Trail systems serve as the lifeblood for Durango outdoor recreation. Keeping those networks open during the coronavirus pandemic is important to public officials, but trail closures are a real possibility because of users who do not follow public health ordinances.
Durango city councilor Chris Bettin went for a mountain bike ride in Horse Gulch last Friday. What he saw caused alarm. He witnessed groups recreating in large numbers, people from various households grouped together and many not following recommendations to remain a minimum of six feet apart.
Bettin spent the weekend having conversations with fellow city councilors, interim city manager Amber Blake and Trails 2000 executive director Mary Monroe Brown. Tuesday morning, he sent a letter to outdoor groups and community leaders to spread a message that failure to comply with safety ordinances could result in the closure of trails.
“When I was out at Horse Gulch, observationally, a lot of folks hadn’t seemed to have absorbed the message yet that social distancing is important to contain the spread of COVID-19 amongst us, even if we are healthy and can get out on the trails,” Bettin said. “I don’t want this to come across as a threat, more of a, ‘Hey, can we all help each other do this right?’ We want to get through this time in a healthy way as much as possible.”
Read the full article on the Durango Herald at: https://durangoherald.com/articles/320657-durango-city-council-warns-of-potential-trail-closures
