By Lyndsie Ferrell
DEL NORTE— Residents and guests gathered at the Windsor Hotel on Friday, Aug. 17 to hear a short presentation from University of Colorado (CU) students who have been helping plan the Del Norte Riverfront Project. The evening was set up by planning coordinators as part of the requirements needed in order to apply for a Get Outdoors Colorado Grant that will be submitted to help fund the project in the nest few weeks.
CU students Greg Davidson, Aneliya B. Argon and Ivy Steele set up preliminary plans for structures that would be included in the project that were of their own designs. The students arranged the pictures on top of real life photographs of the actual places the structures would be located at the park in Del Norte, giving the public a chance to see exactly what the pieces would look like in the actual locations.
At first the project seemed to focus mainly on the river, bringing a recreational area for people to enjoy as well as a picnic area, parking lot and nature trail, but it was evident during the presentation that Del Norte is in store for much more. The students presented plans for an amphitheater, a naturally built child’s play area, picnic pavilion and the river recreational and observation area.
Each of the plans gave detailed descriptions of the structures, the type of material that would be used and gave examples of structures similar to those that were being proposed in areas like Salida and Boulder.
Construction for the project is estimated to begin this fall with the parking area and boat ramp leading into the north side of the river. Upper Rio Grande Economic Development Director Marty Asplin is awaiting word on permits through both the Department of Health and Environment and Army Corps of Engineers in order to begin phase one.
The Rio Grande Headwaters, who is the driving entity of the project has been able to secure $225,000 and are working with several organizations throughout the Valley to secure an additional $500,000 that is needed to complete the entire project.
“We want to put people back in touch with the river. We have this wonderful attribute in Del Norte, the Rio Grande and we need to be using it,” said Asplin.