Steamboat Pilot & Today

Q. Dave King of Triple Crown has said competition has increased from cities such as Tucson, Ariz., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Las Vegas that offer more convenient 20-field complexes. City officials said there's no way that can or will happen in Steamboat. Is there a chance the city will not continue its efforts to meet Triple Crown's facility needs or renew its contract?
A. I believe the Triple Crown Negotiating Committee and Triple Crown will continue to investigate future collaborations although it may not be exclusively diamond-related sports.
Q. The city proposed several potential ball field sites, including several Steamboat Springs School District properties and the Bear River Parcel. The Bear River plan recommended by the City Parks and Recreation Commission includes an "unorganized playing field." Could the City Council still consider turning that space into a formal ball field? If so, what would the time frame for that sort of project be?
A. The Bear River Parcel planning process and Parks and Recreation Commission recommendations are advisory only. City Council has the final decision on what, when and how the parcel will develop.
Based on the fact that further investigation is being completed on several issues and that an additional public meeting may be useful, this master plan will not be going to City Council for several months.

Q. Has the city discussed with the Steamboat Springs School District the possibility of using its property for additional fields Triple Crown can use? If so, what has come out of those discussions?
A. Presently, the details are being worked out between the superintendent of schools and the city manager to improve the Strawberry Park Middle School ball field for students, local Parks and Recreation programs and Triple Crown use in 2005.
Q. One of the major discussions to come out of the Bear River parcel meeting is the possibility of changing the course of the Yampa River on that site so it meanders. How much would creating a meander cost and how much of its success depends on downstream property owners?
A. Mountain West Environments, the consulting firm hired by the city to develop the Bear River Parcel Master Plan, is getting further information on costs, pros/cons and opportunities related to the re-alignment of the Yampa on this city property. Downstream options are outside the scope of this project.
Q. What is the next step in the planning process of the Bear River parcel? Does the city have a timeline for when it would like to see the conversion from sewer lagoon to park begin? Is there going to be a prioritization of what gets done first on the land?
A. We plan to fully investigate and discuss the issues raised at the Dec. 10 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
A draft plan will then be written and reviewed with interested parties before submission to City Council in 2004.
The master-planning grant deadline is Oct. 4 and Great Outdoors Colorado will want the project finalized before this date.