JACKASS HILL

Other public commenters expressed speci c concerns about aspects of the concept site design, including distaste for the concrete paths, native plants, and concern about the placement of the nature play area near South Prince Street.

Chris Hancock, who said she has had to call the police on people driving in the park, said she hoped the nature play area would not be included.

“Where it’s located right along Prince Street, I think that’s a dangerous spot,” she said. “And I don’t think play area was a high priority item from the surveys that were done.”

She also expressed concern that additional native plants would not be maintained well if they were added to the park.

Her husband, Andy Hancock, said the plan seems to have gotten bigger than it needed to be, when citizens only wanted to address public safety, the setback on the west side of the park and drainage.

“ ose were the three main issues that we asked to be addressed and it kind of morphed into this big plan,” he said. “I just wanted you to be aware that, in my opinion, most of the public comment was to leave it essentially as it is.”

Equity of park investments

Iftin Abshir, the nal public commenter of the evening, asked council to consider whether investing in Jackass Hill Park was an equitable decision.

“I want to request that you to take a moment to pause and consider why some neighborhoods’ parks in Littleton are more deserving of this equitable access to nature than others,” she said. “Is it money? Voter turnout? Education levels? I’m not going to speculate, but the di erence in response is glaring.”

Before council voted, Rydin expressed a similar concern. She said she was not comfortable supporting the resolution without an equity strategy that outlines how the city chooses where to put their park investments.

“We really do need to be talking about equity across the board in our resource allocation, and that includes our park strategy,” she said.

“Until I see that strategy and we have that discussion, I’m not comfortable rubber stamping this.”

District 3 Councilmember Stephen

The Jackass Hill site concept plan presented at the Feb. 28 city council study session.

Barr said the proposed plan includes the elements that he wants to see in increasing equitable park access throughout the city’s portfolio of open space. at said, he agreed that thinking about investment equity should be “front and center” in council’s core mission.

Public Works Director Keith Reester said the city is actively working towards involving equity in more decisions regarding open spaces. He added that he does not think investing in Jackass Hill Park would take funds away from supporting other Littleton parks.

Mayor Kyle Schlachter added that the city has invested in several other parks in recent years, including Ida Park, Promise Park and Berry Park.

To the more speci c design concerns, Reester said city sta will work with SSPRD and the consulting rm to incorporate community suggestions.

“As we get into that construction design phase, that’s when a lot of these suggestions will be vetted out in how they t into the plan,” he said.

Community members can submit additional comments at https:// gameplan.ssprd.org/jackasshill-park-site-plan?tool=news_ feed#tool_tab. SSPRD will have public comment at an upcoming board meeting on the topic and will make the nal decision in adoption of the site plan.

If South Suburban adopts the plan, they will begin to develop construction drawings to be completed in 2023.