At a Sept. 5 meeting, the Combined Parks and Recreation Advisory Board discussed multiple upcoming projects that both the Town of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County are planning to fund through their Conservation Trust Fund accounts.
Pagosa Springs Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis explained that the town council has approved $20,000 from Conservation Trust Fund funds to go toward the addition of two bronze sheep statues to be placed with the new Weeminuche Meadow sheep herder statue.
He noted that the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved $10,300 from its Conservation Trust Fund for that project as well.
Lewis mentioned the Pagosa Springs Arts Council is raising money for a third bronze sheep statue to be added as well.
Lewis also explained that the town and county have both approved $25,000 for the construction of a bike skills park at Yamaguchi Park South.
“So, that’s exciting,” Lewis said.
He went on to mention the east gateway river park project intended to create additional boater access on the San Juan River near the junction of U.S. 84 and U.S. 160.
On Sept. 3, the Pagosa Springs Town Council approved a motion directing staff to enter into negotiations for the purchase of about four acres of property located at 1040 E. U.S. 160.
Lewis explained that in order to purchase the property, the town is going after a Colorado Outdoors (GOCO) grant in the amount of $420,000 that needs “some type of match.”
He noted that the town’s 2025 proposed budget includes a $50,000 match from the town’s Conservation Trust Fund.
“This is going to help with the purchase price of the property,” Lewis said.
At a work session held by the BoCC on Aug. 27, Pagosa Springs Project Manager David Hilborn requested $30,000 from the county’s Conservation Trust Fund to go toward the match needed for the GOCO grant.
Hilborn indicated the town is also going after funds available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund to help with the project.
During the work session, commissioner Ronnie Maez expressed support for the project, saying, “In my mind I don’t think this is an opportunity we should pass up.”
Commissioner Warren Brown also expressed support for the project.
“I think this is a program we should support,” he said.
Hilborn indicated the county could wait until 2025 to approve the $30,000 request form the Conservation Trust Fund.
During a regular meeting on Sept. 3, the BoCC approved a letter of support for the project.
During the parks and recreation board meeting on Sept. 5, Lewis indicated the purchase price of the property is $745,000.
During the same meeting, the parks and recreation board also unanimously approved a letter of support for the project.
Board member Jenny Highum asked what the current balance is for the town’s Conservation Trust Fund.
Lewis explained that the town generally receives approximately $20,000 from the state annually dedicated to the Conservation Trust Fund, and the county usually receives about $100,000.
The county then gives $60,000 of that to the town “to help the town and support recreation because of the amount of parks that the town has.”
Lewis noted that the town’s balance after approving funds for projects this year is at about $46,000.
He went on to explain that if everything is approved, including the east gateway river park project, “we’ll spend $179,500,” between the town and county combined.
“That’s going to leave a minimal balance with the town,” Lewis said.
He noted that Conservation Trust Fund funds are only allowed to be used for park projects.
Lewis also mentioned he has never budgeted to drain the entire Conservation Trust Fund, “which is basically what’s going to occur for 2025.”
Lewis noted that given what the town has to spend on capital improvement projects, “I’m really trying to do as much as I possibly can with the funds out of Conservation Trust for 2025.”
He added that in 2026 the fund we’ll be replenished with $80,000.
“So, it goes up pretty quick,” he said.
Lewis explained that if the town does not receive the GOCO grant then the $50,000 will not be drained from the fund and could be used on a different project.
“If everything works out, which I hope it does, we’ll only have a few thousand dollars in Conservation Trust leftover, but there will be a lot of things that have gotten accomplished with that money for next year,” Lewis said.
The board also unanimously approved a letter of support for the multipurpose pavilion project at Yamaguchi Park South.
Lewis explained that, in November 2023, the town set aside a piece of property located south of the pickleball courts for the construction of a multipurpose pavilion that will cost roughly $3.5 million.
“That’s a lot of money,” board member Sally High commented.
Wi-Fi in parks
During the Sept. 5 meeting, Lewis also gave an update on Wi-Fi being installed in some of the town’s parks.
He indicated that public Wi-Fi is now available at Mary Fisher Park, Town Park, Yamaguchi Park, South Pagosa Park and Centennial Park.
“So, there’s access to Wi-Fi at all those parks,” he said.
Lewis explained this was a project that was “pushed” by the town council.
“There’s positives and negatives to that I feel,” he added.
Other news
During the Sept. 5 meeting, Lewis explained that board member Josh Sanchez stepped down from his position on the board.
He indicated that the board is now in the process of finding a new representative of the Archuleta School District to fill Sanchez’s spot.
Lewis also gave an update on the town’s Halloween Hootenanny event planned for Oct. 26. He explained the event will run from noon to 5 p.m. this year, and there will be no fireworks show.
Also during the Sept. 5 meeting, the board unanimously approved resolution 2024-02, approving the board’s goals.
The board voted to add property acquisition as a long-term goal.
“Everything else pretty much stayed the same,” Lewis said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
