INC PARC (Parks & Recreation Committee) met May 15 at Brookdale University Park. Present were: co-chairs Cindy Johnstone and Maggie Price, Katie and Steve Fisher, Marlene Johnson, Ean Tafoya, Brad Cameron, Greg Sorensen, Amber Clark, Sonia John, Ronnie Crawford, Diana Helper and guest presenter Harriet LaMair of the Highline Canal Conservancy.

Harriet described the process and importance of creating the Conservancy for this 71-mile-long historic canal which dates to the 1880s and was originally an irrigation ditch for agriculture. It begins at Waterton Canyon and ends at the S. Platte, north of DIA. Today it runs through four jurisdictions each of which has signed on to the Conservancy project and takes an active part. The water it receives from Waterton is regulated by Urban Drainage and Flood Control engineers. Storm water gives it the role of welcome filtration, assisting a green infrastructure. Conservancy works with Denver Water, uses no recycled water. Funding has been secured from grants and sponsors to maintain and enhance the canal surroundings, primarily natural, and improve safety in heavy street traffic places. Two videos provided scenes of the canal in various areas. The Conservancy offers educational walks for all ages, and often has information tables along the route. This is a great example of good planning, a lot of effort, enthusiastic support from thousands of residents, and a worthy goal of improved connectivity and of fresh air and greenery for an ever-growing city.

MAP OF HIGHLINE CANAL – DENVER WATER

PARC then discussed its response to the proposed DPR alcohol policy changes. Katie reported from PRAB (Parks-Rec Advisory Board) that the decision has been pushed back for two or three months, giving PARC more time to discern changes in the formerly announced changes, and ask needed questions still unanswered. Matters of liquor types, park use, the fencing off of too much public park land, adequate enforcement, required sustainability measures, required bathrooms, and lists of major cities that do not allow any liquor in parks. Denver’s surrounding communities allow beer only. DPR’s Fred Weiss will address this topic June 9 at the INC Delegate meeting, open to the public, to be held at Brookdale Univ. Park’s main meeting room. If questions remain unanswered, PARC will draft a letter to DPR and bring it to the INC July meeting for vote. This important topic needs clarification.

The Fred Weiss and Laura Morales of DPR presentation at our last meeting can be viewed here on You Tube

This is available as a podcast at

Google

https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ipsawso5b4qncpumhkchknodb5i

Apple Pod Cast

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inter-neighborhood-cooperation/id1370036745

https://www.denverinc.org/feed/podcast

PARC briefly discussed the process DPR used in the land-swap agreement at Fairfax Park. It lacked adequate public process, reporting, reasons, and appeared to be a “done deal” in favor of the developer. A public plaza in a commercial row is not the promised green park on a corner residential block the residents needed. On Lafayette St. a group of teens are rallying for a Park and PARC agreed to meet with them if they like. Ean has pointed out that Rec Centers along I-70 need air quality study and likely air filtration equipment, which DPR should be budgeting now.

Next PARC meeting Tue., June 19, 6-8 p.m. at Brookdale. – Diana Helper