[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6482474,"mediaKeyId","5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec","parentId",5582786,"title","Parks commission recommends accessible parking, removes pedestrian connections for Taco Street/Chaco’s Park design","audioSeconds",2494,"startMs",1466000,"endMs",3960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec&start=1466&end=3960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec/thumbnail_1466000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482474/Carbondale/Garfield-County/Colorado/Parks-commission-recommends-accessible-parking-removes-pedestrian-connections-for-Taco-StreetChacos-Park-design","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482474-5bef758e830ef42eceef7b79e6abab4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075912&Signature=l3Brjs-VXw8il6K3tVuLLonTAp1m9StfzeIh-mSsAmPiNNppQ3ASn-x~ZEiZ-lIekHVnd3U1XKkzz4giUaQNWG2sdAgMq~rTLVOonvHbbvNEMzkqtTw2ITan~EkCPQvgdeMrg5TrVZQZLHTkVnlTD5eAQVXKrkAda3jHsvDMLc20kTWkm3RMoNNNh9bS~2KSMKZVca3cd7kcpPYGfpWwCqIhn-06~thT3jA9Qyr3ePFzLM1BWAE7nsk4Bx-eOEe6wvedGpfjpV-oGy2CtAR4jB5~etNW6NdaCZct~Z4sAPQ-hXf1uhDrY0ML8hADD5ODuM~o8gx9J3IDpZJsxBCWNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Carbondale","date","2025-08-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 13 debated alternatives for parking and pedestrian access at the Taco Street/Chaco’s Park project and gave staff two formal directions: remove the two mid-block pedestrian connections running east–west across Taco Street and move forward with the design that provides four accessible parking spaces, including two van-accessible stalls.

Commissioners said their concerns centered on pedestrian safety near a proposed water-play element and the need to preserve accessible parking downtown. After prolonged discussion about parallel versus perpendicular layouts, van-accessible stalls and how the site should behave during town events, the commission voted to remove the two pedestrian connections and to recommend the alternate that provides four accessible stalls (two van-accessible) with bollard-controlled closures for event use.

Why it matters: The Taco Street redesign sits at the heart of downtown Carbondale and will function both as a daily-use park and as an intermittent event street. How parking and pedestrian access are configured affects accessibility for people with limited mobility, crowd control during events and the safety of children near the splash pad.

What the commission discussed and decided
- Two design alternatives had been circulated: Alternate A (fewer spaces, planters and additional planting buffer) and Alternate B (more parking capacity). Commissioners discussed variants that would provide two van-accessible spaces or four accessible spaces, and whether spaces should be parallel or perpendicular.
- Safety concerns dominated the discussion. Commissioner Ashley Haitemanek said she was ‘‘worried about how close it is to the water’’ and about children potentially running into parked cars; other members emphasized the need for a visible buffer between the water-play element and any parking.
- The commission voted to remove the pair of pedestrian connections that ran east–west from the park across Taco Street toward Fourth Street; commissioners and staff noted the street will still have standard crosswalks at Fourth Street and that the design uses removable bollards to create a flexible event street.
- The commission then recommended the alternate that includes four accessible parking stalls (two of which are to be van-accessible). Commissioners and staff discussed the logistics of van-accessible stalls — the required buffer/striping and whether stalls could be shared.
- Commissioners asked staff to test the proposal against engineering geometry, snow-removal logistics, ADA layout standards and the timing of event closures.

Votes and procedure
- The commission took two formal actions at the meeting: a motion to remove the two mid-block pedestrian connections (approved) and a recommendation to the trustees for Alternate B with four accessible spaces, including two van-accessible (approved). The transcript records discussion of opposition and abstentions during the parking recommendation debate; commissioners asked staff to produce engineered drawings that will be needed to finalize striping, curb cuts and exact stall dimensions.

Context and next steps
- Trustees will receive the commission’s recommendation and the design team will produce engineered plans to resolve geometric and snow-removal questions. Staff noted that several nearby accessible parking spaces exist in the downtown area and that private lots are used for overflow parking; those lots are privately owned and therefore not guaranteed long term.

Ending: Staff will bring full engineering drawings and the commission’s recommendation to the trustees; the commission also requested the design team revisit the pedestrian connection and buffer details shown in the schematic.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Carbondale Parks & Recreation Meeting August 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 13 debated alternatives for Taco Street/Chaco’s Park parking and pedestrian access and directed staff to remove two mid-block pedestrian connections and to recommend a design with four accessible parking spaces, including two van-accessible stalls.","taxTitle","Carbondale, Garfield County, Colorado","taxId",61895,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6482469,"Commission recommends draft aquatic center operations plan; reviews glass‑block mock‑up and funding update",3189,4329000,7518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec&start=4329&end=7518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec/thumbnail_4329000.jpg","/articles/6482469/Carbondale/Garfield-County/Colorado/Commission-recommends-draft-aquatic-center-operations-plan-reviews-glassblock-mockup-and-funding-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482469-78c07589ba302f6e1686b057bd79310b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075912&Signature=MCi9I~SfNv3eKCoen7KaX1F1elPfgExGDufF0CZ7A7SfXUsOX7U8Q-eclOy6j3RMDYHrHjHYLM3VsANZBLA9fIzRx5xrAQcgd64lyESvoZWPWZK9-lkai3RP2YvcNB2uYNw7ybL0KgHuVjX~dVQkcTCsmPTOx~DDawXZfTMTj~IzxzwxgBz3iLnE3U2~JBa7OeqQEvPL~39U6JsbL9aBEUf7oXbmIxHAkFEPZpd8mjVWM49xcsC47r6GDr1KYs24oTpOAUCbGLt1ujHBxqFp9is~ekPQILonuenc9jxLw4POnpCfrFxkaEUujD-TJQawsfdU1ea5GpAZO~sV17sJLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed and recommended by motion a draft operations and fee plan for the town’s new aquatic center at its Aug. 13 meeting. Staff presented season timing, staffing levels, pay targets, programming and preliminary operating cost projections.

Assistant staff and project finance updates
Recreation staff proposed a 20‑week primary season (roughly May 16–Sept. 27) with weekday hours near 7 a.m.–7 p.m., and longer weekend hours. The draft projects about 81 open hours per week during the core season and assumes a lifeguard presence of about five guards on duty at peak times. Key staffing and pay choices presented included a baseline lifeguard wage projected near $18 per hour and an assistant/lead position in the mid‑$20s per hour to reduce single‑person burnout and extend managerial coverage.

Board action on the draft
Commissioners moved to recommend the operations draft (staff described it as a working draft to guide the 2026 budget process); the motion was seconded and the commission approved the draft during the meeting so staff can fold it into budget development and return with final numbers. The commission asked staff to confirm FLSA/benefits thresholds (26-week/part‑time season limits were discussed in the meeting) as staffing plans are finalized.

Funding and revenue assumptions
- Staff reported ‘‘donations secured’’ of $913,796 and a total fundraising figure stated in the presentation (as in the meeting packet) of approximately $1.96279 million; staff said that, after earlier uses of reserves, the project is effectively about $2,834 ‘‘in the black’’ compared to the current project cost figures shown in the packet. Staff explained they continue to fundraise to backfill operating reserves and to ensure a buffer given uncertainty in operating costs.
- Operating projections presented by staff produced a recommended initial budget ask for pool operations in the range of roughly $356,000, which includes wages, training, chemicals, small equipment and a modest capital replacement set‑aside. Staff presented three recovery scenarios (25%, 40%, 60%) and the draft fee schedule (day passes, season passes, punch passes) to model revenue at each recovery target.

Programming and fees
- Swim lesson planning: staff recommended offering multi‑level lessons June 1–Aug. 7 and proposed a starting instructor pay of about $35 per lesson/class. Additional programming discussed included aqua aerobics, diving board classes, pool rentals, birthday parties and special events.
- Draft fees presented for the seasonal pool included a youth/senior day pass of $7 and an adult day pass of $12, with a variety of punch pass and seasonal pass options. Staff noted many comparators are mixed rec/pool facilities, so the town’s pool‑only rates were compared with both pool‑only and combined‑facility peers across the valley.

Mock‑up wall and art process
Commissioners also inspected a recently built mock‑up of the pool building’s corner veneer: an exterior brick/veneer pattern with glass‑block sections that will daylight the locker rooms. Staff and a design representative reported field testing of the mock‑up at various light levels and said viewers could not see through the installed glass blocks into the locker rooms in the scenarios tested. Commissioners asked that the Carbondale Arts Commission (CPAC/Arts Commission) review the block design because the feature qualifies under the project’s 1% for the arts program; staff noted the mock‑up had been useful to evaluate how lighting and grout color affect the final appearance.

Ending: Staff will carry the recommended operations draft into the 2026 budget process, bring final fee language in Appendix A for trustee consideration, continue donor efforts to rebuild reserves and return with refined engineering and cost details. Staff will also engage the Arts Commission on final detailing for the glass‑block veneer.","The Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 13 recommended a draft operations plan and fee schedule for the town’s new aquatic center and reviewed a glass‑block veneer mock‑up of the pool building.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6482479,"Local Audubon urges Carbondale Parks commission to pursue osprey nesting platforms",0,352000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec&start=352&end=352","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582786-d3f7358e1799f5af1e15e643bd6a85ec/thumbnail_352000.jpg","/articles/6482479/Carbondale/Garfield-County/Colorado/Local-Audubon-urges-Carbondale-Parks-commission-to-pursue-osprey-nesting-platforms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482479-c38dcbfea9939563ed5d2d450adced0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075912&Signature=ltlqP4MLUecYPu7uAqtKWQosFzYjN~9yetqtBBhVTm-DMzCpvrSd0r4WURfXtSQPEOcsaHPHttHTpkcrH4eAa7XFgLK4onpQiGRNYsj6XYX3MvkCb3Y1vrj2KRY2RoVhxlirT89eF0LLZrf0Zqj8VkBcJnJxvP1bI3-bnDWQOrLjiJ371LpWO9t~B2dMggKBofZMmwk64nVeXUwADuXR2Q8N4VDv8gtjdY~uGPyCCJn30-WKryZ1kz-G-CQzfhoioBUTgOz97lPJRVvH42I-4RCvdpO1fGfawciujTHE3NiPdqB2XsqZBIIZ8H~SsGalG0hffbA3tJh1TEVGahU-lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission heard a proposal on Aug. 13 from Mateo Sandate, speaking on behalf of the local Audubon chapter, to provide alternative nesting platforms for ospreys that have been building nests on power poles and other hazardous locations.

Sandate told the commission the issue has risen in town this summer after nests were repeatedly removed from electrical equipment. ‘‘We’re very good at removing the nests, but I’m not sure that we’ve provided an alternative for this bird,’’ Sandate said. He described platforms used by other towns and organizations and said the project could be inexpensive and community-driven.

Commissioners asked staff to return in September with a fuller packet so the group could decide whether to include a platform project in next year’s budget. Recreation Director Eric Brenlinger said staff would place the proposal on a future agenda for deeper review and research about permitting and site constraints.

Why it matters: ospreys are migratory raptors that often nest on poles and other elevated structures; platforms are a widely used mitigation to reduce hazards to both birds and electrical infrastructure. A locally sited platform could also serve an education role, Sandate said, and potentially involve volunteers and local nonprofits.

Details and next steps
- Sandate identified three town-owned locations listed on his handout as possible sites: the Bob Terrell State Wildlife Area boat put-in near Gateway, Carbondale Nature Park and Riverfront Park. He said other candidate sites mentioned in his outreach are privately owned.
- Sandate reported rough cost estimates for components: single poles and simple platform materials can range from low-cost (free or donated used poles) to about $100–$600 for new poles, while simple plywood platforms and volunteer labor keep construction costs low. He also said some organizations donate poles.
- Commission members and staff noted constraints that will require follow-up: conservation easements on portions of some town property, town land-use and height rules, and the need for agreement with the electric utility where platforms would be close to power infrastructure.
- Commissioners suggested staff contact Holy Cross Energy, which has partnered on similar projects elsewhere, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff (the transcript refers to ‘‘Mr. Groves’’ from CPW) to identify recommended sites and safety requirements.

The commission directed staff to include a prepared packet for the Sept. 9 meeting with specific site notes, any conservation-easement limits, estimated costs, and any permissions that would be needed from utilities or other landowners. The commission did not take a formal vote to fund or adopt a policy at the Aug. 13 meeting.

Ending: The commission’s September agenda will include the Audubon proposal and the staff packet requested. If the commission elects to recommend moving the project forward, the next formal steps would be to identify a funding source and any required interagency agreements.","A resident representing the local Audubon chapter presented a proposal to the Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission to install osprey nesting platforms on town land and seek partnership with the electric utility; the commission asked staff to bring a full package to its September meeting for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks commission recommends accessible parking, removes pedestrian connections for Taco Street/Chaco’s Park design

Commission recommends draft aquatic center operations plan; reviews glass‑block mock‑up and funding update

Local Audubon urges Carbondale Parks commission to pursue osprey nesting platforms