Longmont residents: Pavlakis District Park Master Plan public process is on a temporary hold | Public Spaces

The Pavlakis District Park Master Plan public process is on a temporary hold. The meetings scheduled for Wednesday May 30, 2012 and Thursday June 14, 2012, 6 to 8 pm are now canceled.

Related engineering issues are being investigated that may have significant impact to the project. Once these issues are explored public meetings will be rescheduled. Thank you for your patience!

This project is on a 58 acre site is located between Main and Martin Streets and along the St. Vrain Creek. It will become Longmont's next District Park and trailhead to the St Vrain Greenway trail system.

Design is underway in 2012 with construction starting in late 2012 and concluding in 2013.

What is a District Park?

A District Park is a park type that is focused on special and unique features of the site. Typical amenities include fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Examples of other Longmont District Parks include Golden Ponds, Izaak Walton Pond, Union Reservoir, Rogers Grove, McIntosh Lake and Jim Hamm Pond.

Pavlakis District Park Background:

• The Pavlakis site was originally master planned in 2001 as part of the St Vrain Greenway Master Plan, East Corridor Update. The site was identified for trailhead and passive park purposes and also included a proposed Whitewater Park.
• An RICD (Recreational In Channel Diversion) was obtained by the City in 2004 to retain water in the creek for this boating amenity.
• Site condition changes since the time of the original master plan include: Boston Avenue is now planned to cross the property's north end; dog parks are no longer considered compatible within this District Park setting; and shared parking and restroom facilities with the adjacent Fire Training Center is no possible because of the Boston Avenue roadway.

Park Naming

The park has now begun its formal park naming process. A City Ordinance provides the process and criteria for naming. Name suggestions will be compiled, presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board who then make a recommendation to City Council. Suggestions will be taken until June 30, 2012.

In brief, the Ordinance states:

Parks shall be named for a natural landmark, natural feature, or habitat in the vicinity of the park, or after a person or family who meet the following criteria:

• Has displayed outstanding long-term civic commitment
• Contributed service to the community above and beyond the normal
• Made noteworthy contributions to the development of Longmont parks and recreation
• Is worthy of public commemoration
• Has performed acts of national significance
• Homesteaded or was owner of the park property
• Has contributed significant funds for the park or local parks and recreation efforts

Name suggestions or park questions or comments may be sent to Paula Fitzgerald at the following email:

paula.fitzgerald@ci.longmont.co.us

Planned Public Meetings

3 public meetings are planned to discuss the proposed park. The first meeting was held on April 26, 2012 from 6 - 8 PM at the Parks Administration building. Background, site analysis, information from Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff regarding a unique population of fish found in this reach of the St Vrain Creek, and a preference exercise were provided at the meeting.

FUTURE MEETINGS: Look here for future meeting dates and times!

 

Meeting # Date Time Place Topic Canceled! Wed. May 30 6 - 8 PM Parks Administration

Review concept plans

Canceled! Thursday June 14 6 - 8 PM Parks Administration Review Draft Master Plan

*All meetings will be held at Parks Administration, 7 South Sunset Street, Longmont. The facility is west across Sunset Street from Izaak Walton Pond.

If you need daycare, special assistance or translation in order to attend the meeting, please call Maria Tostado at 303-651-8601.

Once the above public meetings are concluded, Staff will present the plan to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and City Council for formal adoption. These meetings are not yet scheduled, but are hoped to take place in July 2012. Please check here for all meeting updates!

Public Meeting Summary

Minutes from Meeting 1 are found here - the presentations noted as attached are not included.

Meeting 1 Summary

Information on the St Vrain Creek

St Vrain is unique from other nearby creeks such as the Cache la Poudre, Big Thompson and Boulder Creek. Although they all are transitional streams (from mountain to plains) they are now very different in terms of fish that inhabit the creeks. While these other creeks may have 3 to 5 'generalist' native fish species (fathead minnow, creek chub, white sucker, johnny darter, longnose dace), the St Vrain within Longmont has 21 different fish with 13 of them being native species. The “transition zone” of a river has cooler temperatures than the downstream “warm water zone” (i.e. the plains), yet is warmer than in the upstream mountainous areas. The stream channel in the transition zone generally features a meandering channel and has a relatively flatter grade. Sampling was done by the Colorado Division of Wildlife from 2006 - 2010 in 36 different locations on the St Vrain creek. This sampling found the variety and type of fish noted above including the following species that are protected by the State of Colorado:

 

• Iowa Darter - State listed Species of Concern

• Stonecat - State listed Species of Concern. Only found in a 2 mile stream area on the St Vrain creek and Left Hand Creek as well as on the Republican River

• Common Shiner - State listed Threatened Species. This has only isolated populations in the state on the St Vrain and in West Plum Creek near Castle Rock

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These small native fish travel up and down streams at 64 cm/sec. which is fast enough to navigate swift water velocities that are typical of our Front Range streams. However, higher velocity's often used to create Whitewater Park features create a barrier for these fish to move along the stream. Also the pool / drop configuration typical of whitewater parks may attract predator fish to the pools, which then eat these smaller fish.

 

Press Release