No RVs wil be allowed in 43rd state park

The Oct. 28 snowstorm put a dent in many meetings and plans across the metro area.

The public meeting for the Staunton State Park master planning process that was scheduled at the American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, 710 Tenth St., was postponed to Nov. 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the same location.

This will be the sixth and final public open house for the project that has spanned a two-year process. The park will eventually open as Colorado's 43rd state park. It is expected that the work done by State Parks staff and project team members as well as input from the public and an advisory committee will be presented.

Park manager Scott Rousch said, "I think the plan will show people we listened to public comments. It's taken a little longer than expected because we went through more checks to make sure everything is right."

He said the park's official opening date was not set, but the original 2012 date was still on the table.

According to Chad Herd, with Land Works Design, Staunton Park is approximately 3,700 acres. Land Works Design is the land planning Consultant which has provided design and construction guidance.

With 99.3 percent of the site meant to be left in its natural state, the proposed master plan is 29.5 acres including roads, trails and facilities.

Herd said actual facilities proposed are less than an acre total. There are 4.6 miles of new road and a little more than 30 miles of trail. Much of the trail uses existing road corridors and is oriented to hikers.

A little under half of the trail is to be multi-use for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking. The first phase of the park will be opened as day-use only with limited camping in future phases. Large recreation vehicles will not be permitted in the park.
For more information, visit http://www.stauntonpark.com.