EPRD board begins wrestling with survey data

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Evergreen Park & Recreation District board has its work cut out for it as board members sift through results of a survey on what constituents want.

Board members on May 9 heard initial results of a statistically signi cant survey as they decide what projects they want to complete in the next three to ve years as part of a strategic planning process. e board will take into consideration what constituents want, what it can a ord and partnerships with other organizations.

Board members have been discussing whether to ask voters to increase property taxes in November to pay for projects or to ask voters to continue paying the same amount of property taxes after a bond is paid o in 2025.

e survey results show that constituents want the rec district to make improvements to the Wulf Recreation Center because they nd the building and its programs valuable, and they are interested in more aquatics, pickleball and tennis courts, another gymnasium and more community gathering space. If the district created an o -leash dog park, respondents said they wanted a large one rather than a small one, though not everyone who answered the survey felt Evergreen needed a dog park. e survey also shows that respondents want the district to purchase more land. e rec district sent postcards to 11,214 residents and 580 completed them, which is considered a strong response and statistically signi cant with answers plus or minus 4 percent at the 95% con dence level. Of the respondents, 43% were men, 55% were women and 2% indicated other. Of those who responded, 50% were between the ages of 55 and 74, which is similar to the demographics of the area. e entire survey-results presentation is available on the Evergreen Park & Recreation District website, evergreenrecreation.com. e board will meet again at 6 p.m. May 23 to continue moving through the decision-making process.

Board members plan to do a deeper diver into these areas to nd out more about construction and maintenance costs.

Chris Dropinski, senior manager with BerryDunn Inc., the company the rec district hired to create the strategic plan, said the board has a lot of information to weigh as it looks to create the plan.

It is important for the board to look at more than the survey results, but also information gathered at discovery sessions, online meetings, youth comments, sta input and more to see what projects and programs consistently rise to the top, she said. Plus the board is getting information about district facilities and a cost analysis for maintenance and new facilities.

Board member Betsy Hays told BerryDunn representatives that the board wanted the consultants to bring forward projects and programs that keep bubbling to the top from the majority of sources. Conversely, the board wants to know whether there are no clear frontrunners.

“We can’t build a gym and a new aquatics facility given the budget and what has happened historically when we have asked for money,” board member Peter Eggers said, alluding to the failed bond ask in 2018. “Where are those limits and what is practical in terms of what we feel we can ask for from the community.”