Back in 1934, songwriter Cole Porter bought the rights to a poem written by Bob Fletcher, an engineer with the Department of Highways in Helena, Montana. The poem formed the basis of the song, “Don’t Fence Me In”, originally written for a never-produced film titled Adios, Argentina.
The song became popular ten years later, thanks to versions by Roy Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, Kate Smith, Bing Crosby, and The Andrews Sisters. More recently, it’s been covered by David Byrne, Willie Nelson, Clint Eastwood and James Brown.
Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above
Don’t fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don’t fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don’t fence me in…
The song suggests a pleasant Western vision of wide open spaces, where a cowboy might ride off into a glowing sunset.
Pagosa Springs has its own version of wide open spaces, thanks to the fact that about 45% of the county consists of National Forest, and another 17% is mostly-undeveloped Southern Ute land.
But if you want a piece of private land these days, you will pay through the nose. Even if you are a municipal government, apparently.
This past Monday evening, the Pagosa Springs Town Council met for nearly two hours behind closed doors, discussing possible real estate purchases at the east end of downtown. In particular, the Council was looking at possible vacant parcels for a future municipal parking lot, and also looking at a couple of vacant parcels for… something else? Maybe… recreation?
EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Possible Executive Session Pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4)(a) Concerning the Purchase, Acquisition or Lease of the Following Parcels:
- Parcel # 570118304043, X. E. Pagosa Street (no assigned address)
- Parcel # 570118305001, 225 E. Pagosa Street
- Parcel # 570118305002 and Parcel # 570118305003, 275 E. Hwy 160/Pagosa Street
- Parcel # 570118117001, 351 E. Hwy 160/Pagosa Street
- Parcel # 570118306001, 229 US Hwy 84 #A
Here’s a map of the properties that were discussed, shown in pink. You can click the map for a larger view.
We are looking at the ‘East End’ between First Street and the Hwy 160 – Hwy 84 intersection… and between the San Juan River and Reservoir Hill Park. The five pink parcels are theoretically ‘for sale’, although we (the public) were not told the asking prices. Those were kept secret, at least for the time being. But we heard hints that the parcels bore very high asking prices.
The four blue parcels in the map above are already owned by the Town government.
The large pink parcel at the far left, overlooking the San Juan River — Parcel # 570118304043, X. E. Pagosa Street (no assigned address) — is listed in the County Assessor’s website as owned by “THOMAS J HUMMER REVOCABLE TRUST”. About 50% of the parcel, we were told, is in the river ‘floodway’ and could not be used for buildings.
But it could be used for parking, or recreation.
Before the Council went into executive session and closed the door on the public, Mayor Shari Pierce asked for public comment. (My favorite part of most Town Council meetings.) I provided the Council with the map shown above and noted that the public already owns plenty of real estate (the blue parcels) on the same side of the highway as most of the East End businesses — while the other parcels (the pink ones) would require people to cross an (occasionally dangerous) state highway to access those businesses.
The blue parcels (that we already own) include two good-sized ponds that see very little public use. One or both of those ponds could be filled in, and we would have a very sizable parking area, with minimum expense.
The Town already owns the parcel directly across the river from Parcel # 570118304043 , on the west bank of the San Juan, so this parcel would not provide significant additional public access to the river. It is, nevertheless, a mini version of wide open space… in the midst of a community struggling with a couple of seemingly unsolvable crises.
The Town government has rarely balked at a chance to acquire land for recreational purposes, and the motion to engage in purchase negotiations was made by Council member and local activist Mat deGraaf, who had previously urged the Council to schedule Monday’s special closed-door meeting. Mr. deGraaf told his fellow Council members he’s been eager — for a long time — to see the Town to acquire this property.
So let’s ask a question. Does Pagosa Springs need more downtown recreational property?
Here’s a map showing Parcel # 570118304043 marked in pink.
It looks a bit lonely.
But we can also look at a map of all the land in downtown Pagosa Springs that is already dedicated to “recreation” by our local governments.
Marked in blue.
Now Parcel # 570118304043 doesn’t look nearly as lonely.
We currently have a couple of crises plaguing the community.
An employment crisis, and a housing crisis.
But our leaders sometimes act as if we have a recreation crisis.
Don’t get me wrong. I think recreation is a wonderful thing. But it’s difficult to enjoy yet another municipal park when you have no house to live in.
During public comment on Monday, I shared a map, as I mentioned earlier — and I also shared some financial information.
The Town of Pagosa Springs budgets for Parks & Recreation, including capital projects:
2005: $340,000
2013: $1.8 million
2023: $3.7 million
The Town of Pagosa Springs budgets to address the Housing Crisis:
2005: $0
2013: $0
2023: $598,000
Distressingly, the Council refused to reveal to the public what amount of money they will be offering for Parcel # 570118304043.
But the Council discussion suggested a very large number.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.