INC PARC (parks And Rec Committee) met October 16 at 6 p.m. at Brookdale UPark, 2020 S. Monroe St.

Present were co-chairs Maggie Price and Cindy Johnstone, George Mayle, Marlene Johnson, Ronnie Crawford, Ean Tafoya, Diana Helper, Katie and Steve Fisher, Jay and Kathleen Rust, Nancy Francis, and guest Leslie Twarogowski from Denveright.

An outline for discussion of Denveright’s Parks Plan was prepared in advance by Cindy and Maggie, starting with suggested additions to the Urban Park Platform: Returning control of park land use issues to elected officials on city council, Climate Change study before planning, Park Designations, Listing all Parkways, including designation of rivers as “parks,” or parks as rivers, Park Holdings, define Parks in the Glossary with definition of “park space” (ruling out hardscape/impermeable areas.

Also discussed were: offering equal partnerships for one and all including RNOs, Green parks- grass and trees-improve the air quality, the greener a city is the more prosperous it becomes, connect addition of rec centers with need of Neighborhoods, Need for city to engage all people with the concept of improving city– especially our physical/mental health, remember that parks must protect the animals as well as be well maintained, establish a Landscape Strategy, define “how” strategies could be carried out.

Other needs for inclusion: to include budget items, update partnerships, money spent by DPR with public accounting, advise that all included in 3-year plan would be impossible to accomplish so quickly, mention RNOs, Mention PRAB, get Online calendar of park events updated and easily accessible, acknowledge that the need for More Parks (especially playing fields, entertainment venues) is higher priority than filling present parks with more games, shows, etc., carefully compare new plan with Blueprint Denver to solve Blueprint errors so they are not continued as any basis for new plan.

Outcome of these discussions will be written by Cindy and Maggie to be sent to city by Oct. 31 comment deadline.

Next PARC meeting is Nov. 19. Remember to VOTE ! — Diana Helper