Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting - May 21, 2026

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) met on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO. The meeting covered routine approvals, public comments on trail safety and park needs, elections for board leadership, an update on the Clear Creek Trail widening design, summer creek and drought management, the Lions Park playground project, and follow-up on a May capital planning study session. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting agenda without changes.
• Approved the April 16, 2026 regular meeting minutes (motion by Michele Minihane, second by Kermit Shields, unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kaylin Bope and Cass (Golden residents) requested creation of a small pocket park in their neighborhood north of CO 58 and east of Ford Street, identified as a park desert in the 2008 master plan. They presented maps of several potential city-owned parcels and noted a large number of young families in the area. They suggested shifting resources from renovation of Cressman Gulch Park (where usage has declined) to a new pocket park.
• Scott Anderson (640 11th Street, Millstone Condos) expressed strong opposition to the proposed widening of the south Clear Creek Trail between Washington Avenue and Ford Street. He described multiple serious accidents (including a resident hospitalized after being hit by a bike), blind intersections, and speeding e-bikes. He argued the widening would not solve safety problems and urged routing the Peaks to Plains trail away from that corridor, perhaps to 10th Street.
• Lena (640 11th Street, Millstone Condos) echoed safety concerns and questioned the rationale for a 2-2.5 foot widening given limited peak usage and high insurance costs from prior changes (e.g., Kinney Run project). She requested visual renderings of the finished trail from the condos' perspective and asked for an independent engineering assessment of floodplain and structural impacts.
• Lori Sweaton (640 11th Street, Millstone Condos) opposed the widening, stating it was a temporary fix for a long-term route (Church Ditch) 10 years away. She suggested using 8th Street as an interim alternative because it is wider and connects to the planned bypass.

Discussion Items

• Chair and Vice-Chair Elections (10 minutes)
  • Forbes Cone was re-elected as Chair for a second year. Catherine Hansen-Stamp was re-elected as Vice-Chair. Both were nominated and approved without objection.
• Clear Creek Trail Widening Update – Matt Wempe, Principal Planner (30 minutes)
  • Wempe presented the background: a 2024 alternatives analysis identified a near-term option to widen the south Clear Creek Trail by 2–2.5 feet (to 10–12 feet) between Illinois Street/Billy Drew Bridge and Ford Street, and a long-term option (Church Ditch trail near SH 58). Design is at ~90% completion; construction is unfunded. Public engagement included a May 5 open house (~35 attendees), an online survey (40 responses), and ongoing feedback.
  • PRAB members questioned the benefit of widening given limited peak congestion, safety at the Millstone Condo blind intersection, and whether dismount zones, speed warnings, or trail lighting could be alternative measures. Wempe noted that enforcement is challenging and that the widening is a modest improvement. The project will compete for funding in the upcoming parks capital improvement program.
  • Staff committed to further review of safety improvements at the intersection near Millstone and to incorporate feedback from a June 10 meeting with the Millstone HOA. A second round of public engagement is planned for late summer 2026.
• Summer Creek and Drought Plan Updates – Jeremy Sweat (15 minutes)
  • Creek flow was 85 CFS (cubic feet per second) the prior week, very low. The city is in Stage 1 drought restrictions. Parks watering is reduced 15%, with priority at Lions Park, Parfet Park, and athletic fields. The golf course is also reducing water. Creek ambassador hiring is underway. The city is coordinating with commercial float operators about possible shorter runs.
• Lions Park Playground Project Update – Rheana Rogers (5 minutes)
  • Public engagement closed May 11 with 135 online survey responses plus in-person voting. Concept 3 (playground moved up the hillside with a large native garden) received 64% support. Concept 2 (with a water feature) received 26%. If additional grant funding is available, a water feature could be added later. Design will now advance; construction target is late 2026/early 2027 while keeping existing playground open as long as possible.
• May Study Session Follow-Up (15 minutes)
  • PRAB members received a homework spreadsheet to test a new capital prioritization tool using real (slightly modified) city projects. Deadline for feedback to staff is June 1. The project list includes both new park development and existing park renovations. The board will discuss results at the June 4 study session. Jeremy Sweat clarified the tool aims to help prioritize projects for future budget cycles.

Key Outcomes

• Chair/Vice-Chair: Forbes Cone reappointed as Chair, Catherine Hansen-Stamp as Vice-Chair (unanimous).
• Lions Park Concept: Concept 3 selected for detailed design (no formal vote, but consensus from engagement results).
• Clear Creek Trail: No formal action; feedback recorded; staff will refine design and return to PRAB with revised plans.
• Drought Operations: Stage 1 continues; parks irrigation reduced; athletic fields and golf course to be maintained at reduced levels.
• Capital Planning: Homework assignment due June 1; study session scheduled for June 4, 2026 to review prioritization tool.
• Noxious Weed Management Plan: Presented to City Council on May 12; plan not yet approved; public education campaign being developed.
• Ulysses Park Lighting: Copper theft from lighting system; repairs being quoted; timeline unknown.
• Next PRAB Regular Meeting: July 16, 2026 (standard monthly schedule).