Since the construction of the Rectangle and Diamond Fields in 1996, use of Emerald Park has been limited to organized youth activities and is reserved for informal adult pickup, drop-in, and passive use. Some have limited access.
But the city’s recreational space is already over capacity, and in light of an irrigation project planned for Ski Town Park next year, the Steamboat Springs Park & Recreation Department has asked City Council members to limit organized adult admission. The request is to consider changing the ordinance (Ordinance 1511) that allows Gives the league the opportunity to use the park’s available field space.
“The current ordinance prohibits organized adult use at Emerald Park,” Rob Burdin, deputy director of parks and recreation for land management, told City Council members last week. “Current customers will be relocated as field use increases throughout the community and Ski Town Park closes in 2024.”
In his argument, Burdin pointed to the city denying more than 1,000 hours of organized adult use to all of the city’s stadiums in 2023. With the closure of Ski Town Park next year, that number is expected to jump to more than 6,000 hours, he said.
“We feel that Ordinance 1511 is contrary to the current needs of the community as circumstances have changed since the original ordinance was adopted,” Burdine said.
In July, city staff recommended adjustments to Ordinance 1511 to the City Council for a one-year trial period. The reason isn’t just changes in irrigation upgrades scheduled for next year at Ski Town Park, where youth and adult league contests are regularly held. But also because city officials want to bring some of Emerald Park’s current uses into line with elements of the city ordinance.
For example, Angela Cosby, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, said, “It is against the current ordinance for adult-organized Hispanic soccer leagues to play on Sunday afternoons; ) This is one of the reasons why we want the change.”
“That’s why we want to book that time, block it on a schedule, and pay for a year of that group while also establishing stronger relationships and better communicating about the regulations in place.” “We’re doing it,” Cosby said. “How to overcome those barriers and work together to reserve fields without fees.”
After hearing about the proposed ordinance changes in July, councilors asked staff to provide additional information related to their decision. That included a request for data on how the move would exacerbate the already problematic parking problem at the site. The 1-acre Emerald Park space includes the 10-acre Yampa River Botanical Park.
“Parking issues have existed since the establishment of this park, and today they continue to grow as both aspects of this park continue to grow,” Burdine said.
To quell parking issues around the park area, recent projects have created new access to the grounds, including the construction of a 136-space parking garage and the dedication of 30 parking spaces to the Arboretum in 2019. He pointed out that it was provided.
The city also introduced a special event permit policy that requires parking plans at Emerald Park for events with more than 100 people.
Cosby said an ongoing design study aimed at addressing parking issues has been supported by a $30,000 commitment from the Yampa River Botanical Park board and Steamboat City Manager Gary Suter. It reported that it is being supported by $10,000 raised from an emergency fund it administers.
“I want to be clear that regardless of this change of use, Emerald does have a parking issue,” Cosby said. “Our biggest challenge with Emerald parking is youth soccer practice, not tournaments.”
Against the recommendations of city staff, the City Council, by a 5-2 vote, chose not to change the current ordinance prohibiting organized adult use of Emerald Park. Instead, it asked city staff to provide more information about approved special events at the park and future updates on the results of a planned parking study.
The informal decision to withdraw the proposed ordinance change came after a lengthy discussion that included intense public comment on the issue.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Wendy Bauman, director of the Yampa River Botanical Park, spoke on behalf of the organization’s president, Kathy Connell.
“To be clear, the Arboretum Board does not support changing the intent of the current ordinance regarding the use of Emerald Park Fields,” Bauman said.
She told new City Council staff it was important to “understand why the current ordinances are in place.”
“It is not reasonable to address this need by changing the intent of an ordinance that has been in place for the past 25 years,” Bauman said. “On behalf of the Arboretum (Board), our adjacent neighbors, and our hundreds of users, we ask that you proceed carefully and slowly with any changes that go against the will of the community.”
Jim Engelken, who served on the City Council until resigning in 2010, also approached the podium to speak. He said he understands the issues facing city parks and recreation officials regarding the closure of Ski Town Park, but is unsure how the proposed ordinance would affect the group of people who use the fields at Emerald Park. On an unofficial basis, he said he remains concerned about whether the government will give it to the government.
“The people who go there for this informal play, the Spanish-speaking community, they’re there on a regular basis. Throughout the summer, throughout the spring, throughout the fall,” Engelken said. . “They were there two weeks ago. There were 40 of them. They were holding two separate pickup games, and they set up a little makeshift badminton net. They had kids, they had wives, There was a picnic. These guys need a place to go. If we try to get more tournaments into Emerald Park, we’re going to kick them out. They’re valuable community members. They have a place to go. They need a place and this is the only place for them.”
Souter said the council’s decision to move away from the proposed ordinance means city staff will continue to keep the council informed about special event requests submitted for use on-site. He also said staff will provide updates on the progress of the parking investigation.
As for allowing an unlicensed adult soccer league to utilize Emerald Park every Sunday during the spring and summer seasons, Suter said the city will continue to allow “organized” play to continue.
“We are allowing the continued use of adult sports at Emerald Park without a permit,” Suter said. He said, “It’s a violation of the ordinance, but we just sit by and watch.”
Mr. Cosby agreed with Mr. Suter’s opinion, saying that since city ordinances technically do not allow players to play at Emerald Park, the city should subsidize league fees for players who participate in Sunday’s unofficial games. There is no need to provide one, it added.
“We don’t charge those fees, so we don’t have to waive those fees,” Cosby said. “As Gary said, we’re going to turn a blind eye and ignore that use.”
Trevor Ballantyne is a city government and housing reporter. To contact him, call 970-871-4254 or email tballantyne@SteamboatPilot.com.