Buena Vista recreation staff outline park, trails and boat-ramp projects; Billy Cordova Park near completion

Shane, a recreation department staff member, told the Town of Buena Vista Board of Trustees on April 22 that several park and recreation projects are nearing completion while other projects remain tied to grants and seasonal constraints.

The most advanced project is Billy Cordova Memorial Park. Shane said bathrooms have a certificate of occupancy but other final sign‑offs and the landscaping remain. The town is planning a community build day to finish planting and other volunteer tasks and had set substantial completion for May 2 with final completion anticipated about two weeks later. Shane said sod installation, originally scheduled for the week after the meeting packet was distributed, might be delayed into May by contractor scheduling and that the town was meeting with contractors to try to keep the planned completion dates.

Shane also updated trustees about River Park improvements tied to an Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) grant: replacement decking on the Whipple Bridge, boathouse bathroom upgrades, boat‑ramp improvements and Rock and Roll Trail work. The town expects to start work under the grant this fall and noted the OEDIT spending deadline is March 2026. The boathouse concrete deck was reported as poured and comfortably within the project’s budget.

Other recreation projects discussed included: - Rodeo grounds electrical upgrades and pickleball court drainage fixes, both expected to be completed before the June rodeo; these projects came in under budget and will be paid from town funds after a planned Yampah (Yucock) mini‑grant program was paused by that granting agency. - A planned Chicago Ranch 5K trail system funded in part by an agreement with a private partner. The design under consideration is a two‑loop figure‑eight to allow a 1‑mile inner loop and 2‑mile outer loop for a 3.1‑mile race; surface type (natural vs. compacted base) will be decided based primarily on cost and invasive‑species risks discussed at the meeting. - Pocket Wave (river feature) improvements with engineering oversight; work is planned for an August 15–October 1 in‑water construction window that Colorado Parks and Wildlife permits. - A trails rehabilitation and connector project involving Colorado State engineering students and the Southwest Conservation Corps to improve riparian areas and loop the Rock and Roll Trail back toward the Walton Loop. - A consolidated parks, recreation, trails and open‑space master plan (10‑year horizon) funded with HAVA and DOLE administrative grant funds; the plan will consolidate multiple earlier plans and evaluate funding mechanisms, including a potential dedicated funding source to present to voters.

Shane emphasized the town’s interdepartmental approach to executing projects and clarified that daily maintenance of Billy Cordova Memorial Park — once open — would be handled by parks staff (trash, bathrooms, irrigation repairs), while recreation will continue to schedule programs and events.

Trustees asked several technical questions about trail surfaces, invasive species risk (noting that road base can encourage Canada thistle) and connections between new trails and existing neighborhood links. Shane and the Recreation Board said they would prioritize trail connectivity where possible, including better links from the rodeo grounds into adjacent neighborhoods.

The recreation staff presentation closed with a request that trustees review and discuss master‑plan funding options in the coming months; staff signaled they expect to bring contract approvals for consultants back to the board for formal action once the scope is finalized.