The Nederland Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB) met on Thursday, July 17, 2024, to finalize their goals for the upcoming year. The Board listed their priorities, including developing a volunteer program to help with fire mitigation and trail building, and pursuing grants for needed upgrades to the town’s recreational facilities.

Parks Manager Nicki Dunn delivered her monthly staff report for the Nederland Parks Department, highlighting the success of last month’s Town Clean Up, which included over 120 residents. Dunn was just exiting what she referred to as “a long month” as Interim Town Administrator, and noted her excitement for new Town Administrator Jonathan Cain taking over the position.

Dunn also remarked on the condition of Chipeta Park, which has been the site for each event in the Summer Concert Series. Dunn specified that the park lawn is in good condition thanks to a Parks employee’s irrigation efforts, and added that she hopes to have Guercio Field be the site for next year’s concerts.

PROSAB continued their discussion on the organization’s priorities for 2025, narrowing down the projects they wish to focus on over the next 18 months, enlisting teams of Board members to manage each project, and developing measurable goals to monitor the progress of each project.

The Board decided during their last meeting on June 20 to keep focusing on the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Master Plan (PROST); on improvements to NedRINK; on the creation of a volunteer plan; and with pursuing funds to provide an ADA-compliant playground at Chipeta Park.

A focus on land acquisition and conservancy was also added to the list of the Board’s priorities, with Board Member Kat Barr noting that PROSAB can serve the Town’s Community Planner Britt DeMinck and the Board of Trustees (BOT) in an advisory capacity.

Board members discussed many properties throughout Nederland that either already have conservation easements, such as the Wingate property and Moose Meadows; or could be eligible for a conservation easement with more discussion with land owners, such as the AmeriGas property and the parcel behind Nederland’s Post Office.

Dunn reiterated to the Board that there was a possibility that some of the Town’s “available” land will end up earmarked for housing development.

As for updating PROST, though some preliminary work has already been done on a new draft, it was noted that PROSAB will wait for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan update to be completed before continuing to work on the master plan. Cain also suggested that PROSAB wait to finalize their list of priorities until the BOT have completed their own list of Strategic Goals for 2025.

The discussion about a volunteer program divided the desired volunteer efforts into three groups: fire mitigation, trail building and maintenance, and weed pulling. Board members felt that the most efficient approach to a successful program would be to focus independently on the creation of volunteer opportunities and the coordination of those volunteers.

PROSAB Secretary KC Cunilio and Board Member Lindsey Ute were given carte blanche by Dunn to begin scheduling and planning a volunteer weed pulling event. Dunn added that her seasonal staff for the Parks Department are filling up to 10 bags a day with weeds, and that local businesses have been notified that they are responsible for weed mitigation in their own property.

Ute independently has met with Boulder Watershed Collective regarding their possible assistance with the upcoming resurgence of the Saws and Slaws volunteer fire mitigation event. The PROSAB-led event is planned for the new Moose Meadows open space and is tentatively scheduled for September 14, with a community barbecue to follow the event.

The Board officially voted on their listed priorities for 2025, and on which members were to be appointed to oversee those priorities. Conilio and Ute will continue their work developing the volunteer program, with Sam Ovett and CT Hutt appointed to focus on coordinating volunteers.

Ovett also was appointed to work alongside Trustee Liaison Luke Miller on advising Town staff and the BOT regarding land acquisition and conservation. Cunilio and PROSAB Chair Alex Zabierek will work on seeking grants for improvements to NedRink; and Barr and Ovett will seek funding for ADA-compliant playground equipment for Chipeta Park.

Board members are expected to return in August with measurable goals for how best to move forward with their respective projects.

The question before the Board on whether members of PROSAB should be required to attend at least 10 monthly meetings per year was tabled due to time constraints. The matter is set to be discussed during their August meeting.

The Board also announced that Kate Yzquierdo was stepping down from her position as alternate member due to a scheduling conflict. The position is currently open, with the term ending June 2026. The Town of Nederland will soon announce the vacancy and begin accepting applications.

The Nederland Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board meets every third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Their next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2024. Meetings can be attended online via WebEx.

For more information go to: https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/parks-recreation-open-space-advisory-board.