Elizabeth Parks & Recreation presents master plan to Elbert County; requests county help on 151‑acre park and trail coordination

Elizabeth Park & Recreation District officials presented a draft parks, recreation and trails master plan to the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners and asked the county to consider supporting two near-term items: (1) continued coordination on a multi‑mile trail network that would rely heavily on county road rights‑of‑way and (2) a county land commitment for a roughly 150–151 acre site south of Spring Valley that the district would pair with a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant application.

Mike Barney, director of the Elizabeth Park & Recreation District, said the plan reflects community input collected over several months and from public events and surveys. "For us and for many residents parks and recreation is not just nice to have. It is an essential service," Barney said during the presentation.

Consultant Critter Thompson, identified as working with Catamount Studio and SCJ Alliance on the project, summarized the outreach and findings: the team conducted stakeholder interviews and community events that the presenters said reached roughly 700 people, including targeted work with student government that produced substantial participation from 12–17‑year‑olds. The plan maps existing publicly owned parcels (town, school district and county-owned sites), inventories amenities and conditions, and identifies gaps — particularly in the northern part of the county where the presenters said most population growth is occurring.

Thompson said the plan identifies priorities that include preserving open space, adding trails and neighborhood‑level walking loops, upgrading existing parks, and evaluating a recreation center and aquatic facilities. "The Elizabeth community…