#Breckenridge, Colorado
Residents and visitors will soon see a new park on Breckenridge’s Main Street, at a currently vacant lot next to The Local Market.
Town officials plan to convert the recently purchased property to green space, but want the public who will use it to determine what kind of place it will be: a quiet, peaceful common area or grounds for action and amenities.
“We want to involve the community,” Breckenridge spokeswoman Kim Dykstra-DiLallo said. “This opportunity did present itself, and it really was an attractive thing to say we want to be able to create some sort of a green space or relief from development in that area, because it’s not something we have readily available.”
The idea for a park on the north side of Main Street was put forward by merchants on that end of town, who said they’d like to see more events there.
The town was able to purchase the vacant lot between the market and Alpine Bank from longtime local Robin Theobald and staff will be exploring possible activities and features for the space.
Breckenridge officials were attracted to the site because it sits adjacent to the Edwin Carter Museum, a recently redone historic center.
“The museum is kind of hidden, so how can we create an a lead up to that,” Dykstra-DiLallo said. “How can we incorporate that into that whole open area.”
Town staff say they will be exploring possible activities and features for the space and plan to listen to what the community wants to see on the site before setting a budget for the park’s construction.
Breckenridge officials have floated ideas such as a bouldering wall, terrain park features, a musical play garden, chess tables, a small pavilion for performances and a playground a flat fountain feature for children to splash in, or, alternatively, a quiet green area with picnic tables.
Community members, who have had the opportunity to weigh in online at EngageBreckenridge.com, have shown interest in both the active and more relaxing options.
“I think the idea of a bouldering/slackline area in town would continue to help bring out the spirit of our active community,” stated Matt, whose last name, per EngageBreck policy, was not posted with his comment. “Frisco already has this on their radar and it would be an amazing feature for Breck to have.”
Some argued the peaceful green space idea wouldn’t work well on a property that sits on Breckenridge’s bustling Main Street, but others are supportive of the passive alternative.
“Quiet space is needed,” stated Miguel, another EngageBreck commenter. “Breckenridge needs to be a bit more than T-shirts and tourists.”
Breckenridge features extensive public open space, but most of it is in the backcountry surrounding the town and better suited for Nordic skiing and mountain biking than children’s play areas.
Town officials will continue taking feedback on the site through surveys and comments and are also inviting the community to provide input next week at a public open house set for 3-6 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Breckenridge Recreation Center.
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
