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Paonia River Park is Busy this Summer _ Volunteers Do Improvements

July 23rd, 2015

Filed under Featured, News, Paonia, Recreation

Paonia River Park

Paonia River Park is Busy this Summer  _

Volunteers Do Improvements

(Submitted by Julia Bowman – WSCC)

As one of the few public access points to the North Fork of the Gunnison River, the

Paonia River Park is a popular place for North Fork Valley residents to escape the

summer heat in the cool water and relax with friends and family.

The River Park is managed by the Western Slope Conservation Center (the Conservation

Center).  The Conservation Center coordinated the river restoration efforts in 2013 to

help the riparian area—the area around the river—recover from years of in-stream gravel

mining, and it has continued to develop the River Park into a safe and welcoming

community space.

 

The River Park was busy with activity this past Wednesday, when eleven volunteers

came together to mow the parking lot area, restore a damaged sign, and clean up the

vegetation along the trail to Minnesota Creek.

 

“It was a very productive morning,” said Julia Bowman, the Paonia River Park

Coordinator, “We depend on volunteers and park users, to keep the River Park clean and

well-managed. Wednesday was just a great example of people coming together to take

care of a place they care about.”

The Conservation Center volunteers were joined by the Youth Conservation Corps, led

by Paul Kimpling of the US Forest Service, Paonia Ranger District. Usually, the Youth

Conservation Corps works in the backcountry planting trees, reestablishing trail, and

preforming heavy brushing but were excited to partner with the Conservation Center on a

project so close to Paonia.

 

“It was great to lend some extra muscle to this project and give the kids a chance to

contribute new skills they have been fostering all summer,” Kimpling said. “Partnerships

are valuable, it is not only important for them to see that, but to engage our youth in other

land stewardship projects which serve our local community.”

While the Conservation Center primarily advocates for responsible stewardship of public

lands and water resources, the River Park has continued to be an important project.

“We know the River Park is special to so many people, and we value our ability to

provide river access to the community. Everyone should be able to explore the natural

resources in their proverbial backyards,” said Bowman.

 

This summer, the Conservation Center is installing an ADA compliant ramp, built by Ira

Houseweart, down to the river and improving the trail to Minnesota Creek at the end of

the season. The Conservation Center also recently received a grant from Great Outdoors

Colorado to install educational signs at the River Park, a project that will be guided by a

community action group.

 

Other events at the River Park include a biological surveying event, called a BioBlitz, on

August 7th and 8th that is free and open to the public.

 

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