Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 16 2007 @ 04:53 PM MDT

This is exciting!

Authored by: inhotwater on Tuesday, November 06 2007 @ 10:46 AM MST

Hey, I really like this feature of being able to view the master plans and then make comments. I hope other people begin to use this and make their comments and suggestions known. I have just looked at the proposals briefly and will make a more lengthy comment real soon. Someone has put a lot of work into this. thanks.

Authored by: WebEditor1 on Wednesday, November 07 2007 @ 09:05 AM MST

Authored by: BarbaraUhles on Friday, November 02 2007 @ 05:09 PM MDT
Responding to the parks plan, I have several comments. It is a beautiful and
very ambitious undertaking. Unfortunately, there are several things that need
to be considered.

First, I think it would be a HUGE mistake to place the basketball court
immediately by the parking area. Knowing how the city is always short of
funds to maintain these types of courts (example, current state of the tennis
courts), it would be a very unattractive scene when visitors pull down to that
area and see an unmaintained court with grass growing through the base. It
would not represent Ouray well and be a real eyesore in that area. There
seems to be room for it on the other side of the tennis courts. Then you could
have two courts down there have to be maintained.

Moving the beautiful, cottonwood trees to replace it with a basketball court
would be a sin. Plus, the great picnic area there under the shade of the
cottonwood trees is used constantly during the summer months and would
be stupid. I see that you would be moving the picnic area over by the gazebo
where the trees are still very small and would provide no shade.

Regarding the picnic area being by the gazebo, it would be impossible to
have weddings and nice events at the gazebo with the picnic area and grills in
the same vicinity. The tables would have to be moved every time you had an
event because they would be in the way and not look very inviting. The grills
would be stationary and therefore could not be moved. It wouldn’t work!

Lastly, I think it is a good idea to move the miners park out of the parking
area. It takes up much-needed parking. My biggest concern in redoing the
parking lot is what will happen to the beautiful crabapple trees that are
currently in the parking area. It is very important that you plan to find a good
place for them ahead of time and incorporate that move into the cost of
redoing the parking area. They are beautiful trees and we could certainly use
them somewhere else in the park. Please don’t just get rid of them!!!

Barbara Uhles

Authored by: Rick River on Wednesday, November 14 2007 @ 09:44 AM MST

Dear Ouray City Council,
It is exciting to see the City begin to plan for improvements to Fellin Park. Our home overlooks the park and we are historically connected to this very important piece of property. I understand the importance of the pool and your interest to improve it, but we have witnessed a substantial increase in the use of the park and the City must not lose sight of the need to improve the area as a whole. Here are a few thoughts.
1. Any successful plan must include keeping the infield of Smokey Joe Field free from flooding. The infiltration gallery has sealed with silt over the years and is no longer effective. This feature should be moved to an area west of its present location and the overflow should drain to the outfield. Hauling in enough fill to raise the infield will help with drainage. Lake Ouray at this location is an ugly site.
2. You don't need 12 parking places for two tennis courts and putting cars down the left field line will not only discourage people from playing ball, but should make tennis players parking there very nervous.
3. Leave the basketball court where it is, improve it and when it is resurfaced include a runway for the long jump that does not act as a dam.
4. If you leave the basketball court where it is you can move the handicapped parking a full basketball court closer to the pool entrance. Designate a couple of spots for tennis players.
5. Leave the Miners Park in Fellin Park and improve it. It doesn't have to be in its present location if you can find a better spot, but the mention of moving it to an isolated location like Rotary Park and insisting you want to honor our mining heritage is insulting.
Thanks, Rick & Mary Anne River

Authored by: tbcollier on Sunday, February 03 2008 @ 11:49 AM MST

Date: February 3, 2008
As a Chautauqua Subdivision property owner (Chautauqua is essentially across the street from the park) I have comments and objections regarding the proposed Rotary Park development plan.

Overview:
I believe the proposed plan is generally well done and would provide Ouray’s citizens and tourists a pleasant and potentially educational respite.

My objections fall into 3 basic categories, light pollution, noise pollution and the maintenance overhead required to support the development.

Light pollution:
While not shown on the drawing , in order to support the proposed camping and bath house facilities, there will need to be 24 hour external lighting for camping use and security. This, of course, does not include the light pollution from campers.

Additionally, I suspect the city would not make such a sizeable investment in the park without expecting to extend its usage into the nighttime hours, necessitating some sort of stadium lighting to support casual usage and organized events.

Noise pollution:
Hand-in-hand with the light pollution, camping will generate a significantly higher (than today) level of noise pollution associated with camping vehicular traffic (cars, trucks and ATV’s) and boisterous behavior at all times of the night along with additional noise associated with any night time ice rink usage.

Maintenance Overhead:
Camping and/or extended ice rink usage will necessitate additional funding to support utilities, grounds keeping, refuse management and law enforcement. All of which are city dollars better spent elsewhere.

Recommendation:
I suggest deleting the campground and bathhouse facility from consideration and replace it with a nature trail that provides a self-guided tour and educational stations consistent with the local environment. Additionally, I believe there needs to be a formal commitment to make this only a daylight use facility.

The light and noise pollution that will surely be created by execution of the existing plan are grossly contrary to the tenets of low environmental impact that I was led to believe the City and County hold sacrosanct and inviolate in preserving Ouray's lifestyle, when I purchased my property.

At the end of the day, the I believe the City needs to decide for whom they are developing the park, the citizens or tourists. You cannot effectively serve two Masters.

Regards,

Ben Collier

Authored by: WebEditor1 on Wednesday, March 05 2008 @ 03:21 PM MST

Authored by: Leia James on Sunday, March 2, 2008
Dear Ms. Uhles,
I am writing to commend and to thank you for the insightful comments you made online about the Fellin Park proposed plan.
Last September my husband and I put a beautiful new mobile home in the 4-J directly across from the gazebo (formerly Mr. Warren Doyle's spot) because we love the park. Needless to say we're excited about the improvements; your thoughts were welcome additions.

Warm regards,
Leia James