The Town of Pagosa Springs’ new river access park located at 1040 E. U.S. 160 has now been given a formal name, with the Pagosa Springs Town Council voting unanimously to name the park “San Juan River Park” at its Aug. 18 regular meeting.
In May 2025, the town acquired the four-acre property that formerly housed Bob’s LP for roughly $800,000.
The main reason for the town’s acquisition of the property is to expand boater and recreational access to the San Juan River near downtown Pagosa Springs.
During the Aug. 18 meeting, Town Manager David Harris explained that, at the direction of the council, he and council member Leonard Martinez met with leaders at the Southern Ute Cultural Center “and we’ve had really good conversation with them.”
He explained that from that meeting, one suggestion for naming the park was to incorporate Spanish and Southern Ute history.
Harris noted that the town had yet to receive a specific name suggestion and that there have also been conversations with the Jicarilla Apache tribe on the matter.
“Still comes back to the same issue,” Harris said.
He explained that town staff are running into issues with things like signage and potential grant opportunities by not having a formal name for the park.
“We just need to kind of formally name this baby,” he said.
Harris also explained that a “supplemental name” could be added at a later date, mentioning that it is common in communities across the country.
Harris mentioned that the name that kept popping up in conversations was San Juan River Park, noting that San Juan is a prevalent name in the region.
“It does help tell the story of our region to some degree,” he said.
Martinez explained that with the 150th celebration of Colorado’s statehood and the nation’s 250th anniversary, “we also found out” that it has been 260 years since the Spanish first saw the San Juan River.
Martinez explained that the Spanish chose to call it that, which led to San Juan being a popular name in the region for mountain ranges and forests.
“For me, I agree with getting started,” Martinez said, explaining he feels there is still work that can be done to come up with a more inclusive name for the park to end up “in a place that works for all of us.”
The council then unanimously approved a motion to name the new park the San Juan River Park and leave it to staff to add any supplemental name at a later point.
Other news
Also during the Aug. 18 meeting, the council unanimously approved the second reading of Ordinance 1037, authorizing a moratorium on the acceptance or processing of permit and land development applications where a data center is included as a proposed principal or accessory use.
Planning Manager Owen O’Dell explained that, earlier this summer, “council directed staff to draft a moratorium while we monitor the state and nation on data center development across the country and specifically the technological advances and the impacts to human health safety, and ecological impacts.”
O’Dell also reminded the council that the six-month moratorium is “based on the preference from counsel” and that moratoriums can be extended.
Prior to voting on the ordinance, council member Madeline Bergon offered some comments on the matter, suggesting that the public should have a say in potentially finding a more long-term solution on data centers in the community.
“I think what we’re doing is really important, and I would also love for the community to have a say,” she said, explaining that if the public wants to take the initiative to put something on the ballot, “I think that would be a really good move for our community, just so that this decision isn’t solely resting on council.”
Mayor Shari Pierce indicated that the council could “give that some discussion” between now and the next election.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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