14 Jan 2015
City of Durango now owns extended Raiders Ridge parcels, without land trust regulation
The extended, upper Raiders Ridge Trail has long been a favorite for people wanting stellar views of the Animas Valley or challenging rocky terrain to ride on.
Looking south on the extended part of Raiders Ridge.
As of December 23, 2014, most of the extended part is now owned by the City of Durango, following guidance from the Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board and City staff, said Durango’s Assistant Community Development Director Kevin Hall.
Unlike many other open-space parcels that the City has purchased in Horse Gulch, this one will not be regulated by a conservation easement that’s held by La Plata Open Space Conservancy, the local land trust.
Much of the land that the City purchased from Jake Dalla is on Raiders Ridge between the top of Skyline Trail to the north, the saddle at the top of Rocky Road Trail to the west, and Horse Gulch Road (CR 237) to the south.
Last month the City found out that their application for a matching grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to help purchase the land was denied. If the City had been awarded the grant, they would have been required to give a conservation easement for the land to the Open Space Conservancy.
As a backup, the City had funds available from the City Council-appropriated 2014 and 2015 Open Space, Parks and Trails Funds for open space acquisition, said Hall.
On December 16, 2014, the City Council approved acquisition of the 113 acres in one transaction for $678,000 dollars plus closing costs, which closed on December 23, Hall said.
Map courtesy of the City of Durango. Crossed out words done by Adam Howell.
