Hold on a minute ...

“Feasibility Study”

Whitewater surf wave?

Squeaky wheels for another project

Let’s grease what we have

That is the 17 syllable Haiku version, here is the elaboration:

Many of Durango’s amenities and projects have been initiated and supported by citizen and nonprofit groups: the BMX track, skate park, pickleball courts, tree planting, memorial benches, community gardens and now a proposed surf wave on the Animas River.

Before another feature is added to the river corridor, I would like to see that what is already in place is amended and maintained. I was on the Parks and Recreation Board in the early 2000s and was the liaison to the Animas River Task Force from approximately 2003-10. I helped craft the wording on the current “Welcome River Users” signs. 

The Animas River Corridor Management Plan was adopted in February 2013, and as I reviewed it recently, few of its recreation goals have been met. The existing conditions from 13 years ago still prevail or have worsened.

The only truly accessible river access is at Oxbow Park. The 33rd street put in requires clambering over and down large boulders, the parking impacts the neighborhood and the bathrooms are marginal to accommodate the number of private and commercial users.

The 29th Street access has the same inadequacies and is also eroded.

Ninth Street doesn’t even offer restrooms (they are at the pickleball courts). The “ramp” to load/unload is very steep.

Cundiff Park is a muddy parking lot that also requires hauling gear over boulders and across the River Trail to access a narrow path to the river.

The High Bridge access is very steep and rutted. Vehicles will opt to drive on the paved river trail. 

At Dallabetta Park, it is the same: steep and eroded.

All these current conditions are almost identical to the concerns outlined in the 2013 Management Plan. The city put these access points on a map, created a document involving a lot of time (more than 10 years) and expense, involving many community members and consultants, and it has not followed through with improvements or maintenance. The current conditions degrade the river and water quality through increased runoff and siltation, add extra challenges, and compromise user safety. The lack of basic amenities (bike racks, changing and restrooms, trash and recycling containers) do little to encourage “good behavior” or provide for heavy use. 

The signs states “Welcome River Users,” but to be truly welcoming, the river access points need to be as accommodating as possible, environmentally sustainable and maintained for safety.

– Karen Carver, Durango