Update parks master plan gets final approval

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

In contrast to public hearings that attracted lines of citizens wanting to voice opinions on Larimer County's updated Parks Master Plan, the final hearing on June 20 drew no comment at all.

As a result, the county planning commission unanimously adopted the master plan as proposed.

The updated plan was developed in conjunction with the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the reservoirs where many of the county's parks are located.

"The plan may not suit everybody, but it is much stronger because of citizen participation," said Public Works Director Marc Engemoen.

"It was time to take a look at the parks system holistically," said Drew Stoll of the Fort Collins consulting firm EDAW. The financial aspects of managing county parks needs to be more sustainable, he added.

User fees and grants support the majority of the parks department budget, with less than 10 percent coming from the county's general fund.

The new master plan outlines 36 improvement projects, with 14 of them located at Horsetooth Reservoir. Proposed Horsetooth projects include the following but are dependent on future funding:

• Do a feasibility study for a new day-use archery range for the area north of Horsetooth Dam at the former sports track site.
• Build a new trailhead for the Blue Sky Trail and add fisherman parking at the Field of Dreams. The site will continue to function as a neighborhood play area for Inlet Bay area residents.
• Build new camper services buildings at Inlet Bay and South Bay to provide restrooms, showers and potable water.
• Improve the South Bay swim beach with picnic shelters, picnic tables, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pit and additional parking. The beach area would not be expanded.
• Evaluate the feasibility of a new group gathering space for South Bay.
• Increase camping spaces and build up to 11 new cabins at South Bay.
• Construct a new swim beach just north of the Sunrise day-use area, with a new 45-vehicle parking area. Dive structures would be submerged offshore for scuba divers and dive rescue training.
• Construct a 1.3-mile trail between Lory State Park and the Satanka Cove parking area.
• Reduce the number of boat-in or hike-in campsites along the west shoreline and coves from 25 to 15. Campsite improvements include composting toilets.

Numerous other projects are proposed for Pinewood Reservoir and Carter Lake. The complete master plan is available online at www.larimer.org/parks.

The newly appointed Larimer County Parks Advisory Board held its first meeting June 26. The board will help to guide the county as it implements recommendations in the master plan. Board members are Linda Knowlton, Ivan Andrade, Frank Cada, David Coulson, Rob Harris, Rich Harter, Chad LaChance, Barry Lewis and Tom Miller. More members will be appointed at a later date.

Internet users can sign up for online notification of board meetings and agendas.