recommendations to City Council on matters relating to the development, maintenance and improvements of parks, hard-surface trails, community forest and community facilities used for recreation. Beyond focusing on resources and physical facilities, the Board’s mission is to guide decisions that fortify the natural beauty of our city and support the health and wellness of our residents.

Over the course of my term, I have enjoyed the opportunity to contribute to the goals and achievements that enrich indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities in Durango. In 2010, the city adopted a comprehensive Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation Master Plan (POST). POST provides a 10-year road map of the overall priorities that promote and protect our community’s recreation-based values. These are evaluated annually and strategic goals are established.

This year the Advisory Board and city staff developed processes that included formal opportunities for public input into the review and evaluation of the goals and objectives of the strategic plan. The process included an evaluation and priority ranking of the capital expenditure projects included in the Advisory Board’s plan. The community and city staff provided input directly to the Advisory Board and the resulting priority ranking provided the basis for the initiatives in the strategic plan. The plan was formally adopted by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in May of 2016.

The Parks and Recreation Department recently published the Strategic Plan, 2016-2020. The Strategic Plan summarizes POST, and then outlines projects and priorities on a year-by-year basis (2016-2020) for trails, open space, parks, recreation, facilities and organizational needs. It is an easy-to-read resource, informing all interested community members of upcoming projects and timeframes. This document will be reviewed annually by the Advisory Board and city staff. The community will have the opportunity to provide input on changing priorities and needs. This is an opportunity for residents of La Plata County to contribute to one of the most revered, loved aspects of living in Durango: our recreation and open space.