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Residents can voice river-access ideas

Discussion to be held today about design opportunities along the Animas

Durango residents have the chance to voice their opinion in the design of four Animas River access points, including the Oxbow Park and Preserve.

The city is holding a community meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Durango Community Recreation Center for public input. Design and planning is expected to start soon on a river access at Oxbow, as well as on established sites on 33rd Street, 29th Street and at Santa Rita Park.

“This is just the beginning of the process,” said Cathy Metz, director of parks and recreation.

The Durango City Council approved annexing Oxbow into the city earlier this year. The park and wildlife preserve is 44 acres running east of Animas View Drive and more than a mile upstream from the 33rd Street put-in.

The city bought the property in 2012. It is divided into two parts: 38 acres of undeveloped land for conservation and habitat protection and 6 acres for future river access, extension of the Animas River Trail and park structures and bathrooms.

Opportunities and constraints at each point will be discussed, and feedback will be sought on what people would want physically at each location.

Opportunities at Oxbow include developing a natural-surface trail, a parking lot and a river put-in and put-out for paddling and kayaking. Constraints include railroad tracts dividing the site, significant garbage on the ground and shifts in flood flows on the beach.

Oxbow is the only access point not already developed. However, design problems exist at the other locations. Thirty-third Street, the busiest site, lacks parking and annoys neighbors. The put-in at 29th Street also includes surrounding homes, steep slopes off the roadway and a gas-line tower. People wanting to access at Santa Rita Park must access it using the river trail and endure crossing power lines.

New opportunities at the locations include adding picnic shelters, trees, parking areas and restrooms.

Metz said designs of river-access locations will build upon the adopted Durango Animas River Corridor Management Plan.

The city will develop two design concepts for each river-access location after the community meeting and hold site visits in early May. Meetings and site visits will be held:

May 1, Oxbow Park and Preserve River Access.

May 5, 33rd Street River Access.

May 7, Ninth Street River Access.

May 8, Santa Rita Park River Access.

A preferred concept plan will be developed for each location and presented during a community meeting at 5 p.m. June 11 at the recreation center.

More information on sites is available at www.durangogov.org/index.aspx?nid=798.

smueller@durangoherald.com



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