HEADS UP HORSE MEN AND WOMEN !!
The City of Aspen has released a RFP proposal for Cozy Point Ranch on-line. They are looking for individuals or groups to come forward with intent to lease Cozy Point Ranch. This process could tie up the ranch for ten years.
The RFVHC will respond on behalf of our membership in the near future. We are asking members to reach out to us immediately with questions, interests and concerns. We are looking for interested parties. The time-lines are tight. The on line contact is listed below if you are interested in learning more about the process.
The City of Aspen states: The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit professional agricultural, educational, and/or equestrian operation lease holder(s) for the City of Aspen owned Cozy Point Ranch Open Space (CPR). Cozy Point Ranch is a unique open space property, where the fabric of our community can be shared and celebrated, from our agricultural heritage to concepts of the Aspen Idea. It is hoped that every child, who grows up in our community and all those who visit Aspen will develop a special connection to Cozy Point Ranch, where their lives will be enriched by formative experiences.
Here is a snapshot from the RFP process --contact us for more details.
1.2 Site Background
For an in depth historical account of the property refer to the CPR Management Plan.
Key Players:
City of Aspen Parks and Recreation Department: Aspen's recreational facilities include over 30 world-class parks ranging from small neighborhood parks with playgrounds to over 1,300 acres of vast open spaces with mountain vistas and streams. Serviced by 22 miles of pedestrian/bicycle trails and over 90 kilometers of cross country/Nordic trails. Aspen parks and athletic fields create spaces for picnics, quiet contemplation, weddings, soccer and rugby games, and our downtown pedestrian mall provides premier international people-watching where children can play in the DeWolff/Fulton fountain.
Aspen Valley Land Trust: “Aspen Valley Land Trust’s mission is to permanently preserve open lands for agriculture, wildlife habitat, scenic enjoyment and recreation in the greater Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. AVLT’s legal and ethical commitment to stewarding and enforcing the terms of conservation easements lasts forever – just like the commitment that all of us must have to assure that our fresh air, clean water, local food supplies, views and wildlife thrive long beyond our lifetimes. Aspen Valley Land Trust is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization guided in decision-making by volunteer members of the Board of Directors and our work is supported by charitable contributions. As the oldest land trust in the State of Colorado, Aspen Valley Land Trust is an acknowledged leader in the conservation community. AVLT is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and certified by the State of Colorado.” (avlt.org)
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City of Aspen
Request for Proposals
2.0 RFP Process
Proposals will be reviewed and selected by Cozy Point RFP Evaluation Committee selected by the City of Aspen Parks Department. All submissions must follow submission requirements (Chapter 4.0 of this document) for selection consideration. Once selected the review board will present this selection to the City Council for approval.
Cozy Point Ranch RFP Committee Members:
- City of Aspen Open Space and Trails Board Member
- City Financial Dept.
- City Parks Dept.
- Local Equestrian Representative
- Local Agricultural Representative
- Pitkin County Open Space
- Brush Creek Metro District
- CSU Equine Specialist
2.1 Communication
Questions must be posted on the Rocky Mountain Bid System website,www.bidnetdirect.com or by emailing [email protected]. Answers are posted online for all Offerors to review and consider. It is the Vendor’s responsibility to check the website for Q&As, addendums, and other important information.
Important meeting -
Cozy Point Ranch Management Plan Approval by the OST Board
Feb 16th, 5:00pm - Aspen City Hall, down stairs in the Sister Cities Room.
Sent today:
To the City of Aspen Mayor, City Council, OST Board and Staff,
The new amended and proposed final Cozy Point Ranch Management Plan has reduced the Equestrian Center acreage by 2/3, from 93.5 acres to 32.5 acres. The RFVHC is alarmed by the consequences of this action.
With less acreage the Equestrian Center will not be financially viable as it is today, without significant changes to it’s operation. Affordable amenities such the lesson riding programs, kid’s camps, inexpensive boarding, and public access for trails and arena use, will be difficult to sustain, unless under-written by the City Aspen. The reduced acreage will force an RFP approved responsible lease-holder to cater, over time to a minimum number of clients. If you reduce the acres, you then reduce the number of horses, which reduces the funds available to support the affordable amenities mentioned above.
In addition to the horses that board year round, and seasonally, there is a seasonal herd of fifteen to twenty horses that comes in every summer, for the affordable camps and riding programs. The reduction of acreage will cause the ranch property to become further degraded, if the acreage is reduced as the Cozy Point Management Plan stipulates.
The point of the Management Plan is to create change, supporting better, sustainable improvements for the existing user groups and the wildlife.
The Horse Council and the Equestrian community at large respectfully requests that this process wait until the CSU experts visit, for a better informed Management Plan and RFP for a 10 year lease.
CSU Equestrian Department’s team of three, specializing in facility management, horses management, and their veterinarian are willing to come to consult, but so far City Parks Department has not schedule their visit. This should be done before the Management Plan is approved, and the RFP Process begins. The CSU team is willing to come visit in March. The RFVHC is asking you to table this decision until then.
RFVHC Board of Directors
If you have any comments please send them directly to Austin Weiss - [email protected]
Come to the meeting and support our equestrian community, and learn what is going on with the Management Plan for the City owned, Cozy Point Ranch.
Sincerely,
Holly Mclain - Communication Chairman
Cozy Point Ranch Management Plan Approval by the OST Board
Upcoming Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Meetings
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails will host a second public open house to kick off this planning process on Jan. 18 from 5-7 p.m. at Carbondale Town Hall. The initial open house took place Jan. 12 in Redstone. Citizens are also welcome to fill out our questionnaire at the Carbondale event, where Open Space and Forest Service personnel will be on hand to answer questions. No formal presentation is planned as part of the open house format, but maps of the Crystal Valley corridor will be displayed to aid in the discussion of ideas or concerns. The goal is to collect public feedback at the outset, before work is done on planning a potential trail route.
Go to:
http://www.pitkinostprojects.com/carbondale-to-crested-butte-trail-plan.html,
to learn more and comment.
Pitkin OST Board meeting Regarding the Cozy Point Management Plan approval on Jan 19th, 5:00 pm, Aspen City Hall downstairs. Please come to listen and comment.
Click link here to see the new Management Plan.
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Departments/Parks-Trails-Open-Space/Open-Space/
Go to:
http://www.pitkinostprojects.com/carbondale-to-crested-butte-trail-plan.html,
to learn more and comment.
Pitkin OST Board meeting Regarding the Cozy Point Management Plan approval on Jan 19th, 5:00 pm, Aspen City Hall downstairs. Please come to listen and comment.
Click link here to see the new Management Plan.
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Departments/Parks-Trails-Open-Space/Open-Space/
December 5, 2016
To all supporters of horses, Western Heritage and Cozy Point Ranch,
Finally, we have RFVHC Board consensus for presenting our Management Plan Response document. Our intention was to get this done earlier but the time for analysis was longer than we anticipated. We are proud of the information presented, and we hope that you will review our efforts and take this document as a true attempt at honest helpful criticism to make Cozy Point Ranch better for everyone. Our belief is that planning for future expansion and growth must be considered for the sake of both Cozy Point Equestrian and Aspen TREE.
Please accept this report with our kindhearted intention to help bring Cozy Point Ranch up to the standards befitting a City of Aspen Open Space property.
https://app.box.com/s/6kcmzkg9yqbe71wxqf33293ce54usn7n
Use this link to access the document. The Link, is a download service called BOX, it is excellent and transfers large files, such as this easily. Download it onto your computers, and then print if you want a hard copy. It’s 50 pages but quite large font, so it’s easy to read with only 5-6 pages of color photos.Copy and paste this link and send to any interested horse owners or CPR stakeholders. Please join RFVHC today and stay involved in the process.
Now, by understanding the facts presented, the discussion on Cozy Point Ranch is closer for decision making by the City of Aspen regarding the future of this prominent Open Space property at the gateway entrance to Aspen and Snowmass Village. The RFVHC has written a Compilation Summary for the City of Aspen's proposed Management Plan.
We have taken the Plan and indexed the subjects into short understandable issues, giving the RFVHC position on each issue, including the big picture for the ranch. In making the Compilation we read all of the letters the City received over the years, all of the documents made available to us in public records, and a Survey Monkey of 35 questions we hosted regarding CPR.
We ask for your opinions so that the citizens and supporters of Cozy Point Equestrian can be involved in the best possible outcome.
Thank You,
RFVHC Board of Directors
Dear RFVHC Members,
CRITICAL ISSUE NEEDS EQUESTRIAN COMMENTS.
COZY POINT MANAGEMENT PLAN DOES NOT ADDRESS THE HORSE PART OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH EQUAL CONSIDERATION. PLEASE READ AND COMMENT. LINK BELOW.
The RFVHC strongly recommends all interested parties and equestrians review and comment on the proposed Cozy Point Management Plan published by the City of Aspen Parks and Open Space Department. Do not delay! They are literally counting each response and putting it in a graph table demonstrating public interest in Cozy Point Ranch! Public interest is noted as horse, farmer, bike, dog, wildlife, etc. If you are responding as having equestrian (horse) interest please state that.
You can review the current Cozy Point Management Plan on-line at www.aspencommunityvoice.com It is 225 pages long.
The open house meetings for comment from the community are Thursday 10-13-16 4-6pm Cozy Point Ranch and Thursday 10-20-16 4:30-6:30pm at the Red Brick Center for Arts.
The City Parks and Open Space will be taking public comments on their plan until October 28, 2016. The community is being asked to respond on-line at www.aspencomunityvoice.com
If you need help negotiating this website and response system call Austin Weiss directly at the City Parks and Open Space Department or reach him on-line.
Austin Weiss
Open Space Manager, City of Aspen
970-429-2023
[email protected]
PITKIN OPEN SPACE "HABITAT PRESERVATION AND USE"
PUBLIC COMMENT ENDS JUNE 24TH
Please make your voices count!
Pitkin County is taking public comment on "Habitat Preservation and Use" for all Pitkin County Open Space properties. This affects the wildlife. It is critical that everyone makes a comment on the Pitkin OST web site. We appreciate that Pitkin OST is purchasing land for open space. Oversight and enforcement of these areas is critical to keep them verdant, natural, and a place of peace and safety for wildlife.
Go to pitkinostprojects.com , third one down on the left, click on it. "Draft Policy 'Habitat Preservation and Use" Deadline for response comments is June 24th
Respond at bottom of draft individually giving your name, and comment as requested.
Pitkin OST draft Policy:
The Open Space and Trails Program seeks to rely on the best available science for property-specific study of natural habitat conditions as the starting point for optimal allocation of use of funds or county open space lands across habitat, agricultural, recreational, scenic and other authorized open space purposes.
If such study reveals specialized habitat management needs, the program will seek to restore to healthy, natural function any degraded habitat, and will employ spatial or temporal closures or other appropriate mitigation to protect sensitive habitat from recreational or agricultural use impacts. Sensitive habitat may include those habitats used by rare and endangered species, Colorado Natural Heritage Program-ranked habitat types and protected conservation areas, as well as, habitat types used by more common species that have special needs such as critical winter or summer range, breeding/nesting areas and migration corridors.
Human uses will be planned and managed to minimize intrusion in breeding/nesting areas and migration corridors. Human uses will be planned and managed to minimize intrusion into the time periods and/or places of special habitat concern.
Our Pitkin County Open Space land is precious, and paid for by the general public through our land taxes. The Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council (RFVHC) is concerned about the biodiversity and compatible human use on these lands, and also the BLM holdings.
Thank you for protecting the natural habitat in our valley.
RFVHC Board of Directors
Another important issue to help the RFVHC acquire more soft track for our equestrian use:
The Rio Grande Trail
Get Out The Vote!
Deadline is Midnight July 15, 2016
Link is: railstotrails.org/HOF-Vote
Why: Our own beloved Rio Grande Trail is one of 5 nominees selected for induction into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame! Your vote will decide the winner!
History: The Rio Grande Trail traces a 42-mile transportation corridor between Aspen and Glenwood Springs that has functioned as a key connector in the Roaring Fork Valley since the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad raced to lay tracks to Aspen more than a century ago.
Unique Qualities: The Rio Grande Trail is a long Rails-Trail multi-use connector through the spectacular Rocky Mountains. The Rio Grande Trail links our mountain communities together. It provides access on both side of the Roaring Fork River to a multitude of beautiful trails offering jaw dropping vistas and right up close interaction with wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Vote now and demonstrate our appreciation for this wonderful gift we have!
Now is the time!
The City of Aspen is taking public comment now for Cozy Point Ranch. We need the community to weigh in on the Importance of keeping Cozy Point an Equestrian Center / Horse Ranch, with ample space for horse exercise, pasture turn out, trails, and please support the RFVHC mission for a new sustainable, clean, functional, and verdant facility for horses and the generations of equestrians to come.
Click here to view the timeline
Click here to download the questionnaire (PDF)
Equestrian Trails in and around Snowmass Village - October 2015
The RFVHC is excited to be working with Andy Worline and the Parks and Recreations Dept. Steering for Equestrian Trail Connectivity throughout the Town of Snowmass Village. Here is the map (showing in pink) the existing equestrian Trails at this time.
RFVHC members will be riding and exploring the TOSV trail systems this summer and will work with Andy to suggest loops and connectivity for our equestrian community.
Click here to view the equestrian trails map
RFVHC members will be riding and exploring the TOSV trail systems this summer and will work with Andy to suggest loops and connectivity for our equestrian community.
Click here to view the equestrian trails map
New Interim RFVHC Board Members
4/5/2016
To All Members Of The RFVHC;
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank our departing RFVHC Board of Directors members for their service of time, ideas, organization, dedication, political and community networking, and leadership. It is encouraging to know that they will all remain members of the Horse Council and believe strongly in our mission statement.
The RFVHC is evolving. We are proud to report that this summer, construction will begin by the Pitkin OST for truck and trailer parking, with soft track access from Pitkin & RFTA collaboration, also to be constructed this summer. The 9,100 acres of “The Crown” will also offer an equestrian riding trail separated from the mountain bike trail, which was plotted last year by board members Susan Cuseo, Rheta Strong, and Leslie Thomas, in concert with Gary Tennenbaum of Pitkin OST. Many thanks to Pitkin County OST Board for helping the RFVHC to protect equestrian trails and energize our trail riding fervor.
The remaining RFVHC Board of Director members are excited about the new possibilities ahead of us. We are currently working on comprehensive plans for the Cozy Point Ranch restoration and redesign with a supporting team of pro bono architect, landscape architect, financial officer, land- planner, and an abundance of equestrian experts, who have built, managed, and been successful in the horse industry on the national stage. We will be working with the City of Aspen OST Staff and Board, as well as with the Pitkin County OST Board and the Pitkin County Commissioners.
Our current Board consists of:
President – Rheta Strong, Special Events
Vice President – Karin Reid Offield, Public Relations & Marketing
Secretary – Holly McLain, Communications
Treasurer – Alexandra Anwyl – Davies, Education
Membership – Leslie Thomas, Projects
Western Heritage – Marty Schlumberger
Trails – Susan Cuseo
These are temporary board members. The RFVHC will be holding free and open elections for Board of Directors positions conducted by standard legal voting procedures, which includes nominations and voting by the general membership.
We are asking any and all of our general membership to join our ranks. We have four spots open on the Board of Directors. We meet once a month, the fourth Tuesday of every month and meetings will be held in the Mid Valley at the Eagle County Building, Spruce Room. If we get from Aspen, enough up valley Board members, we can hold meetings at the Woody Creek Community Center on occasion.
All members are encouraged to attend any of the board meetings for new ideas and interest.
There are times in all of our lives when things happen which put us on a different path. During these transitions we are not sure why, but it seems that there are reasons for these changes to happen. The Chinese symbol for Crisis has two letters; one letter is for danger and the other for opportunity. The RFVHC will take this opportunity, advancing forward towards a bright future for all equestrians in our valley.
Most Sincerely,
Holly McLain – Secretary, Communication Chairman
OF INTEREST
American Pharoah - The Greatest Racehorse in the History of the Sport
Click below to view a video of his amazing story:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/146704872
Click below to view a video of his amazing story:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/146704872
What The Horse Sees
The Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association has partnered with the RFVHC to produce this educational poster for trail heads, bike shops, and horse related shops like the RFV Co Op:
Equestrian Trails in and around Snowmass Village - October 2015
The Town of Snowmass Village has formed a steering committee to explore trail use, connectivity, and safety for all users. The RFVHC is well represented and the letter below was generated by Suzie Karlinski, to express the equestrian interest, and hold a key voice in the process.
Memo to: Andy Worline
From: Suzy Karlinski
Date: 10-23-15
RE: Snowmass Village Equestrian Trails
I am writing this on behalf of the equestrian members of the POSTR Steering Committee, as a member of the Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council and as a 16- year equestrian resident of Snowmass Village.
Goals for the equestrian community are:
1. To have safe ‘shared’ trails throughout the Village. What are ‘safe’ shared trails? Bikes and horses can safely share trails when trail design allows a horse sufficient visual advance of oncoming bikes (in other words, straight-aways are generally safe whereas repeated hairpin turns are not). Another aspect of safety is that horses have a flat place to move off the trail in order to allow for passing bikes. In areas of the trail where there exists steepness on both sides of the trail, that is considered unsafe for horses.
2. To specifically identify unsafe equestrian trails. For example, parts of Sky Mountain (which is a shared trail) are safe for shared traffic and certain parts are not. We must identify the unsafe parts of Sky Mountain (and all other shared trails).
3. To create separate, dedicated equestrian trails where current shared trails are determined unsafe for horses.
4. To have connectivity of all trails.
5. To create, where necessary, new trails that meet our connectivity goals. We would like to see an entire loop from rodeo grounds, over Sky Mountain to Tom Blake, to the Mall, to the Rim Trail, back to rodeo grounds.
6. To open Cozy Line Trail, Tom Blake, Ditch Trail, Sleigh Ride Trail, Government Trail officially to horses and/or create parallel alternates where it is deemed unsafe for horses to share those trails with bikers.
7. To ensure adequate parking and turn-around for horse trailers at trail access points throughout the Village.
In review:
- There is no connectivity from Owl Creek to the rodeo grounds.
- Sky Mountain trail is shared with bikers and is unsafe in some places.
- Trailer parking at the cemetery is an option that needs to be explored but we need equestrian trails that can take us from cemetery parking to Tom Blake and to the rodeo grounds. Perhaps Highline or Lowline need to be a dedicated equestrian only trail.
- The current Tom Blake equestrian trail only goes so far. We need a trail that will take us to the Mall, connect with Government and down to the Ditch Trail.
- The entire Rim Trail should somehow be made open to horses. Again, new adjunct trails may need to be constructed.
- Parking at the rodeo grounds is excellent but the lot is frequently closed.
- Parking at Tom Blake is very congested in the summer and rarely allows for trailer parking.
- Parking at Two Creeks is very good but trail access & connectivity are bad.
- Parking at the Divide is congested in the summer and not always conducive to trailer parking, but is a great place for horses to access trails.
- Parking at Cozy Point is good but we would like to be able to access Sky Mountain trail via Cozy Line.
Snowmass Village has a long history of equestrian activity. Horses are a distinct part of our Village heritage. Horses were using trails and in fact, creating most of the existing trails, long before bikes, or for that matter, skiing, came to Snowmass Village. We understand the popularity of mountain biking and the financial impact it has on the community. However, which group has a perceived greater value or sense of importance must not be drawn. As well, which group is greater in numbers should not enter into the planning of trails. We believe that bikers and horses can and should co-exist. It’s just that with the emergence of mountain biking on our trails, the dynamics of trail use has changed. Not so many years ago, equestrians rode Snowmass Village trails and rarely saw a biker. Now that trail use
and design is being discussed, it is critical that the equestrian piece be included.
NEW UPDATE FOR GLASSIER TRUCK AND TRAILER PARKING
Glassier Open Space - Access to The Crown (9100 acres crisscrossed with existing two track trails, located
between Emma and Carbondale) Our goal is to ensure that there is secure, ample, equestrian truck and trailer
parking, with safe bridle path access to the trailhead, where ascending trail from the valley floor, would be
climbing trails, with switchbacks, so that horses would not stress their stifles or hocks when descending. We
will work with the Roaring Fork Valley Mountain Bike Association to design a trail where bikes and horses can
see each other from far off, to avoid sudden encounters. On the steeper grades the horses may have their own
tracks. If it is done properly, it will be safe, and a great cross training, change of scenery, alternative to
the arena.
UPDATE FOR PARKING WITH ACCESS TO THE CROWN TRAILS:
Planning for parking lot to serve Glassier takes shape.
A planned trailhead at the corner of Hooks Lane and Hooks Spur Road, which will serve Glassier Open Space and the Rio Grande Trail, has taken shape on paper. So has a new path between the parking area and Glassier. Click the photo for more on this planning effort.
PARKING PLANS
Pitkin County is in the process of acquiring one acre at the corner of Hooks Lane and Hooks Spur Road to provide recreational parking for Glassier Open Space. County commissioners are expected to make a final decision on putting this parcel under contract on June 10. Then, the parcel will be subject to the Eagle County subdivision process, which will take about three months. Pitkin County would assume ownership in October. In the meantime, design work is under way for a parking lot at this site with the expectation that an unpaved parking lot would be created in 2016. At a May 29 site visit, equestrians and others looked at the potential for horse trailer parking at this lot, as well as on Glassier Open Space itself. No decisions were made. The minutes of the site visit meeting are posted here. Watch this site for further information regarding parking.
UPDATE FOR RFTA SOFT TRACK AT GLASSIER
RFTA soft Track from OST Truck and Trailer Parking area at the crossroads of Hooks Lane & Hooks Spur Road, and leading to the Crown Mountain Trail Head access, has been approved by RFTA for implementation staring this summer of 2016.
Brett Meredith of RFTA Trails Department reported that the project was an improvement to an existing access point next to the RFTA existing parking area.
The soft track will be a 4’ wide path of natural surface, and will be accessed for improvement to footing if necessary. The design phase for this project will start this spring, and construction will commence mid summer, using the same construction people who will be building the multi use (truck and trailer included) parking area mentioned above.
THANK YOU:
Thank you Pitkin County OST, Gary Tennebaum, RFTA Trail Department, Brett Meredith and Staff, and RFTA Board!
The equestrian community is excited the use of parking and soft track, and most appreciative of your consideration to preserve equestrian use in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Glassier-Crown site visit Oct 19th, 2014
Please see our letter to Pitkin County Open Space & Trails Board. Open Space Letter
Please see our letter to Gary Tennenbaum. OST - Gary Tennenbaum equestrian Parking Letter
Please see our letter to the Pitkin County OST Board & Staff. Ag Leases & Parking
Glassier Equestrian Trail access to the Crown is closed at this time - Link to Letter
Rio Grande Soft Track Management Plan Update letter
PARKING PLANS
Pitkin County is in the process of acquiring one acre at the corner of Hooks Lane and Hooks Spur Road to provide recreational parking for Glassier Open Space. County commissioners are expected to make a final decision on putting this parcel under contract on June 10. Then, the parcel will be subject to the Eagle County subdivision process, which will take about three months. Pitkin County would assume ownership in October. In the meantime, design work is under way for a parking lot at this site with the expectation that an unpaved parking lot would be created in 2016. At a May 29 site visit, equestrians and others looked at the potential for horse trailer parking at this lot, as well as on Glassier Open Space itself. No decisions were made. The minutes of the site visit meeting are posted here. Watch this site for further information regarding parking.
UPDATE FOR RFTA SOFT TRACK AT GLASSIER
RFTA soft Track from OST Truck and Trailer Parking area at the crossroads of Hooks Lane & Hooks Spur Road, and leading to the Crown Mountain Trail Head access, has been approved by RFTA for implementation staring this summer of 2016.
Brett Meredith of RFTA Trails Department reported that the project was an improvement to an existing access point next to the RFTA existing parking area.
The soft track will be a 4’ wide path of natural surface, and will be accessed for improvement to footing if necessary. The design phase for this project will start this spring, and construction will commence mid summer, using the same construction people who will be building the multi use (truck and trailer included) parking area mentioned above.
THANK YOU:
Thank you Pitkin County OST, Gary Tennebaum, RFTA Trail Department, Brett Meredith and Staff, and RFTA Board!
The equestrian community is excited the use of parking and soft track, and most appreciative of your consideration to preserve equestrian use in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Pitkin County is in the process of acquiring one acre at the corner of Hooks Lane and Hooks Spur Road to provide recreational parking for Glassier Open Space. County commissioners are expected to make a final decision on putting this parcel under contract on June 10. Then, the parcel will be subject to the Eagle County subdivision process, which will take about three months. Pitkin County would assume ownership in October. In the meantime, design work is under way for a parking lot at this site with the expectation that an unpaved parking lot would be created in 2016. At a May 29 site visit, equestrians and others looked at the potential for horse trailer parking at this lot, as well as on Glassier Open Space itself. No decisions were made. The minutes of the site visit meeting are posted here. Watch this site for further information regarding parking.
UPDATE FOR RFTA SOFT TRACK AT GLASSIER
RFTA soft Track from OST Truck and Trailer Parking area at the crossroads of Hooks Lane & Hooks Spur Road, and leading to the Crown Mountain Trail Head access, has been approved by RFTA for implementation staring this summer of 2016.
Brett Meredith of RFTA Trails Department reported that the project was an improvement to an existing access point next to the RFTA existing parking area.
The soft track will be a 4’ wide path of natural surface, and will be accessed for improvement to footing if necessary. The design phase for this project will start this spring, and construction will commence mid summer, using the same construction people who will be building the multi use (truck and trailer included) parking area mentioned above.
THANK YOU:
Thank you Pitkin County OST, Gary Tennebaum, RFTA Trail Department, Brett Meredith and Staff, and RFTA Board!
The equestrian community is excited the use of parking and soft track, and most appreciative of your consideration to preserve equestrian use in the Roaring Fork Valley.
GOVERNMENTAL CONTACT WEB SITES
Aspen Valley Land Trust – www.avlt.org
Pitkin County OST- www.aspenpitkin.com/departments/open-space-trails
City of Aspen OST - www.aspenpitkin.com
RFTA – www.rfta.com
Eagle OST – www.eaglecounty.us
Town of Basalt – www.basalt.net
BLM - www.blm.gov/co/st/en.html
Colorado Horse Council - https://www.coloradohorsecouncil.com