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| 11/20/2009 5:11:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Staunton final plan unveiled
Lynda James
Correspondent
The Colorado State Parks' Final Master Plan for Staunton State Park was unveiled at an open house meeting at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden on Nov. 12.
Approximately 60 people attended and provided feedback to the planning team. That feedback will be incorporated into the final plan before adoption by the State Parks Board in early 2010.
Opening in 2012
Staunton Park is scheduled to open to the public in 2012. It is located north of Shaffers Crossing near Pine Junction in both Park and Jefferson counties. Plans are to develop a park that can be used year-round.
The park will have a single- point access from Elk Falls Road with a turning lane at the entrance. The entrance will be on the part of the park known as the Davis Ranch, which Parks acquired in 1998 and is known as the Lower Camp in the park. The entrance will be before the entrance into Elk Falls Subdivision.
The approximately 3,700-acre park will be developed in five phases over a 10-year period if funding is available. Seven-tenths of one percent, or 29.5 acres, will be developed. That figure includes all roads, trails, buildings, parking, comfort stations and campsites.
First phase
The first phase will consist of day-use only while some facilities in the Lower Park are being constructed, such as a visitors' center, picnic area, parking areas and an interpretive trial that connects the center to the picnic area and the Davis ponds.
An existing three-mile-long single-lane road through the park may be improved as a multi-use trail during phase one. Some hiking trails to major destinations such as Lion's Head rock outcrop and Elk Falls may also occur in that phase.
Interpretive signage throughout the park will educate visitors on the natural resources, culture and historic significance of the park.
18 miles of hiking trails
Eighteen miles of hiking- only trails are proposed, as well as 13 miles of multi-use trails that will allow horse, bicycle and foot traffic. That is a slight increase in trails from the preliminary plan that included 17 miles and 11 miles respectively.
Two areas of the park will be protected. Lion's Head, which is the home to peregrine falcons, will be closed to the public during nesting season. A small area in the northern part of the park near Black Mountain (U.S. Forest Service land) will not have access.
Besides the spectacular cliffs and rock formations, several creeks, wetlands and lakes are on the property as well as meadows filled with wildflowers. Two species of global and state rare plants are on the property.
Menagerie of animals
It is home to elk, deer, bears, bobcats, mountain lions, great blue herons, turkeys, neotropical birds, foxes, coyotes and raptors, such as owls, eagles and peregrine falcons. Lynx habitat is also in the park.
The park's goal is to allow public access without impacting any of the natural resources.
Project leader Chad Herd, with LandWorks Design Inc., said the key to developing the park lies in partnering with other organizations. He said that several - such as a local historical society plus climbing, horseback riding and mountain biking clubs - have volunteered to help with such amenities as building restoration, trails, and campsite construction.
Auto access
Auto access will be limited to a small area of the park. Parking will control the number of vehicles and visitors allowed each day. Ninety-four parking spots divided into three areas will be constructed at the Lower Camp, the most developed area. Twenty more spaces will provide parking at both the Middle and Rock Camps.
Shuttle bus
An amenity that was not in the preliminary plan is the addition of a shuttle bus that uses the existing road to take visitors from the Lower Camp to Middle and Rock camps, Elk Falls Pond and Lion's Head. Stops will be made along the way at various trails. Visitors may enter or exit the bus at any point on the route.
Campsites will also be limited to the three camp areas. Thirty spaces for car camping and 28 walk-in camp sites are planned for the Lower Camp. Two areas in each of the Middle and Rock Camps will accommodate 10 to 12 campsites at each campground. Total campsites for the park will be 106. Recreation vehicle camping will not be allowed in the park.
Campfires
Campfires will be allowed only near the visitor's center, where response time in case of a fire would be quick. Any county no-burn days will also be observed by the park to reduce the risk of wildfire.
Due to the topography of the proposed campsites, many will be secluded from other campsites, and all will be at least twice as big as a normal U.S. Forest Service campsite, according to Drew Kramer of Intermountain Corporate Affairs, one agency on the park's planning team.
Kramer said that campgrounds and all proposed trails in the Lower Camp will be developed during Phase 2. Middle Camp and the shuttle will probably be developed during Phase 3.
Master Plan Advisory Council member Ted Hammon, who is a Park County resident in Elk Falls Subdivision, said the developed areas of Lower Camp, where all visitors will access and most will park, is hidden from view by hills.
Ten buildings are currently on site. Some will be used for park personnel housing and some will be renovated for visitors' use.
A few new small cabins and sleeper cabins are also planned at the Middle and Rock Camps.
Groups and retreats
The Middle Camp will cater to groups and retreats. It will offer 20-24 walk-in campsites and five small cabins. Campfires will not be allowed.
The original Staunton Homestead is in Middle Park, and plans include restoring it as a museum.
Rock Park will focus on rock-climbing activities. Staunton Rocks are located there and can be seen from U.S. 285 around Pine Junction. Five one-room sleeper cabins and 20-24 walk-in campsites will be located at Rock Park. Campfires will not be allowed.
Five winter yurts are planned for the northwest corner of the park. They will be accessed only by hiking.
New buildings in the park will be constructed to use solar energy and woody biomass heating systems (chips or pellets).
Energy consumption
A member of the planning team, Paul Hutton of Hutton Architect Studio, said the park plans to have zero net energy consumption.
Some buildings, including the visitor's center, will be connected to the electrical grid but also produce energy from renewable sources. Passive solar will be incorporated into all new buildings. Existing structures will be retrofit with as much renewable energy sources as can be accomplished.
On a metered system, any energy produced that is not used will go back to the electrical company to reduce the cost of electricity on site. Hutton said the goal is to contribute as much energy to the grid as is used.
Proposed building materials are fiber cement board with a wood finish. Hutton said advantages of cement board include its low cost, its wood-like appearance, its noncombustibility, and its 50-year-life guarantee.
Visitor's center
The visitor's center will be built in three phases. First, 2,760 square feet will include park offices, registration area, restrooms, and a covered outdoor area. In the second phase, a meeting room, conference room, and office support areas will be added. The final phase plans an environmental education center and observation tower.
The center will use various solar energy technologies to provide electricity and hot water, plus a woody biomass boiler system for heat.
More information about the Master Plan can be found at www.stauntonpark.com.
Herd said that once the State Parks Board approves the Master Plan, the planning team will further define a financially feasible phase one that will allow quick access to the park.
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