For example, we've heard from people who detest the idea of putting a public restroom at the southeast corner, facing onto Colorado Avenue - not only for the appearance but for fear that bums will abuse it, the way they have other park restrooms in the city.
City officials also nixed a local idea to build the park's planned playground closer to the library, which offers so many programs for kids. This idea, by the way, came from the Old Colorado City Foundation (OCCF), which donated $5,000 for the playground, anyway.
Another thing that's certain is that people over here didn't have much time to think about ideas at all before Parks declared its "action plan" a done deal in May of 2017. Exactly two public meetings were held, with no prior attempt to gain insights from the various Old Colorado City groups (such as the OCCF) who use the park and/or raise money for it.
It was obvious by the second meeting that the Parks people already knew what they wanted - such as the playground and restroom locations - and all they were essentially looking for was non-opposition, which is not that hard when the meeting format divides people into small groups, thus stifling any chance of a local consensus.
Parks officials have tried to spin the story otherwise, but I called it a "rush job" then, and I call it that now. A Bancroft renovation wasn't in their plans for 2017, but the bandshell arson fire happened that January, and City Council told them to do something. So they came up with their quicky plan, and the grudging attitude toward the job has been evident ever since. However (late-breaking news here), a high-ranking Parks official sent a message to OCC leaders right at our print deadline requesting a parley that could include discussing "expanded uses" of the Bancroft cabin. So that's a possible olive branch worth exploring.
Still, the rushed plan remains in place, and a prominent victim is the cabin. No thought was given to using the park renovation as a way to make better use of its great potential as a tourist attraction to help share local history. We've written before how in recent years Parks raised the costs to rent the park, discouraging its use by community entities such as the Old Colorado City Historical Society, but the cabin neglect is a pile-on.
Have you wondered why the Old Colorado City Associates (OCCA) Santa is no longer there at Christmas? After years of freezing inside, with zero insulation and sometimes balky electricity for space heaters, that run ended after 2016, and this year he'll be in the former Old Town Propane office. You can read more in our article about Santa, which starts on Page 1.
As for heat, the cabin can be nearly unbearable in the summer. Just ask the OCCHS, whose members routinely dress in old-time (meaning much hotter) clothing for special events, as noted in our cabin article that also starts on Page 1.
But it figures, when Old Colorado City leaders recently asked Parks to add cabin climate control to the Bancroft project, the proposal was rejected. The cabin will get an electrical outlet and apparently a new wire to it, so what's to complain about? Anyway, Parks Maintenance Director Kurt Schroeder said the idea was brought up too late (silly Westsiders, forgetting those two meetings in 2017) and climate control might lessen the cabin's "historical integrity."
Really, Kurt? I'm no expert, but I'd have to say that space heaters and fans aren't so historic a look either... nor, for that matter, is the plexiglass the city installed over the Bancroft windows, preventing them from being opened again, after the two break-ins last winter (which, on the heels of the bandshell fire, raises questions about park security).
Finally, considering that your department is already a year behind on getting the project done, Parks is the last entity that should be criticizing people for being late with stuff.
Election questions
Thank you to state-office candidates Patrick McIntire and Mary Elizabeth Fabian (Republicans) and Maile Foster (independent) for filling out our short questionnaire before the Nov. 6 general election.
Going into the election, you can still find their responses (and other election coverage) on our news website at westsidepioneer.com.
And "boo" (it's near Halloween as I write this) to Democrat candidates Marc Snyder and Pete Lee for not answering our election questions. Apparently, we're not important enough to them and/or their party bosses. Or are they actually afraid of little old us?
- K.J.