Carbondale Parks & Recreation lays out priorities for 2027 master plan: wayfinding, river access, inclusivity and facilities

Carbondale’s Parks & Recreation commission presented a broad set of priorities for a 2027 master plan and asked trustees to help shape an RFP for a consultant.

Chair Hollis Sutherland began by reviewing past accomplishments — bicycle and pedestrian connections, riverfront restoration and the new aquatics center — and argued the next plan should focus on activation, accessibility and financial sustainability. "As Carbondale continues to grow, our town's parks and recreation will play an ever-increasing role," Sutherland said.

Commissioners and youth commissioners reported on projects and community input. Youth commissioner Amalia Sparhawk described outreach and youth video campaigns for the pool and urged expanding youth roles in communications. Commissioners emphasized the need for bilingual outreach: trustees and staff urged that wayfinding and public information be bilingual in English and Spanish to improve participation by the town’s Latino community.

Several recurring planning topics drew sustained discussion:

- Nature park / Staircase Park: Commissioners debated whether to treat the nature park as a dog park or protect areas for habitat and birding; speakers urged better pedestrian access and a potential river-access plan tied to Keeland's (Kaelan/Keeland) river-access memo. Commissioners said a public comment process is likely to produce strong turnout on this issue.

- Recreation facilities and programming: Commissioners reported heavy demand at the rec center, oversubscribed fitness and court programs, and the popularity of the new aquatics center. Commissioners discussed adaptive reuse opportunities (an indoor facility at a vacant property was suggested) to create space for courts, fitness rooms and inclusive programming for people with disabilities.

- Restrooms and activation: Commissioners urged a restroom inventory and upgrades at parks, suggested exploring restrooms near downtown features such as Launchpad and Chacó's Park, and proposed modest investments to reduce per-event activation costs (audio-visual and other infrastructure).

- Sports fields and events: Local athletic leaders have requested additional field capacity; commissioners discussed leveling or optimizing existing fields to accommodate growing youth and travel-sport demand. They also discussed event activation and the cost of running recurring events.

- Wayfinding, branding and outreach: Commissioners recommended the master-plan RFP require meaningful community outreach (including in-person outreach at soccer games and other gathering points) and bilingual materials. They also asked that consultants demonstrate local, on-the-ground capacity rather than relying only on remote work.

Town staff said the RFP for a master-plan consultant will be drafted by July and distributed later this summer; draft materials will be shared with the older-adults advisory board and other stakeholders. Trustees encouraged early coordination so commission requests come to the board at planned times rather than late in packet cycles.

The commission sought trustee input on priorities and RFP design; trustees suggested emphasizing ADA access, river connectivity to downtown, and lifecycle planning and funding for staffing and maintenance. Commissioners said they will circulate Keeland’s river-access memo and request further trustee feedback as the RFP is finalized.