Just the Facts

We have launched Just the Facts, a monthly Q&A about a key community topic. Our goal is to not only provide you with current, factual information, but spotlight our extraordinary, dedicated staff. This will be placed on the Community Corner page at eaglevail.org, and noticed via official EagleVail Metro District communication channels. Our goal is to address a key topic factually and proactively to better improve our ability to be in front of community questions. Please see below for September 2025's Just the Facts.

September Just the Facts: What’s Next for Parks Master Plan Process

We want to thank so many members of the EagleVail community for participating in our many meetings and ice cream social events this summer to provide input on our Parks Master Planning efforts. Here’s where we stand:

Q: What are the priorities driving the master plan efforts?

A: There are three priorities:

Irrigation system replacements for greater watering efficiency, water conservation, including identification of areas for potential turf reduction at the pocket parks, if deemed appropriate.
Playground facility replacements due to age and condition, to meet present day regulations, with focus on new equipment that is up-to-date, fun, durable, safe, and universally accessible.
Providing pedestrian and wheel-chair access that is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Q: What is the overview of outreach?

A: Input opportunities included:

EagleVail and Tell Community Open House held April 9, 2025
Parks Committee Meeting March 27, 2025
Ice Cream Social 1 Coyote Park & Holland Pond held June 5, 2025
Ice Cream Social 2 West Park & Ptarmigan Park held July 24, 2025
Ice Cream Social 3 Pavilion Park & Trout Pond Park held August 14, 2025
Ice Cream Social 4 West Park & Ptarmigan Park held August 28, 2025
Homestake Peak School EagleVail Student Engagement, September 9, 2025
Parks Committee Meeting September 9, 2025
Parks Master Plan Survey, September 3 to September 16, 2025

Input summary:

Coyote Park:

Improve entrance and access and transition from Stone Creek Road into the Park
Add bike rack / bike parking flat pad.
Renovate playground with code compliant play equipment.
Provide play equipment for different age groups, separated.
Consider naturalistic looking play equipment.
Provide classic features in new equipment – slide, swings, monkey bars.
Upgrade surfacing from crumb rubber.
Preserve large mature spruce trees for shade – limb up as needed for light / visibility for safety.
Preserve flat lawn space as highly functional lawn space for informal play, sports, and social activities.

Holland Park:

Keep this park passive and generally as is. Valued for peace, tranquility, views to south and golf course.
Maintain Ice for winter use, highly valued for neighborhood skating and informal winter community gatherings.
Consider 2 to 3 additional benches strategically placed around the pond for more seating.
Consider adding temporary hammocks at strategic locations for residents to relax.
Improve water quality and appearance with more regular flow of water.

West Park:

Minimize change to the park, as majority of residents value existing conditions.
Make only necessary priority improvements addressing irrigation, playground safety, and ADA access.
Preserve as much of the open lawn areas as possible – highly valued for play, dog walking and sledding.
Preserve the basketball court and enhance with striping for other court sports.
Preserve the volleyball court.
Preserve the open terraced lawn areas for the popular winter sledding use of the park
Preserve the Pet Memorial in a meaningful way, even if the shelter needs to be replaced.
Play elements for different age groups with emphasis on natural play and climbable features.
More swings and play features that spin.
Consider an additional shelter closer to the playground for birthday celebrations and family gatherings, and for parents to be close to their kids when they are playing.
Extend the fence at the bottom of park slope to make sledding safer and prevent sledding into the street.
Add more seating at different levels of the park, out of the way of active areas.

Add bike rack / bike pad parking area at top and bottom.
Consider a new seating area at the top of the park with new seating overlooking the rest of the park.
Consider reducing non-functional turf areas such as at the bottom behind the fence, or along the sides of the park and converting to native grasses and wildflowers.
Preserve the existing trees. Consider additional trees for shade around edges of the park.

Ptarmigan Park:

Make the necessary priority updates to irrigation, playground equipment and provide ADA access.
Greater separation between adjacent homes and park with landscaping to avoid trespassing.
Additional seating – benches and picnic tables.
Consider adding a hammock area for residents to relax at the park.
Removal of cottonwood due to safety and hazard concerns.
Preserve other trees and limb up for visibility and safety.
Upgrade the playground due to its age.
Playground equipment is in good shape and may have more life left.

Pavilion Park

Preserve open lawn and mound areas for play and dog walking.
Add trees for shade to west and south sides of the playground, coordinated with more seating.
Expand the playground to include more features for the youngest age group (2- to 5-year-olds).
Expand the playground to include more features for older age groups (10–12-year-olds).
Wishlist includes big slide, zipline, regular swings.
Consider a multi-use sports court in the park outside the fenced-in area for tennis and pickleball.
More seating around the playground area including benches and picnic tables.
Reduce areas of non-functional turf around the edges of park that are not as well used.
Consider testing outdoor fitness cluster at Pavilion Park before placing at other parks.
Consider an adventure trail or small bike pump track.
Add bike racks and bike pad to also serve the pool in the summer as many residents arrive by bike.

Trout Pond Park

Not enough variety of play elements, too oriented to small children.
Remove the low log structure and add more vertical play elements that allow kids to climb up.
Add strap swing or two to park if space allows.
Limb up trees and consider removing some to open up the entrance from Gopher Road as residents like to walk between Gopher Road and Trout Pond Lane.
Consider natural materials for play features that are more cohesive with natural environment.
Consider a hammock grove but keep separate from the play area.
Preserve the majority of the trees for shade.
Create a new entrance from Gopher Road that reflects the presence of Trout Pond Park.

Q: How can I read more about the survey findings?

A: If you wish to review the parks survey, please visit https://www.eaglevail.org/Community-Corner/parks-master-plan-information

Q: Now that the community outreach efforts have wrapped up, what are next steps?

A: The immediate next steps are Zehren and EVMD staff are pulling together budget numbers for park-specific projects and potential grant funding opportunities that will be reviewed by the EVMD board at a Nov. 6 work session (5 p.m., EagleVail Pavilion). The board may take action at its Nov. 20 regular meeting (5 p.m., EagleVail Pavilion) which includes an opportunity for public comment. The earliest any projects may commence would be 2027.