A C o m m u n i t y V i s i o n f o r m o n u m e n t r o A d

Vision Plan Grand Junction, Colorado November 2014

“I grew up in th is area

and chose to remain here

because of the amazing

c o m m u n i t y and

incredible opportunity

for outdoor recreat ion. I

could move my company

anywhere in the country

but the b e a u t i f u l s c e n e r y , great

mountain b ik ing r ight

out my back door, and

other o u t d o o r o p p o r t u n i t i e s

are why my wife and I

dec ided to ra ise our fami ly

here.” - B e n J o h n s o n , P r e s i d e n t , C o l o r a d o C o m p o n e n t s

Page | 3

Few locations in our country offer more incredible scenic beauty, a spectacular National Monument, riverfront paths along one of the West’s most significant rivers, and world renowned trails within only a few miles of a vibrant downtown. The Monument Road corridor that connects downtown Grand Junction to the Colorado National Monument provides tremendous opportunity for expanding safe, accessible, and enjoyable outdoor activities that draw residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds. These connections further promote family activities, healthy and active socializing, and the engagement of our younger generations in nature.

Views of this iconic landscape are one of the Grand Valley’s most critical assets. Hundreds of thousands of people including local, national and international motorists and cyclists, travel Monument Road each year.

ABOVE RIGHT: The Monument Corr idor.Monument Road connects great amenit ies – Down-town, the Riverfront tra i l , Lunch Loop, Colorado Nat ional Monument and neighborhoods. LEFT: The Johnson fami ly. Photo by Cat Mayer.

o n u m e n t R o a d : mQ u a l i t y o f L i f e , H e a l t h y L i f e s t y l e s a n d E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t

Preserving the open experience of this landscape and connecting downtown Grand Junction and neighborhoods with the corridor’s existing outdoor recreation through shared-use paths enhances our quality of life and promotes local economic development.

4 | Page

The open lands along Monument Road have served as a recreational destination since the early 1900s. Today, locals and people from all over the world frequent the Tabeguache/Lunch Loop trail areas. The area continues to grow in popularity, experiencing 125,000 visits in 2013.

From 2011 through 2014 almost 1000 donors joined the Mesa Land Trust in raising $2.4 million to purchase and preserve the Three Sisters and Bookends properties, adding almost 200 acres to the existing Lunch Loop Trail area and preserving critical views and natural areas along Monument Road. These donors included the City of Grand Junction, Great Outdoors Colorado, individuals, businesses, community organizations as well as foundations and trusts from around the state of Colorado.

The overwhelming support for preserving the Three Sisters and Bookends properties, as well as the growing popularity of the area prompted the Mesa Land Trust to ask what other landscapes along Monument Road should be preserved. In 2013, the Land Trust engaged Grand Valley residents in a public Visioning process that recorded the community’s recreation and conservation goals along Monument Road. The Mesa Land Trust has summarized these goals and interests in this publication.

C o m m u n i t y C r e a t e s a V i s i o n f o r M o n u m e n t R o a d

Page | 5

Explor ing

the Monument

Corr idor area by b icyc le has been

a long t ime-honored

t radit ion.

6 | Page

Ca i lan McKim ,

8 years o ld, learns to r ide his new mountain

b ike on one of the f i rst

fami ly f r iendly

tra i ls at Three S isters . His

dad, Chr istopher McKim

stands proudly by,

watching.

Page | 7

We heard tremendous support for protecting the landscapes along Monument Road and for developing the corridor as a natural and recreational economic driver that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.

The participants in this public process included residents who drive along Monument Road every day to and from work, road cyclists who value the open scenery along Monument Road, trail and open space users, local businesses who understand the value of recreation and scenic beauty as an important economic driver, senior residents who used to experience the landscape as the wilderness in their own backyards, Glade Park residents, parents with young children, high school age runners and bikers, retirees, downtown shop and restaurant owners, and more.

The support for protecting and thoughtfully developing lands along Monument Road is demonstrated by three important indicators:

1. The growing number of trail users at the Lunch Loop/Three Sisters trail systems (a fourfold increase in 5 years) and use continues to expand.

2. The enormous community support for purchasing Three Sisters through over 700 financial contributors and significant volunteer support to build and maintain trails and steward the property.

3. The overwhelming participation in this Vision by diverse individuals representing local businesses and industry, the medical community, local government, families, youth, landowners, neighbors, and more.

A C o n s e n s u s E m e r g e s

8 | Page

“We bel ieve at

Alp ine Bank that

support ing

healthy l i festy les and

outdoor recreat ion

creates a s trong and healthy community .”

“We bel ieve at

Alp ine Bank that

support ing

healthy l i festy les and

outdoor recreat ion

creates a strong and healthy community.”

W h a t W e H e a r d :

• P r e s e r v a t i o n o f o u r c u l t u r a l a n d s c e n i c h e r i t a g e .

• I n t e g r i t y W o r k i n g w i t h p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y o w n e r s , p r o v i d i n g i n c e n t i v e b a s e d v o l u n t a r y t o o l s t h a t a c h i e v e l a n d o w n e r g o a l s , r e s p e c t p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y r i g h t s a n d m e e t c o n s e r v a t i o n m i l e s t o n e s .

• R e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o a l l G e n e r a t i o n s E n s u r i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e n j o y a n d r e c r e a t e o u t d o o r s f o r a l l a g e s a n d f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s .

• C o l l a b o r a t i o n W o r k i n g w i t h p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s , p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y o w n e r s a n d p a r t n e r s t o b u i l d a s t r o n g e r a n d h e a l t h i e r c o m m u n i t y .

LEFT: Alpine Bank’s Carolee Hawkins (Public Communications Director) and Clay Tufly (Regional President) celebrating the Bookends acquisition with Colorado Plateau’s Mountain Bike Trail Association’s President, Scott Winans. Page | 9

C o m m u n i t y V a l u e s

10 | Page

Tra i l s and publ ic open space bui ld healthy communit ies by connect ing

people to nature and to each other . They serve as a p lace to gather , soc ia l ize , and enjoy healthy l i festy les . The exper ience of t ravers ing the landscapes a long Monument

Road, e i ther on foot or b ike as generat ions have done before us i s part of our cultura l

her i tage that def ines a way of l i fe in the Grand Val ley. Connect ing with one another in those

natural surroundings and working together to preserve our her i tage s t rengthens our sense of community .

Page | 11

f o u r I n i t i a t i v e s :W h a t W e H e a r d :

i . P r o t e c t m o r e l a n d f o r p u b l i c o p e n s p a c e .

i i . B u i l d m o r e t r a i l s f o r b i k i n g , h i k i n g , a n d w a l k i n g .

i i i . P r e s e r v e v i e w s a n d l a n d s c a p e s .

i V . C o n n e c t b i k e p a t h s , t r a i l s , t h e R i v e r f r o n t T r a i l , d o w n t o w n G r a n d J u n c t i o n , a n d n e i g h b o r h o o d s .

LEFT: The grand opening for the Three Sisters Park and trails drew large crowds of local residents and support-

ers. R IGHT: Marta Morris, Palisade High School junior and Eric Pipkin, Grand Junction High School Senior,

avid riders and competitors out on the Lunch Loop/Three Sisters Trails. Photo by Cat Mayer.

12 | Page

LEFT: Robb Reece, res ident of Grand Junct ion for 20 years , organizes a k ids running group

to get k ids out enjoying the outdoors . Photo by Cat Mayer.RIGHT: David Withers , owner of Desert Rat Tours , takes local k ids and v is i tors mountain b ike r id ing.

i . P r o t e c t . . .More land for public open space.

Local residents define our enviable quality of life in many different ways, including opportunities for easily accessible outdoor recreation.

The ability to walk and bike throughout one’s community and to recreate in safe and accessible outdoor areas raises perceptions of livability and healthy lifestyle opportunities.

i i . B u i l d . . .

More trails for biking, hiking, and walking will expand the capacity of an already popular trail area and preserve the experience of trail users.

The Mesa County Health Department has identified trails as one of five priority areas to improve community health and is currently collaborating with the Mesa Land Trust and other trail based organizations to create safe and accessible opportunities. These opportunitiers are focused on getting people and kids out of cars and reducing barriers to exercise so that they can enjoy fresh air and nature (Healthy Mesa County Initiative, Mesa County Health Department, 2012).

Page | 13

i i i . P r e s e r v e V i e w s a n d L a n d s c a p e s The Monument Road Corridor is the gateway to the Colorado National Monument as well as the scenic viewshed for over 50 miles of trails at Lunch Loop and Three Sisters areas. The spectacular scenery featuring wide open spaces and sandstone canyons continues to inspire locals to preserve views that enhance daily lives, whether recreating or simply driving alongMonument Road. Preserving the wild beauty of these lands is essential for continued visitation to the Monument and enjoyment of those trails.

14 | Page

i V. C o n n e c t . . . bike paths, trails, the Riverfront Trail, downtown Grand Junction, and neighborhoods with a shared-use path accompanied by safe crossings.

Page | 15

Riverside Trail Blue Heron Section

Riverside Trail

Connect to

Connect to ColoradoRiver Trail &Downtown

The Redlands Loop

al

Connect to ColoradoNationMonument

Connect to ColoradoRiver Trail &Downtown

LUNCH LOOP

TRAIL SYSTEM

COLORADONATIONAL

MONUMENT

CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION

TH

TH

LegendStreams

Existing Shared Use PathPotential Shared Use Path

Bureau of Land Management

National ParkService

USA Federal Lands

City of Grand Junction Property

±

Trailhead

Monument RoadS. Camp Road

S. Broadway

S. Rim Drive

0 0.5 10.25 Miles

Audobon Trail

LAND MANAGEMENTBUREAU OF

Tabeguache

“A Redlands Loop”... Imagine riding your bike or walking along a loop made possible by a Monument Road path connection.

16 | Page

I m p l e m e n t a t i o n a n d a C a l l T o A c t i o n

Through the Vision for Monument Road, the community has voiced a mandate to protect views, preserve open space, and enhance trail and path connectivity. To make this Vision a reality:

1. The Mesa Land Trust will:

• Identify willing landowners and developers who are interested in strategizing about protecting view sheds, maximizing trail connectivity and open space.

• Provide landowners and developers incentives to meet the community’s vision.

• Partner with developers and other private property owners to achieve development, recreation, and conservation goals.

2. The Mesa Land Trust will partner with local government and other entities to:

• Continue to invest in land and trail right-of-way acquisitions along Monument Road.

• Assist in determining a long term financing strategy for path connectivity and public open space development.

• Assess the public benefit of expanding trail areas and providing improvements to City owned properties along Monument Road.

• Recognize Monument Road’s trail infrastructure and connectivity as a critical draw for tourism and a professional workforce for the Grand Valley.

3. As a community, we need to envision walkable and bikeable landscapes along Monument Road, invest our time and resources in support of active outdoor lifestyles, and support preserving the views that are important to us and our future generations.

Page | 17

“ W e o w e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e L u n c h L o o p a n d T h r e e S i s t e r s t r a i l s y s t e m s t o t h e a m a z i n g c o m m u n i t y o f m o u n t a i n b i k e r s , t r a i l b u i l d e r s , a n d t r a i l a d v o c a t e s . ” - M e s a L a n d T r u s tABOVE: David L iv ingston, Hi l l top Youth Crew; Chr is P ipkin, BLM; Kr ist ina K i tt leson, COPMOBA S ingle Track S isters ; Dave Grossman, Grand Val ley Tra i ls A l l iance; Steve Goodnight , Endohol ic and tra i l volunteer; John Howe, Endohol ic and tra i l volunteer; Jen Taylor-Muhr, COPMOBA and volunteer extraordinaire; Chr is Muhr, COPMOBA. Photo by Cat Mayer.

18 | Page

R o l e o f t h e M e s a L a n d T r u s t

Since 1980 the Mesa Land Trust has collaborated with landowners to support our community through preserving local agriculture and ranch lands, protecting wildlife habitat, and promoting scenic public open space. This Community Vision for Monument Road provides overarching goals that the Mesa Land Trust will help achieve over time. The acquisition of the Three Sisters and the Bookends properties garnered tremendous support and represent critical first steps in implementing the Monument Road Vision. The Mesa Land Trust will continue to pursue the community’s Vision by advocating for land protection with our City’s and County’s elected officials, working collaboratively with landowners and developers, facilitating land acquisition and trail design, and encouraging community collaboration that maximizes impact.

P r e s e r v i n g H e r i t a g e a n d G r o w i n g D r e a m s In just over 3 years, the Mesa Land Trust has spearheaded two separate capital campaigns to raise over 2.3 million to protect almost 200 acres of pristine landscape along Monument Road that has become accessible public open space, enjoyed by many. In 2012, the Mesa Land Trust purchased the Three Sisters, in 2014 the Land Trust purchased the Bookends.

Today these three parcels form the Three Sisters Park, public land owned by the City of Grand Junction with conservation easements that ensure the land will forever serve the public for trail based recreation.

Page | 19

“ W e a t G r a n d J u n c t i o n S u b a r u a r e p r o u d s u p p o r t e r s o f c o n s e r v e d l a n d s c a p e s a n d t r a i l s t h a t a r e s o i m p o r t a n t t o o u r c u s t o m e r s . ”

- R o n B u b a r , O w n e r o f G r a n d J u n c t i o n S u b a r u w i t h D r . B i l l F i n d l a y a n d w i f e J a n e , a v i d t r a i l u s e r s o n t h e T h r e e S i s t e r s a n d L u n c h L o o p t r a i l s .

20 | Page

N o w i s t h e t i m e t o p r e s e r v e o u r v i e w s , o u r l a n d s , o u r w a y o f l i f e .

This Vision was supported by the Gates Family Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado

and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

S u p p o r t t h e V i s i o n !

G A T E S F A M I L Y F O U N D A T I O N