IT WAS A MUSICAL ‘MARADE’ at Colfax & York on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 19, as it is most every year as spectators gather to beat drums & play other percussion instruments to encourage the marchers. The annual walk to Civic Center was made more pleasant by almost balmy weather this year. PHOTO BY JEFF HERSCH

■ Special off-leash tags & fee, use of City Park & increased enforcement recommended

BY RORY SEEBER

The Parks & Recreation Department presented a draft of its Dog Park Master Plan & Policy Recommendations for Denver Parks at two open houses last month. The plan, in development since June, was created by a Dog Park Task Force consisting of an internal Parks & Rec committee with input from an “external” or stakeholders’ committee.
    The open houses were held Jan. 16 at Scheitler Recreation Center in Berkeley Park, 46th & Sheridan, and Cook Park Recreation Center, Monaco & Florida, Jan. 30 (after deadline).

The primary recommendation calls for upgrades to five existing dog park facilities, improving staffing levels and enforcement, establishing a volunteer partnership organization, and eventually adding new facilities and services, including the use of off-leash areas in City Park.

■ Outdoor film festival to be staged in Civic Center Park for 30 consecutive nights

BY RORY SEEBER

City Council has approved a contract with Massachusetts-based US OpenAir (USOA) to present paid-admission movies in Civic Center Park for 30 consecutive evenings this summer and a similar period in City Park the following two years.
    The approval came with an 8-4 vote Jan. 19 after an approximately 90-minute public hearing followed by about two hours of discussion. Council representatives Jeanne Faatz (District 2), Doug Linkhart (At-Large), Paul López (3) and Judy Montero (9) voted against the contract. District 6 Councilman Charlie Brown was absent.
    Seventy people signed up to testify at the hearing, but only about half of them were able to do so in the time-limited courtesy hearing. Council president and District 10 representative Jeanne Robb noted that 31 people signed up to talk in favor of the ordinance while 39 opposed it.

■ Recommendation concerning Admission-Based Special Events Policy to be made at February meeting

BY RORY SEEBER

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) discussed the proposed Admission-Based Special Events Policy (ABSEP) Jan. 14 in preparation for a vote on the policy at its Feb. 11 meeting. The board will make its recommendation to Parks & Rec manager Kevin Patterson at that gathering, set for 6 pm at Bogey’s Restaurant, 26th & York at the City Park Golf Course.

   The PRAB held a public hearing on the matter at its December meeting. The proposed policy was developed by a public/private task force over more than a year’s time.

    Supporters of the policy say that park events which charge admission could help to “activate” the city’s parks, specifically pointing out Civic Center Park, Colfax & Broadway. They also note that the city could earn funds from such events through the Seat Tax and permit fees, which could help Parks & Rec retain the current level of parks management and maintenance during the current budget difficulties.