HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2020-08-20
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, August 20, 2020
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the PARKS ADVISORY BOARD of the
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually in said
Town of Estes Park on the 20th day of August, 2020.
Committee: Merle Moore, Chair, Rex Poggenpohl Vice Chair, Geoffrey
Elliot, Dewain Lockwood, Vicki Papineau, Ron Wilcocks
Attending: Merle Moore, Rex Poggenpohl, Vicki Papineau, Ron
Wilcocks, Greg Muhonen, Kevin McEachern, Brian Berg,
Megan Van Hoozer
Absent: Geoffrey Elliot, Dewain Lockwood, Marie Cenac Town Board
Liaison
Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded (Wilcocks/Papineau) to approve the February meeting
minutes and all were in favor.
MRS. WALSH’S GARDEN COMMITTEE UPDATE
Mrs. Walsh’s Garden (MWG) Committee has been meeting virtually via Zoom. They went
through the selection process of the MWG Master Plan. AloTerra of Fort Collins was
awarded as the low bidder. Planning meetings are ongoing and are hoping for finalization
by the end of the year.
Supervisor Berg added that the 30% design plans, for the waterfall and pond area, will be
presented to the group in October.
Moore informed the group that, due to the development plans and requirements for the
Elkhorn Lodge, a sidewalk will be extended and crosswalk installed near MWG.
PLAQUE APPROVAL FOR ESTES VALLEY LAND TRUST BENCH
Supervisor Berg presented the group with the planned wording for a memorial bench from
the Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT). This specific bench has wording from the donor that
is not consistent with what has been used prior, which is the reason for presenting this to
the PAB.
Once the PAB reviewed, it was determined that it would be requested this go back to the
EVLT to work with the donor to have language consistent with other plaques installed. All
members were in agreement. Berg will revisit this with the EVLT and bring this item back
at the September meeting, along with a draft policy to address this information.
Berg also informed the group that all EVLT be nch plaques that are currently installed as
stand-along plaques, will be removed and placed into rocks, as will all plaques moving
forward.
HISTORIC WOMEN’S MONUMENT UPDATE
Member Wilcocks provided the most recent update on the Historic Women’s Monument
project status. He stated that progress had to be put on hold for a couple months due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. He reminded the group that the project and requested location
was approved unanimously by the Town Board.
Light work has been done on funding for the monument , however there have been
donations totaling approximately $6,000 to date. The group is now working on refining the
requirements for the artwork. Wilcocks will provide an update to the group at next month’s
Parks Advisory Board – August 20, 2020 – Page 2
meeting. Next steps include the Town publishing the Request for Proposal with Wilcocks
managing the information being sent.
Moore suggested offering this opportunity to only local or regional artists which was well -
received by the group. Wilcocks assured the PAB that work on this effort will be a
collaborative one between the monument committee and the PAB so all will be on the
same page.
PROJECT UPDATES
Supervisor Berg informed the group that it has been a rough year with the elk and rodents
eating flowers and plants throughout downtown. He gave his team a lot of credit for all
the work put into making downtown beautiful th is year.
Irrigation at the roundabout at Wonderview Ave. (US 34) & MacGregor Ave. intersection
will be installed, along with hardscape, in the fall. Additionally, the recreation and picnic
area near the parking structure will also be occurring this fall.
The Town is still working through the conservation easement for the Thumb Open Space.
The purchase agreement has been signed, the geological survey has been completed
and approved by GOCO. There has already been much work performed along the trail by
members of the Access Fund and the Estes Valley Land Trust, and it is looking great.
Current work is going in to ensuring the trail has reasonable access for persons with
disabilities, specifically the 3-wheel vehicles.
Co-chair Poggenpohl asked the PAB to provide their thoughts on pushing for Arts in
Public Places (AIPP) funding in 2021 with the current budget constraints. This would
provide seed money to begin building an art budget. Supervisor Berg expressed that the
Town was specifically guided to not ask for any new funding in 2021 due to the impacts
of COVID-19. Director Muhonen suggested that Poggenpohl put together his proposal for
potential discussion at an upcoming Town Board Study Session (TBSS) to get their
reaction to the request prior to an official request being submitted. Poggenpohl agreed
and Muhonen stated he’d get the date of the TBSS from the Town Administrator and
would provide the information to the group.
There being no further business, Chair Moore adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m.
Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary