March 2022 Windsor Matters Newsletter Special Edition

THE OFFICIAL TOWN OF WINDSOR NEWSLETTER

WINDSOR MATTERS MARCH 2022 SPECIAL EDITION

Open Space and Trails in Windsor

Shape How You Live, Play and Move Windsor's Open Space and Trails are used by thousands of people from Windsor and across northern Colorado on a daily basis. Growing in popularity, our trails currently offer users opportunities for walking with their families, biking, jogging, viewing our vast wildlife, or just getting a breath of fresh air.

Windsor’s open spaces and trails are home to a range of environmental and recreational amenities that help provide local connectivity and contribute to the community’s high quality of life. To truly capture the vision of Windsor’s open space and trails, in 2018, the Town created a dedicated team, known as the Open Space and Trails Division within the Parks, Recreation, and Culture department. The division was created to fulfill the strong vision by the community and the Windsor Town Board to create a detailed strategy to acquire additional open space and build trails through development of a funding model, acquisition of easements, and to strengthen internal and regional non-motorized connectivity for residents.

then, the division has gathered survey results and completed a Draft Strategic Plan for its open spaces and trails. The survey data helped the division determine the community’s expectations for open spaces and identify priorities for trail development.

The goal of the Open Spaces and Trails Strategic Plan is to ensure preservation of natural areas while providing equitable access to parks, trails, open space, and cultural infrastructure in all neighborhoods and areas throughout Windsor while also establishing pedestrian and bicycle connectivity. Priorities include protecting and preserving Windsor’s small-town feel and maintaining community buffers.

Did we capture your vision of the future for Windsor’s Open Space and Trails? Please consider taking a quick 5-minute survey to let us know. The survey closes March 14. The plan is scheduled for adoption on March 28.

In March of 2021, the Open Space and Trails Division conducted a survey for public input. Since

TAKE THE SURVEY

Want to voice your opinion on more projects?

Visit windsorgov.com/ProjectConnect.

Kyger Open Space Master Plan

Looking at the Future of Kyger's Site Use Kyger Open Space is a 150-acre parcel west of downtown Windsor located on the northwest corner of State Highway 392/Main Street and Weld County Road 13/Colorado Boulevard. The property contains a water storage reservoir and wetlands, open fields, and paved and unpaved trails.

Kyger is home to mature trees, waterfowl, migratory birds, deer, small mammals, reptiles, fish and other aquatic species, and raptors including eagles, hawks, osprey and others. Current uses of the site include walking, bird watching, running, and biking. Fishing and watercraft are currently not allowed on the reservoir.

The Kyger Open Space Master plan project is exploring choices regarding the level of use and development of the site. Two alternative plans have been developed.

• Alternative A has an emphasis on preservation, prioritizing preserving and protecting the natural characteristics of the site.

• Alternative B has an emphasis on outdoor recreation, showing more infrastructure and facility development to support increased recreational uses.

In this survey, public feedback will guide the level of additional access and provided facilities. Once the survey is closed, the information collected will be used to draft a preferred concept.

There are two potential plans for additional use and access to the Kyger Open Space, one with an emphasis on preservation, the other with an emphasis on outdoor recreation. View the plans at windsorgov.com/ProjectConnect.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Protecting our Parks & Open Spaces

Seeking Comment on Proposed Parks Ordinance Over the last several years, use of Windsor’s parks, open spaces and trails has increased dramatically. In an effort to help protect and preserve these spaces for our community— both now and in the future—the Town of Windsor Parks, Recreation & Culture Department is working with the Windsor Town Board to codify and refine regulations relating to use of these amenities.

Town staff are asking for feedback from the community on a proposed ordinance, which is currently scheduled to go before the Town Board at the end of March. This ordinance is meant to clarify regulations for park and trail users, including protections for wildlife and flora, recreational use of water bodies and more.

To review the proposed ordinance and leave your comments, visit windsorgov.com/ProjectConnect.