Ridgway State Park seeks public input in online trail use survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

John Livingston
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / [email protected]

Ridgway State Park is in the process of developing a trails master plan and is seeking public input
in an online survey that is open through April 8.
Photo courtesy of Dustin Doskocil/CPW

RIDGWAY, Colo. – Ridgway State Park is in the process of evaluating current and potential future trail systems at the park and would like to receive public comments before drafting a trails master plan.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has put together an online survey regarding trails in and around Ridgway State Park. The public has until April 8 to provide feedback.

The survey includes questions regarding current use and conditions as well as what the public would like to see improved or changed going forward.

“The more diverse input we receive, the better it is going to be for the park resources and visitors of Ridgway State Park,” said park manager Kirstin Copeland. “We really want to hear from everyone who likes to use the park to get a sense of what can be made better and more accessible to a variety of users.”

Projects being considered include better connectivity between sections of the park and connecting more campgrounds to trails. CPW is also looking at updating signage around the park’s trails.

Accessibility to trails for all park visitors is also a priority for CPW. Staunton State Park has implemented a successful track-chair program to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to live life outside and share outdoor experiences with friends and family. A track-chair program is planned at Ridgway State Park, as well.

“We are looking at everything from trailhead development to trail reconstruction,” said CPW Southwest Region Trails Coordinator Josh Stoudt. “Our trail users and their needs are different now than in previous generations. We need to look at our existing infrastructure as well as our future needs when developing a new trails master plan. A big part of that is making sure we do our due diligence to bring in the diverse viewpoints of the public to get a clear picture of current use and what people want to see in the future.”

To complete the online survey, go to: https://bit.ly/36aWM8V

To learn more about Ridgway State Park’s trails, go to: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Ridgway/Pages/Trails.aspx

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.