The Pagosa Springs Combined Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held its last regular meeting of the year on Nov. 7, in which Pagosa Springs Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis provided some 2025 budget highlights along with upcoming projects planned for next year.
Multiple projects have been approved by the board, the Pagosa Springs Town Council and the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners that will use money from the town’s Conservation Trust Fund and pending grant money.
Lewis explained that the town’s Conservation Trust Fund usually has around $40,000 to $50,000 left over, but with everything planned for 2025, that amount will likely be much less.
“Because of some of the big projects occurring and cost coming out of capital fund, I really concentrated on what needs to be done next year, what’s necessary,” Lewis said.
Two of the projects the town and county have both approved funding for include a new bike skills park in Yamaguchi Park South and the purchasing of a property for the East End river park.
Both the town and county have committed $25,000 for the bike skills park, which will be spearheaded by DUST2.
The town has committed $50,000 and the county has committed $30,000 to purchase the property at 1040 East U.S. 160 for the East End river park, which will provide public boater access.
The town is applying for a Great Outdoors Colorado grant for remaining funds needed to purchase that property.
Lewis also mentioned that $14,000 has been budgeted out of the Conservation Trust Fund for a new vendor entrance at Yamaguchi Park.
“We need a little better access for vendors to drive in,” he said, explaining the entrance will feature a concrete pad and mountable curb to make it easier for vendors to access the field.
Visitors and residents can also expect a new concrete cornhole set that will be installed near the bocce ball court, Lewis explained.
Other projects budgeted for the 2025 town’s Conservation Trust Fund include new outdoor exercise equipment, engineered wood fiber mulch for parks, signage and maintenance.
“When it’s all said and done, there’s just gonna be a few thousand dollars left, if everything comes through for next year,” Lewis said, adding that it “builds back up pretty quick,” with approximately $80,000 coming from the state annually.
Lewis also talked about the 1st Street pedestrian bridge project that town council recently approved the design for.
The bridge will be installed north of the existing vehicle bridge with a 10- to 12-foot-wide concrete deck, Lewis explained, noting the hope is to have that completed by the end of 2025.
“That’ll be a much safer crossing,” Lewis said.
Yamaguchi South river improvement
The town has budgeted $94,000 for the Yamaguchi South river improvement project that will focus on improving 1,700 feet downstream from the existing boat takeout where a new boat ramp will be proposed.
“The Yamaguchi South Improvements aim to enhance the ecological and recreational features of the Yamaguchi South area,” the project overview states.
Lewis explained that part of the project also includes redesigning the irrigation for Yamaguchi Park that will bring water into an existing pond, allowing silt to settle, “and I’m not pumping this through the pump, like I’m currently doing, so it should be a much more efficient irrigation system.”
He mentioned that it would be a 2026 budget item and, if approved, would have the old irrigation system shut down, making that area more “pedestrian friendly” by eliminating vehicle access and providing a “safe refuge for pedestrians to be down there.”
Lewis went on to explain that the new boat ramp would be at the end of 5th Street with a new parking area.
Ice rink
Toward the end of the meeting Lewis informed the board that the ice rink at South Pagosa Park won’t be opening this season.
“It’s just a lot to keep that area — especially when you don’t have a roof and when every time it snows trying to clear that. ... It’s a real pain,” Lewis said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
