INC PARC (Parks and Recreation Committee) met July 21. Present were co-chairs Maggie Price and Katie Fisher, Steve Fisher, Larry Ambrose, Cindy Johnstone, Ray Ehrenstein, James Sample, Ronnie Crawford, Brad Cameron, Nancy Francis, Louis Plachowski, Diana Helper, Bridget Walsh, Joan Seeman, Georgia Garnsey, Maria Flora, Sam Valeriano, Greg Sorensen, Linda Drake.

Brad reported on the use of 9 acres of the Lower Lakewood Gulch Park land. DPR was unaware, while considering this all to be park land and maintaining it, that the 2013 Sun Valley Plan shows its use as for housing development. He and Larry had a phone conversation with  Councilman Lopez, and decisions are yet to be made. Other park sites in question are under discussion.

Brad presented the “Resolution Regarding Designating Denver’s’ Parks” and after discussion and several small amendments, Cindy moved and Nancy seconded, and PARC voted unanimously to take the Resolution to INC on Aug. 8. It asks the Mayor, City Council, and DPR to allocate more funding to DPR for staff and resources to complete the designation process by the end of 2017, and as priorities to focus on gulches, drainage ways and other city areas providing trail and greenway connections to large geographic areas.

Sam Valeriano, of the Stapleton Foundation for sustainable urban communities, said he was attending on behalf of the Montbello community, seeking activities for residents. He hopes to work with DPR to help provide these. His company is connected with Be Well health and wellness initiative and funded by such groups as the Piton Foundation.

Katie reported that PRAB (Parks and Rec Advisory Board) will get new members with the new councilpersons’ assignments. Scott Gilmore wishes to remain as manager but has not applied for the Exec. Director position. A group critical of the many changes (re-naming, new parking lots, etc.) being made at Red Rocks believes that its Historic status should be honored. It is now a “venue” rather than a “park” which is part of the concern.

Larry spoke about the Zoo “gasification plant” with a great deal of supporting information from Bridget, Joan, Brad and others. Bridget distributed material and there was considerable discussion.  Like the Zoo’s early presentation to INC, the presentation by the Zoo to City Council appears not to have included some items, resulting in puzzling questions to be answered, especially regarding safety concerns. Larry asked that PARC vote to ask INC, on Aug. 8, to vote a Request to City Council to “conduct a substantive and technical review of the Zoo’s OSWI Incinerator plant through hearings before its designated Neighborhood and Planning Committee…taking testimony from Zoo Foundation, engineers, scientists, environmental experts…” and others including RNOs and City Park neighbors, to answer these questions. Bridget called the vote, Louis moved, and James seconded, all said “Aye” with one abstention.

Next PARC meeting will be Tues. August 18, 6-8 p.m., at Brookdale U.Park, 2020 S. Monroe St.

-Diana Helper, PARC member