When asked in a recent interview where he sees Parks in two years, Director Justin Huss answered that it feels like the first year that people can plan a year ahead to visit, and the goal was to have financial consistency and security.
At the Dec. 17 meeting Huss said that Parks had grown from a $400,000 agency to a $750,000 agency and needed to be a million dollar one. He expanded on that saying that Parks has seen “unparalleled growth in revenue and budget size” but that they have a plateau. He said it would take several years and would take “…dramatic changes of facilities potentially to jump that gap or a jolt of income.” He referenced the white board in his office at the Parks Harmon Park office filled with budget costs for Tuesday’s budget workshop showing how Parks would need to bridge that gap.
The meat of the interview was discussion of future projects and trails. When asked about citizen suggestions for a moratorium on projects that would impact the major footprint of the parks until the Master Plan was complete. He said that the impact of footprint comes down to opinion, but that Parks is determining areas of Leatherwood for future development and sections for conservation efforts for the Master Plan.
He said that the answer was not to stop everything, as the Master Plan process is an 18-24 month process and it would be a long time to not do anything and that was how Parks was in the position they were in. He said he was still evaluating the second round of Master Plan surveys, but that it was looking promising.
Huss gave a general overview of how trails are created starting with a proposal process with the goal of the trail being a part of the proposal. The example given was transportation or connection trails vs. the downhill gravity trails where “the trails are the experience.” The area is flagged off and environmental impact studies are done. When those are met it moves to a supervisory process, as the trails are built with changes being made as need arises.
This led into our conversation about the in-town trails that Parks is proposing. Concerns have been raised by members of the public about hikers going through the backyards of residents. Huss said that Parks was not utilizing imminent domain nor going through backyards. The goal in town is a transportation network for foot and bike traffic.
He voiced belief that it fits with the ethos of the town to connect major points in town, including the grocery store. He said that there are items on the city approved trail plan that he feels are no longer viable and need to be updated. He also said that these trails are infrastructure “… that is wanted and expected in many places in the world.”
For the purpose of safety, signage and trail width would be the main staple and Huss also said that alternate bicycle lines might be a possibility.
There are no plans to expand the downhill gravity trails and the in-town trails proposed by Parks is for hiking and non-competitive cycling.