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OPINION: Perspective |
Norm Vance | 2/2/12
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Perspective, a big word! As we have our community-wide discussion about Reservoir Hill, let’s keep in mind that there are no bad people here. The Town Council, the TTC and the Reservoir Hill Task Force are all good people. They just have different perspectives. They drive from one side of town to the other and count the empty store fronts and study numbers that, in this difficult economy, do not look promising for our small rural town.
We have the “double whammy” of having grown so much in the years just before the economic downturn.
Our Town Council knows and feels the impact of all this, and feels responsible to do the best they can to make Pagosa prosper.
 We must all realize that Reservoir Hill means different things to different people. While it is a “wilderness park” to some, it is also almost one fourth of downtown Pagosa Springs. Few towns can afford to dedicate such a chunk of downtown as a wilderness.
The wilderness idea began when the trail system was built and the gate went up to end motorized access. Before that it was used by anyone wanting to drive or go up there. Long-timers remember many fond times spent on the hill. With no gate and no permission required there were gatherings of all sorts, weddings, family activities etc. As it was a quiet place just seconds from town center, it was also a place for romance. You always gave a wide berth to parked cars! Later generations have hiked and skied it, and there are the remains of hovels where people lived. It does have meaning and a soft place in the hearts of many folks.
The reasonable path is to do something that will serve the recreational needs of the local population while being a desirable stop for tourists. The Town Tourism Committee's prime motivation is to get more people to spend time here, eat, lodge and shop. The proposed amphitheater fulfills that need when there is an event going on. For the wellbeing of the hill, the Town has put strict limitations on the number and frequency of the giant music events. Other smaller events, with less impact, can be held from the stage to entertain all and give tourists something to do during the evenings.
These events just may put some money in the coffers of local entertainers, groups and local businesses.
The “Lookout Tower” part of the original plan serves a need on a daily basis. The tower can be a wonderful and wholesome attraction on the northeast point of the hill. The proposal is not for a huge tower, it is only a two story structure. I see it as all stone and wood and "fitting" the area. It would look very much like similar structures in National Parks and Forests.
There is historic precedent for it as people have hiked to that point for generations for the view. There was a huge table built there decades ago. It has now wasted away.
It is not just a tower. It is designed to have a strong educational component including mountain geology and the history of the area and Pagosa Springs. The tower can be an attractive tourist draw without being a loud and carnival-ish facility.
An expanded hiking, mountain biking and Nordic skiing trail system will also serve us on a daily basis. The sledding and snowboarding hills are mostly in place and will be very popular if we ever get normal snow in town again.
I beg the people generally against any changes and folks doing the anti development petition to not “throw the baby out with the bath water.” It is possible to do tasteful and appropriate things on the hill that mix well with its nature and historic past and still benefit locals and tourists.
We can all win! |
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