Carbondale gymnastics
Last year, The Sopris Sun asked an important question about the former City Market building: “Is anything happening?”
If the answer is still “not yet,” I’d like to offer a suggestion — could it become a gymnastics facility for the mid-valley?
Right now, families in Glenwood, Carbondale, Basalt and the surrounding communities have very limited options. Aspen Gymnastics offers an excellent program, but it’s a significant drive upvalley and not always realistic for many families, especially during winter weather or heavy traffic. There is also a program in Silt, which is equally far in the other direction. For many mid-valley kids, regular participation simply isn’t feasible.
Carbondale does have a small grassroots gymnastics program that operates out of the Bridges High School, but it’s limited in space and equipment. From what I understand, the program is wonderful but modest, with a beam, a portable mat and aerial silks, but not the full set of apparatus — such as full-sized uneven bars, spring floor or vault — that are standard in a dedicated facility. The interest is clearly there; the infrastructure just isn’t.
The former City Market space seems like a natural fit. Gymnastics facilities typically require large, open, warehouse-style buildings with high ceilings — exactly the kind of structure that already exists there. Instead of sitting vacant, it could become a vibrant youth recreation hub serving kids from across the mid-valley.
Beyond athletics, gymnastics builds strength, coordination, confidence and discipline. It’s also one of the few sports children can begin at a young age and continue for years, building strength and coordination that benefit many other sports as well. A centrally located facility in Carbondale would make participation far more accessible for local families.
Of course, converting a building like this would require leadership, funding and organization. But before anything else, it requires the idea — and perhaps the right person or group to run with it. Could someone turn the old City Market into a gymnastics facility?
And if not gymnastics, then perhaps something else. I’m not a developer, city planner or engineer, but it seems like a shame for such a large, centrally located space to sit empty when it could serve the community. What’s the hold up?
Chloe Barrett
Carbondale
Preserve our valley
Water scarcity and drought remain significant challenges in the Roaring Fork Valley. Current reports emphasize low water forecasts, dry conditions, minimal snowpack and growing concerns at the Colorado River District meetings. If this development continues, it will strangle the Valley’s water issues.
Affluent, out-of-state developers are buying the last parcels in the Valley. These corporate initiatives rarely address the deeper impacts on community structure and culture. After years of efforts to add affordable units to market-rate projects, home prices keep rising and workforce housing remains scarce. Residents deal with higher taxes, living costs and congestion, showing that simply building more units isn’t enough. The global housing demand can’t be solved by construction alone. We need targeted, responsible solutions that support lasting community stability.
Wildlife habitat is disappearing, forcing animals to adjust to reduced winter range. They struggle to adapt and herd sizes dwindle because the land can no longer support them. Animals always lose in these encounters. It is essential we focus on protecting and conserving remaining habitat.
Are we ready for 12,000 more new vehicle trips per day, years of construction traffic affecting safety, congestion, noise, traffic delays, decreased quality of life and structural integrity of roads? Driving on our already maxed out Highway 82 presents significant safety risks for all who travel it. Intersections already rated “F” by CDOT, will only get worse if Harvest Village is approved.
Our concerns consistently highlight incompatibility, inadequate infrastructure, limited services, water resources and a lack of understanding regarding development on the proposed Harvest parcel. Do the math, it will create more of a deficiency than it proposes to correct, and property taxes will climb. Taxpayers build our communities and ultimately bear the consequences of incompatible development.
This land needs our protection. I advocate for preserving the Cattle Creek confluence and Roaring Fork River by supporting responsible land use, including conservation and parkland agreements, safeguarding wildlife habitats and opposing unsustainable development that only benefits a few high-rolling investors.
On March 11, the Garfield County Planning Commission voted 6-1 to deny the application. The applicant stated that they would work at resubmitting the application. Stay informed. Stay involved. Continue the momentum at cattlecreekcc.com If this development happens, the land is lost forever.
Rosemary Burkholder
Cattle Creek
No fur
We want to thank the many people who wrote letters and attended meetings to support the potential ban on the senseless and nearly unlimited hunting of wildlife simply so their fur could be sold.
For years, countless foxes, coyotes, pine martens, beavers, bobcats and other animals have been killed so their pelts could be shipped overseas to distant markets. Many people in Colorado had no idea this relentless killing was happening until a petition — presented by the Center for Biological Diversity and supported by hundreds of citizens — brought the issue before the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission.
We are deeply grateful to the CPW Commission for the courage and thoughtfulness they showed in supporting this petition.
Special thanks go to Delia Malone of Colorado Wild and Samantha Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity for their leadership and determination in bringing this issue to light.
Our wildlife thanks you.
Nolan, kindergarten animal protector, thanks you.
Mary Harris
Carbondale
E-bike proposal
There has been growing concern in the Roaring Fork Valley that allowing class 1 pedal-assist e-mountain bikes on local trails will ruin the experience or create dangerous conflicts. As someone who has been mountain biking for decades, I would like to offer another perspective.
Many of us in the Baby Boomer generation helped build the mountain biking community in this valley. We rode in the early days of the sport when there were no purpose-built trails — just Jeep roads, Forest Service routes, and the occasional hiking path. Over the years we have watched the sport evolve alongside the incredible trail systems we now enjoy.
Today there is a large population of riders between the ages of about 60 and 80 who still love getting out on those trails. For many of us, class 1 pedal-assist e-mountain bikes allow us to keep riding. These bikes do not turn anyone into a Tour de France racer. Riders must still pedal, and the assistance simply helps offset age, sore knees, or reduced lung capacity. The climbs still require effort — but they become possible again instead of forcing riders to push their bikes uphill.
Some worry that e-bikes will create conflicts with traditional “analog” mountain bikes. Yet in many places where class 1 e-bikes have been allowed for years — such as British Columbia and much of Europe — there has been little evidence of widespread conflict on the trails. Riders are still riders. Trail etiquette, courtesy, and common sense still apply.
Closer to home, the North Fruita Desert trail system opened many trails to class 1 e-bikes some time ago. By all accounts from riders and local bike shops, it has not been controversial and has allowed more people — especially older riders — to continue enjoying the sport.
For many of us, pedal-assist bikes are not about going faster or dominating the trails. They are about staying active, staying outdoors, and staying connected to a sport we have loved for decades.
Mountain biking has always been about adapting and evolving. Class 1 pedal-assist bikes simply allow an aging generation of riders to remain part of that tradition.
Greg Fitzpatrick
Carbondale
No racism, No Kings
On Sunday, March 22, the Two Rivers Unitarian-Universalists (TRUU) Social Justice Committee will present insights on white fragility, white privilege and white supremacy, and how those practices contribute to how we arrived at this troubling time in our history. That service will take place at 10am in the Calaway Room of Carbondale’s Third Street Center.
On Saturday, March 28, from 1 to 3pm, many members of the TRUU will join the No Kings march at Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs to help protect our democracy.
On Sunday, March 29, again in the Calaway Room, we will have discussion groups about race concepts and how we can take action to strengthen our democracy in an inclusive manner in which all benefit.
Please join us!
Two Rivers Unitarian-Universalist
Social Justice Committee