Hot Sulphur Springs is seeking comments from community residents and those who regularly enjoy their park facilities on a draft Parks Master Plan.

The Hot Sulphur Springs Parks Master Plan was developed over the past several months and was recently presented to the Town by representatives of RG Associates, the planning firm that developed the draft Master Plan. The plan’s purpose is to guide Hot Sulphur Springs in managing and improving existing parks and to identify opportunities for open space trails. The Plan will guide the Hot Sulphur Springs community recreation agenda for the next five to eight years.

Hot Sulphur Springs, like the other communities in Grand County, enjoys a privileged geographical position, nestled along the banks of the Colorado River between thousands of acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and the expansive Arapaho National Forest. Along with the more wild landscapes that surround the community Hot Sulphur Springs boasts a museum, Pioneer Village Museum, and two municipal parks, Pioneer Park and Town Park, that primarily serve local residents but also provide camping opportunities and other amenities for visitors to the Town.

The draft Plan lays out the existing recreational facilities in the Town, detailing the amenities available at the two municipal parks as well as establishing goals and offering recommended actions and providing information on local residents and their preferred recreational activities.

The Plan points out that the Town Park has many amenities to offer though they are in need of maintenance and upgrading for optimal use. The Plan refers to Hot Sulphur Spring’s Pioneer Park as, a “less formal park experience” and highlights the “rustic” aspects of the park and points out that Pioneer Park offers camping, trails, picnic areas and a disc golf course.

A community survey was developed in conjunction with the Plan with the Town receiving 63 completed surveys, 51 from full-time residents. The clear favorite activity for respondents of the survey was, “walking, hiking, cross country skiing”, second was “hunting and/or fishing” which was followed closely by “spending time in city parks,” with “mountain biking” rounding out the top four activity choices.

The Plan offers over 10 pages of recommended actions the Town of Hot Sulphur Springs can take to better improve their community parks and overall recreation plan. Suggestions include establishing a Town Event Planning Committee, establishing a local historic registry, pursing conservation easements, connecting the Town trail system to the county-wide trail system, and many others.

Those interested in viewing the draft PMP can find it on the Hot Sulphur Springs Town Website at http://www.hotsulphurspringsco.com. Hot Sulphur Springs is seeking comments and suggestions from community. Comments can be delivered to the Hot Sulphur Springs Town Hall or sent by email to TownofHSS@comcast.net.

“People with interest in Hot Sulphur Springs parks are encouraged to review the plan and provide comments and suggestions for improvements,” stated Hot Sulphur Springs Town Clerk Sandy White.

Town officials recommend comments be received by Aug.18. Funding for the Parks Master Plan was provided by a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO).