INC PARC MEETING NOTES APRIL 17
INC PARC (Parks and Recreation Committee) met April 17.
Note: this meeting was held at Washington Street Community Center, 809 S. Washington Street because of the special topic: presentation and discussion of DPR’s (Denver Parks Recreation) proposed changes in liquor regulations in public parks.
Cindy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and gave a brief welcome to guests and explanation of the topic. First on the agenda was the PARC business meeting, presenting a statement from PARC to be considered at the May meeting of INC for full delegate vote. The statement: “If Clayton’s golf course operator does not exercise its extension option by June 30, 2018, INC PARC calls upon the public officials of the City and County of Denver to take all actions necessary to preserve the perpetual Park Hill Gold Course (PHGC) land open space conservation easement protections that the City acquired in 1997 from Clayton for $2 million, including but not limited to the following:
- To enforce the terms of 2000 agency agreement regarding the perpetual open space conservation easement protections for the PHGC land.
- If necessary, to acquire fee title to the PHGC land from Clayton by paying Clayton the current fair market value of the land and to operate the a land as a designated public golf course or a designated public park.”
Helene Orr moved and Brad Cameron seconded. Regular members of PARC and others who were familiar with this matter voted 20 to 0, no abstentions, in favor of taking this statement to INC. Business meeting adjourned.
Fred Weiss and Laura Morales of DPR distributed copies of Proposed Revisions of the DPR Alcohol Policy, and a “Tentative Timeline” showing the draft policy to be completed May 1, public hearing at Parks/Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) June 13, draft finalized June 27, PRAB vote July 11 with public notification of result July 12. As the proposals were enumerated, attendees raised well considered questions, concerns, and reports of particularly event-related problems encountered with the present regulations (3.2 beer only), expecting these problems would be more prevalent with additional liquor (including hard liquor). Neighborhoods near parks are hard hit. Drinking is not monitored. DPR’s ability to enforce rules was found to be wanting, and the idea of permitting more events was not acceptable.
Attendees asked for ruling on picnics, on number of alcohol citations in 2017; for farther distance between liquor and playgrounds, more public outreach, and how the new regs would make things “simpler”- a reason given for revision. Fred explained present rules will remain, but much regarding general consumption still depends of State Law changes as yet unknown; permit decisions are made with many considerations. Washington Park neighbors worked hard on the compromise on 3.2 beer, do not wish to go further. Many referred to the purpose of parks – a place of respite from city, for being in nature, for healthy family exercise, and commented there are many other places where one may drink liquor. Members of AA do not need to be tempted in a public park. Asked if neighborhoods might be able to opt out of having liquor, Fred laughed as if that would never happen. Neighbors near parks close to DU are very vulnerable.
Laura explained the survey/outreach going on, and extended the survey 3 days, said emails may be sent but not included in survey report. A summary of the survey results will be posted. She and Fred made clear DPR is not trying to “sell” anything, just get opinions.
Meeting ended at 8:00 p.m.
Next PARC meeting will be back at Brookdale Univ. Park, 2020 S. Monroe St., May 15, 6-8 p.m.
Diana Helper
The full presentation can be found here
This is available as a podcast at
https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ipsawso5b4qncpumhkchknodb5i
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inter-neighborhood-cooperation/id1370036745
https://www.denverinc.org/feed/podcast
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