Just the Facts - April
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 April 2026's Just the Facts.
April Just the Facts: A Spring Update from the EVMD Board of Directors
On behalf of the EVMD Board of Directors, hello and Happy Spring! The EVMD Board is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the District’s assets – from golf to the pool, from our parks to the courts – and so much more. As we head into the summer season, we want to highlight several of the bigger projects that are generating status inquiries from community members.
In addition to this week’s Second Annual EagleVail & Tell (see below to RSVP!), we will be announcing the summer calendar of Coffee Chats very soon, with a couple new Après Chats sprinkled in – fun opportunities for the Board to meet and hear your questions and feedback.
- Joanna Hopkins, EVMD Board Chair
Q: What is the status of the Hole #9 improvements?
A: Following ongoing feedback and safety concerns from Exception homeowners, we budgeted and approved moving forward with Phase II of Hole #9 improvements at our final Board meeting
before the end of 2025.
As this project has come before us over the past couple of years, we have heard the concerns about cutting down old mature trees. Looking for a balance between fixing the errant shot
problem for homeowners and maximizing as much established tree preservation as possible, at our January Board meeting, we asked our golf course consultant, Rick Phelps, to update the
project design. He explained that the goal of Phase II is to create a viewing corridor and enhanced landing area with limited and selective tree removal and including up to four large mature
trees. Of those, two were diseased, in decline, and found to be hollow, posing a potential safety risk. Another tree had a split trunk and was also determined to be in poor condition and
recommended for removal. We insisted that two mature Spruce trees along the golf course stay in place.
As a reminder, Phase I improvements were completed and focused on limbing up trees to the right of the tee box and along the cart path to improve visibility and golfer awareness of the nearby homes.
Phase II is expected to build on that work by helping reduce the likelihood of golf balls reaching the Exception townhomes by improving the landing area on the left side of the fairway and encouraging play away from the homes on the right. Per our direction, the project area for tree removal was marked in the field and Exception neighbors were notified. The approach involved selective tree removal while preserving key features, including the two large spruce trees near the cart path. We ensured, alongside staff, that the work was done selectively, with both Rick and an arborist on site over the course of two days to guide the process.
We look forward to closely monitoring play and home impacts this summer. If the results are not satisfactory, the Board can then consider additional improvements, including Phase III.
Q: Now that the EVMD Board has approved the Parks Master Plan, what are the next steps for the West Park design?
A: Yes, we’re pleased to have approved the Parks Master Plan at our March Board meeting, and we were very excited to see the tremendous turnout from across the community for nearly a
year weighing in with ideas for each pocket park. A copy of the master plan and all related information can be found here: https://www.eaglevail.org/Community-Corner/parks-master-plan-information
At last month’s Board meeting, landscape architect, Pedro Campos with Zehren & Assoc., presented – based on all the input – a hybrid design concept for West Park, which was identified
as our highest priority for improvements.
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- The hybrid West Park design meets the three major priorities of the Parks Master Plan and priorities for each of the pocket parks:
- 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.
- American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant access into the community parks and the facilities provided within them.
For next steps, further design work and community input will continue for West Park. As with any project, there are varying opinions for exactly what should take place – for example, should the basketball court become multi-use and allow pickle ball or other sport court activities? That’s an idea – along with other concepts – that we’ll continue to look at before finalization.
With regard to irrigation at West Park, after summer operations have gotten underway, we’ll invite anyone interested to meet with staff and our irrigation consultant as we further explore water efficiencies and cost savings.
We’re also pursuing grant opportunities this year and expect to be under construction in the coming years.
Q: What is the status of the netting project at the driving range along the 19th Fairway Condos property line?
A: Following outreach and safety concerns from 19th Fairway Condo homeowners, at our January Board meeting we asked Rick Phelps to take a second look at the proposed driving
range/practice facility projects recommended by Kevin Atkinson, also a golf course expert consultant, last year.
Rick proposed some slight modifications: extend the netting along the practice area versus west to east across the community garden. This will capture balls that are slicing right and not yet
high off the ground. Second, instead of replacing the 50-foot netting with 100 feet at the 19th Fairway Condos, replacing at 80 feet will be sufficient. Third, relocate the elk sculpture to help
with direction and angles of hitters.
A few community members suggested increased supervision at the practice facility, and/or restricting drivers were answers versus netting. Both of our expert golf consultants responded that
the enhanced netting is what will be most effective for the long-term and thus our Board decision to approve the netting projects.
Q: With the lower holes of the golf course opening April 17, what other updates can you provide?
A: The Board is excited to usher in the 2026 golf season with a new Director of Golf Operations, Mark Sassi. We are grateful to staff for stepping up last summer sharing the many operational
duties when our former director took a new position right before the summer season began.
To add to the netting project discussion above, Mark brings experience managing driving range operations at facilities comparable to EagleVail that face similar challenges. Our golf course
consultants have further suggested we explore a relatively new concept at the driving range called Trackman. This technology can notify golf staff when errant shots leave the range through
geofencing capabilities. Mark has used similar technology to help manage range operations. Mark and his team do plan on having a bigger presence at the practice facility this summer to
continue to make any further improvements reducing the risk of golf balls leaving the range.
Pass sales are well underway; last season we saw around 50% of pass sales going to residents in our community and we are anticipating to see the same response this year. If you are
interested in purchasing a season pass or punch card please visit: https://www.eaglevailgolfclub.com/
Our new fleet of carts will be arriving soon along with upgraded GPS capabilities. We are very excited about offering this upgrade to our passholders and guest.
Q: Last but not least…..here is your FINAL reminder to RSVP for the Second Annual EagleVail & Tell community event!
A: We’ve extended RSVPs by one more day! RSVP to the Second Annual EagleVail & Tell event by April 6 by following this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/second-annual-eaglevail-tell-tickets-1984930510590?aff=oddtdtcreator.
EagleVail & Tell will be held on April 9, 4-6 p.m. at the EagleVail Pavilion, with prizes and free Qdoba buffet. This event provides an opportunity for residents to learn about District activities
in 2026 and explore ways to become more involved. Community updates will include: Wildfire Mitigation, EagleVail Trail Extension, Parks Master Plan/West Park next steps, Water
Conservation, Administrative Information and Golf Operations.