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Ridgway council reviews Green Street Park plan as residents clash over proposed solar microgrid
Summary
Councilors reviewed a preferred master-plan concept that consolidates a solar microgrid and preserves roughly half the site for park uses. Residents were split—some backed town-owned backup power while others urged keeping the six-acre site fully parkland and suggested alternate solar locations.
Ridgway — The Ridgway Town Council on July 10 reviewed a preferred concept for the Green Street Park Master Plan that includes a consolidated solar microgrid and preserved park space, and sought direction from residents and consultants rather than adopting the plan.
Town Manager Neill framed the session as a direction-only review to inform consultants and cost estimates. Consultant Stacy Passmore of Superbloom presented the “Draft Preferred Concept of the Green Street Sustainability Park,” saying concepts were developed from public meetings, visits with the community garden and apiary and two online surveys (initially 84 responses, then 109 responses and additional letters). The preferred draft preserves about half the site for park use, consolidates solar into shade-canopy arrays, and keeps the apiary and Ridgway Community Garden on the north end.
Public comment was sharply divided. Supporters cited resiliency and education: Mayor Clark summarized the microgrid concept’s benefit, explaining the solar would provide the town with “back up power for four hours during an outage.” Dave Jones said he was “excited about a sustainability park” and encouraged including solar while possibly downsizing its footprint.
Opponents and neighbors urged keeping the site as parkland and relocating the microgrid. Dianne Eschman said the town should keep the “six acres as park” and look for other locations, and several residents suggested the unused ballfield on Clinton Street as an alternative. Therese Seal told the council, “this is a solar project, not a park,” and urged the town to consider other sites. Fred Bowl, speaking for the Apiary committee, warned that grooming the area would reduce “significant winter habitat for deer and elk.” Agnieszka Przeszlowska of the Ridgway Community Garden noted the garden holds a lease with the town and said the board would like the land between the apiary and garden left open for a multi-use pavilion but is “open to some small solar canopies to cover the children’s area.”
Councilors asked staff and consultants for specific design adjustments to test visually and financially. The council requested story poles to visualize raised-panel heights, a reduction in the number of panels, consideration of shifting panels toward the south end nearer the industrial park, splitting shade structures with one at the north and another at the south, and including features such as a climbing boulder, shaded play spaces and a restroom. The manager asked for clear direction for consultants; the council provided feedback but did not adopt the plan.
The consultant and staff will revise the design and cost estimates based on council direction and public input; the council will review those refinements in a future meeting before any formal adoption or budget decision.
