For the past year, the Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition (PARC) has been laying the groundwork for a stronger, more coordinated recreation landscape in Archuleta County and the greater Pagosa area—from the trails we hike, to the waters stretching from the Continental Divide down to Navajo Reservoir, to the slopes of Wolf Creek where we play. Month after month, PARC Leadership Committee members and Task Force volunteers from organizations across the region have come together to collaborate, listen, and ensure every corner of our community has a voice in shaping this effort.
PARC efforts have included gathering public input through community surveys, studying local needs, collecting user and wildlife data, and weaving together ideas from land managers, youth programs, outdoor groups, local businesses, ranchers/farmers, and conservation advocates. This work will help shape a vision for the future of recreation and conservation in the region, but now comes the most important step: hearing directly from the community.
Residents are invited to a Community Open House on Wednesday, December 10, with two sessions offered — 3:30 to 5:00pm and 5:30 to 7:00pm — at the Ross Aragon Community Center, South Conference Room, 451 Hot Springs Blvd. This is a pivotal moment in the planning process, when community feedback can help shape priorities, guide upcoming projects, and ensure the final plan reflects what matters most to the people who live, work, and play here.
Whether you care about trail improvements, river access, youth recreation, open space preservation, hunting, fishing, camping, long-term conservation, or any recreation activity, your voice is essential. PARC’s goal is simple: develop a community-driven plan that enhances recreation while protecting the places we love. But that vision only becomes reality if the process receives broad engagement and buy-in from the many stakeholders.
PARC is part of Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy Regional Partnership Initiative funded through Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). GOCO has dedicated $50 million in the next 5 years to fund the 21 RPI’s and approved projects through an annual grant process.
With months of groundwork completed, this open house is the community’s opportunity to help guide the final stretch of this important effort. Now is the time to speak up, get involved, and help chart a sustainable path forward for the greater Pagosa area’s future.