Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)

Rifle Parks & Recreation Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING AGENDA July 13, 2026 5:30 PM 202 Railroad Avenue, Rifle, CO 81650 5:30 PM - Workshop Meeting Discussion and Review a. Strategic Planning Discussion 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comment *(Maximum time permitted for Public Comment is 3 minutes per person) *(Reserved for general comments or items on the agenda that are not a public hearing) 4. Consent Agenda 4.a. Consider Minutes of the June 08, 2026 Regular Meeting 5. Administrative Reports 6. Adjournment ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT The City of Rifle values full inclusion and access for all of our facilities, programs, activities and services. We are pleased to provide meaningful accommodations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and reasonably provide translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids, and services. To request special assistance, call Parks & Recreation Director Austin Rickstrew at 970-665-6578 or email our ADA Team at ADATeam@rifleco.org. Please allow 48 hours for your requests to be met. La Ciudad de Rifle valora la plena inclusión y acceso para todas nuestras instalaciones, programas, actividades y servicios. Nos complace proporcionar alojamientos significativos para cumplir con la Ley de Estados Unidos con Discapacidades (ADA) y proporcionar razonablemente traducciónes, interpretaciónes, modificaciones, adaptaciones, formatos alternativos, ayudas auxiliares y servicios. Para solicitar asistencia especial, llame al Director de Parques y Recreacion Austin Rickstrew al 970- 665-6478 o envíe un correo electrónico a el equipo ADA a ADATeam@rifleco.org. Por favor, permita 48 horas para que se atiendan sus solicitudes. Page 1 of 19  CITY OF RIFLE AGENDA ITEM REPORT MEETING DATE: July 13, 2026 Agenda Item #a. Agenda Item Name: Strategic Planning Discussion Presenter: Item Description: Recommended Action: Fiscal Impact: Operational Impact: Prior Board Motions: Background Information: Executive Summary: Notification Requirements: Prepared By: Sarah Stubbs, Senior Administrative Specialist Attachments: 1. 4.15.25 Parks Projects List 2. Strategic Plan 2025-2026 Page 2 of 19 Year: 2007 2011 2012 2012 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 Page 3 of 19 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Item: Constructed picnic shelters at Davidson Park. Completed Centennial Park Phase I, Spray Park, Amphitheater, picnic shelters, Sun dial, shade structures, Great Upgraded Bowl, trail, pump playground station surfacing and turf atand Arnold landscaping. Park. Upgraded surfacing at Moki Park. Completed construction of new concession stand, press box, bleachers, dugouts, planter boxes and concrete Installed parking plaza improvements lot at lighting Cooper at Field Deerfield at Park. Deerfield Park. Construct Morrow trail. Constructed soccer pitch/turf area with RE-2 at Wamsley Elementary. Construct Rifle Creek trail segment-11th Street to City Market. Construct boat ramp and trail. Upgraded playground surface at Heinze Park playground. Upgraded playground surface at Deerfield Park playground. Replaced roof on Heinze gazebo. Installed Bleachers at Taughenbaugh field. (Now Skinner Field -- 2019) Installed Playground at Centennial Park. Painted Pickle Ball Court at Tennis Courts. Refurbished and re-dedicated Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Memorial at Heinze Park. Installed drinking fountain at Centennial Park. Replaced Davidson Park fence Added basketball court at Palomino Park Completed RMP map Rifle Climber’s Coalition installed signs at RMP Replaced DRP basketball court lighting GOCO Grant Award $217,500 for Aquatic Play Structure and shade shelter Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District (GCFMLD) Grant Awarded- $500,000 for Art Dague Pool Renovation Installed Scoreboard Project at RMS Auxiliary Gym Off Grid Solar upgrades at RMP host cabin/office.-- supports I.T. improvements and internet and staff/PD communications Construct Rifle Pool Renovation Project; New Lap lane pool, zero depth entry pool, improvements to catch pool, remodel bathhouse, improved concessions, changing rooms, concessions. Safety Fencing at Joyce Park Playground and Palomino Park Basektball Courts, vehicle gates installed at Parks Facility.Park/Pool Parking lot was repaired, crack sealed, seal-coated, and re striped prior to the opening of the Metro new pool Page 4 of 19  Addendum 1: Approximate Timeline--Parks Projects Updated March 15, 2025 *Costs shown may be actual/current, or are rough estimates for future projects. Except for the pool project, no dollars have been invested in planning or design for refined estimates. Year/ 2025 Time #NAME? Priority priority Frame Location Item Estimated/Cost Notes: Completed/other 2027-2028 Rifle Creek Trail Add trail lighting/street lighting $ 85,000.00 (TBD) All Parks Security Cameras $ - I.T. planning, --Prioritize Parks, long term-phase (Comes out of IT budget GRANT $ 2027-2028 Centennial Park Complete Cent Park-Remove Solar,Install Hard wired LED Trail Lights/north end, lights on south end $ 85,000.00 Safety Concern--Estimates are being sought (TBD) Colorado River (Rifle Island Park) Master Planning $ - GRANT $ - Part of POST Master Plan Council '19 GRANT $ 2027-2028 Community Parks, Open Space and Trails Master Plan Master Plan All Park locations $ 300,000.00 (TBD) Davidson Park Parking Lot Replacement $ 100,000.00 2029-2031 Deerfield Park Compete DFP Covered dugouts on all fields $ 800,000.00 Skinner, Roan, Graham, Bookcliff, and Hogback 2025-2030 Deerfield Park Chainlink Fence Replacement Project $ 100,000.00 2025-2030 Deerfield Park Baseball/Softball Field Renovations $ 200,000.00 Five Fields 2026-2030 Deerfield Park Musco LED Retrofit Project $ 700,000.00 2030-2031 Deerfield Park Playground Replacement $ 200,000.00 2026-2027 Deerfield Park Skinner/Graham Concession Area Upgrades $ 65,000.00 Concrete under Pavillion/ADA Access to Pavillion (TBD) Field House/Community Center - Construction Build Field House/Community Center $ 44,500,000.00 Fort Morgan bulit in 2021 for 9.3 Million Field House/Community Center - Design/Construction (TBD) Documents Design and Construction Documents $ 1,200,000.00 2027-2030 Metro Park Replace Picnic Shelter/Tennis Courts $ 400,000.00 GRANT $ 2029-2030 Metro Park Pump Track and Expand Skate Park $ 1,000,000.00 (TBD) Metro Park Re-Plan the Metro Park Area $ - This could be combined with POST Master Plan GRANT $ (TBD) Metro Park Determine use of Dirt Jump Area $ - Target what community wants within survey. Could Fit in the POST Master Plan 2026 Palomino Park Shade Structure $ 60,000.00 2027-2028 Rifle Metro Pool New slide $ 300,000.00 2028-2029 Rifle Metro Pool Resurface Leisure Pool $ 100,000.00 2030-2032 Rifle Metro Pool Resurface Comp Pool $ 150,000.00 2026 Rifle Mountain Park Replace chinking on Community House $ 25,000.00 2026-2030 Rifle Mountain Park Master Plan - Build Out $ 2,500,000.00 Theming, landscape, screening between campsites 2026-2028 Rifle Mountain Park Clean up RMP Dead Trees $ 150,000.00 Partner with CSU Extention and Colorado State Forest Service/BLM Total Amount $ 52,935,000.00 Page 5 of 19  COMPLETED PROJECTS Location Item Estimated/Cost Notes: Completed: Metro Action Park Action Park Lights Repaired/ Replaced $ 58,000.00 2016 Deerfield Park Fun timbers, ewf playground upgrades $ 4,500.00 2016 Heinze Park Gazebo Roof Replacement $ 8,000.00 architectural shingles 2016 Centennial Park Playground equipment $ 375,000.00 Donations, CTF, CHF, Rotary, VIF, Private Donors 2017 Art Dague Pool Concept & Schematic design $ 71,396.98 Complete in 2017 pending election 2017 Taughenbaugh Softball Field (Skinner Field 2019) Elevated Bleacher System $ 78,000.00 & host RHS lady Bears Softball 2017 Art Dague Pool Engage Const Manager as Advisor, PVCMI $ 82,000.00 Per Council Recommendation- 2017, continued 2018+ Art Dague Pool CM-GC Pre-Construction Services $ 21,900.00 FCI part 1 agreement 2018 Art Dague Pool DD, CD, Const. Admin fee $ 283,185.00 Jeff Johnson Architectural engaged as of May 2, 2018 2018 Palomino Park Added basketball court and new Bison Goals $ 14,000.00 fall 2018 2018 Davidson Park South Fence replaced with vinyl clad c-link $ 6,264.00 spring/summer 2018 Rifle Middle School, Re-2 IGA Scoreboard in auxiliary gym $ 7,032.00 late 2018 2018 Deerfield Park Replace Basketball Court light poles, lights $ 5,668.56 2018 Joyce Park Swings, fun timbers, fall zone $ 8,000.00 Swings, fun timbers, fall zone 2020 Metro Park Crack fill and sealcoat following pool construction $ 15,976.00 Crack fill and sealcoat following pool construction 2020 Joyce Park Safety fence at playground. $ 11,000.00 Safety fence at playground. 2020 Palomino Park Safety fence for basketball court, along 24th $ 5,500.00 Safety fence for basketball court, along 24th 2020 Skinner Field Concession Complete DFP Upgrade Skinner Concessions $ 1,000.00 Complete DFP Upgrade Skinner Concessions 2022 Promontory Park Plan/ Design Promontory Park $ 105,000.00 Plan/ Design Promontory Park 2022 Metro Park Look into Field House, Gym Multi-purpose? $9.3 Million/Ft. Morg Look into Field House, Gym Multi-purpose? 2022 Deerfield Park Upgrade Basketball Court Surface $ 18,076.00 Upgrade Basketball Court Surface 2018 Metro Pool Completed Pool $ 6,067,996.00 Skinner Field Light Replacement $352,443 Old lights failed in 2022 2023 Skinner Field Safety Fence $33,840 Request from community/council to update safety fencing 2023 All Fields Bleacher Replacement $43,576 CIRSA Reccomendation 2023 Skinner Field Concession Seal and Paint Concession/Restroom exterior $9,000 2023 Grotto Dog Park $140,000 Paid for in part by CVT Funds 2023 Moki Park Replace Playground Per Insurance Recommendation $ 150,000.00 2024 Arnold Park Replace Playground Per Insurance Recommendation $ 150,000.00 2024 Deerfield Park Complete DFP Parking Lot Islands $ 100,000.00 2024 Community Survey 2024 (5 year intvl) Community Survey 2024 (5 year intvl) $ 17,000.00 2024 Metro Park Remove Concession/Storage Area $ 1,500.00 2024 Birch Park Construction $ 4,600,000.00 GOCO $800K LWCF $1.25M Penny Tax 2026 Deerfield Park Sidewalk & DFP Trail $ 65,000.00 O&M 2026 Fieldhouse / Rec Center Feasability Study $ 93,639.90 2026 South Rifle Master Plan $ 49,922.00 DHM Design 2026 $ 13,053,415.44 Page 6 of 19  City of Rifle Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan 2025-2026 Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Adoption: Facilitator: Austin Rickstrew PRAB Adoption: February 10, 2025 Page 7 of 19 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 3 Mission ........................................................................................................................... 3 Vision ............................................................................................................................. 3 Values............................................................................................................................. 3 Goals .............................................................................................................................. 4 Goal 1: Promote a healthy lifestyle through year-round recreational and leisure opportunities. ............................................................................................................. 5 Goal 2: Work to maintain, complete, landscape, and beautify all parks. .................... 5 Goal 3: Continue investment of park and recreation funds for recreation programs, parks, trails, open space, indoor and outdoor facilities, operations, maintenance, equipment, and reserves. .......................................................................................... 7 Goal 4: Provide optimal workspace for efficient operations. ....................................... 7 Goal 5: Build/maintain relationships and collaborate with outside organizations. ....... 7 Next Steps...................................................................................................................... 8 Appendix A – Beliefs..................................................................................................... 9 Appendix B – Strategic Planning Participants ......................................................... 10 2 Page 8 of 19 Executive Summary Strategic planning is a process for clarifying the aspirations of a Board and Staff. It establishes goals to be met and identifies broad strategies to achieve them. Everything that happens in an organization is driven by its values. These are the principles and beliefs that explain why the organization exists. Values define the goals and boundaries of behavior for the board, staff, and volunteers in their interactions with each other, with clients, and with the community. Values are the things we believe are important. Values govern the way we behave, communicate, and interact with others. Values help us determine our priorities. Values are a small set of general guiding principles not to be compromised for short-term financial gain or expediency. Below are the values the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and Staff set forth. Mission The mission is a summary of the means that the organization will employ to achieve its vision. The mission statement answers the question, “Why do we exist?” “To put forth the highest level of parks, programs, facilities, and services necessary, to establish Rifle as the premier recreational community on the Western Slope.” Vision The vision is a picture of the future state of the community we serve as a result of our work. Our vision statement is our destination. “We strive to enrich lives through quality parks, programs, facilities, and services.” Values When an organization’s values appear as guiding principles, a code of conduct, or a culture code that explains how the organization intends to operate in accordance with those values, a values statement makes a promise. Complimentary to the City’s values, Parks & Recreation has identified additional values that guide how they provide services. 3 Page 9 of 19 City of Rifle Parks & Recreation Values ▪ Integrity ▪ Community ▪ Collaboration ▪ Safety ▪ Leadership ▪ Positive Attitude City of Rifle Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan Values The City of Rifle Parks & Recreation’s vision is to be nimble, responsive, and innovative in serving our community. Goals Promote healthy lifestyle through year-round recreational and leisure opportunities. Complete, landscape and beautify all parks. Continue investment of park and recreation programs, parks, trails, open space, indoor & outdoor facilities, maintenance, equipment, and reserves. Provide optimal work space, resources, and staff support for efficient operations. Build/maintain relationships and collorbrate with outside organizations 4 Page 10 of 19 Goal 1: Promote a healthy lifestyle through year-round recreational and leisure opportunities. Strategy #1: Develop Recreational Programs (dependent on community needs and availability of funding) Action Steps 1. Identify opportunities to increase activities, either upon request or as opportunities are made available. 2. Implement year-round opportunities for public recreational activities. 3. Study opportunities for new recreational and leisure activities. Strategy #2: Improve Rifle Mountain Park Action Steps 1. Repair and maintain the Community House. 2. Use the Department of Corrections, Boy Scouts, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, and volunteers to work at RMP. 3. Identify programs and activities that better utilize Rifle Mountain Park. 4. Improve parking in RMP (Follow Master Plan). 5. Add Information Center (Bulletin Board) in RMP to advertise things that are happening in town. Goal 2: Work to maintain, complete, landscape, and beautify all parks. Strategy #1: Increase funding for parks through grants and donations. Consider funding for ongoing maintenance costs. Action Steps 1. Identify potential grant opportunities. 2. Secure other funding opportunities. 3. Review and expand business advertising and collaboration opportunities. (Baseball/Softball Field Score Boards) 4. Develop a list of all known Parks Capital Projects. 5. Prioritize projects with estimated timelines. (Refer to Addendum 1) 5 Page 11 of 19 6. Collaborate with the State and Federal Forest Service to help with trees. (Deadfall and wildfire mitigation) Strategy #2: Implement a list of known projects based on appropriated funds Action Steps 1. Prioritize Projects with estimated timeline. 2. Use completed master plans to phase projects. 3. Seek grant funding opportunities. Strategy #3: Create a unified approach – theme to beautify City Parks Action Steps 1. Uniform signage and planned themes. 2. Translate signs to Spanish. (Physical or QR Code) 3. Community Master Plan. 4. Adopt a Trail Program (this is newly fully implemented) Strategy #4: Deter Vandalism in City Parks Action Steps 1. Keep trash picked up. 2. Cover up vandalism within 24 hours. 3. Develop a program collaborating with community resources to deter and clean up graffiti. a. Use lighting as a deterrent. Remove solar and replace with LEDs at Centennial and add lights going south to 3rd street. b. Explore alternative measures such as security cameras. c. Work with Rifle Police Department. d. Increase and maintain security. 6 Page 12 of 19 Goal 3: Continue investment of park and recreation funds for recreation programs, parks, trails, open space, indoor and outdoor facilities, operations, maintenance, equipment, and reserves. Strategy #1: Conduct Strategic Planning quarterly. Action Steps 1. Review Strategic Plan quarterly. 2. Develop a five-year plan. 3. Conduct a community survey every five years. (2029) 4. Develop a capital reserve and investment strategy. 5. Coordinate with the City Planning Department for trail development. Goal 4: Provide optimal workspace for efficient operations. Strategy #1: Identify opportunities for Parks & Recreation Department workspace. Action Steps 1. Evaluate the current work area and provide a work area to meet staff needs (i.e., privacy, line of sight for supervision, proximity to work groups). 2. Identify adequate storage for equipment and supplies (present and future). 3. Evaluate opportunities for expansion in existing facilities. 4. Build Field House (5-10 Year Plan). Goal 5: Build/maintain relationships and collaborate with outside organizations. Strategy #1: Partner with other organizations. Action Steps 1. Continue to collaborate and maintain relationships with existing partners. a. RE-2 School District b. Rifle Climbing Coalition c. Forest Service 7 Page 13 of 19  2. Identify and build new relationships with community partners. a. RAMBO b. Colorado Outfitters Association 3. Identify and partner with Private Business a. Market Vendor Application Better Strategy #2: Evaluate the Marketing Plan Action Steps 1. Evaluate and maintain current marketing strategies 2. Review Marketing Plan Next Steps ▪ Update Strategic Plan annually. ▪ Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and Staff review and approve the document. ▪ Participate in City Strategic Planning Process. ▪ Review quarterly. 8 Page 14 of 19 Appendix A – Beliefs Beliefs are convictions that we generally hold to be true, usually without actual proof or evidence. Beliefs grow from what we see, hear, experience, read and think about. ▪ Parks and recreational activities foster human development, promote health and wellness, strengthen community image and sense of place, efficiently utilize resources, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, develop and cultivate partnership, support economic development, protect environmental resources, develop and empower staff, and increase cultural unity. ▪ Recreational activities should develop one physically, socially, and emotionally by enhancing athletic, cultural, and life skills. ▪ Programs should adapt to changing needs, age, and culture of the community. ▪ Participation in programs enhances one’s education, promotes sportsmanship, advocacy, inclusiveness, and develops good citizenship, and overall well-being. ▪ A variety of recreational opportunities should be available to everyone. ▪ Amenities should meet the needs of a diverse population by providing a safe, clean, affordable, well-balanced, educational, wholesome, enjoyable, and rewarding experience. ▪ Investments in parks maintenance and improvements provide dividends that enhance the quality of life, property values, and the community’s self-perception. ▪ Recreational activities enhance the quality of life in Rifle. ▪ Operations should be efficient, maintaining the facilities we currently have before building new facilities. ▪ Support high quality youth and adult programs through collaborative efforts. 9 Page 15 of 19 Appendix B – Strategic Planning Participants Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: − Annie MacGregor Board Member/Chairman − Aaron Cumming Board Member/Vice Chairman − Ken Blatter Board Member/Secretary − Jens Smith Board Member − John Douglas Board Member − Betsey Seymour Board Member − Kirsten Clancy Board Member − Ari Philipson Board Member − Chris Bornholdt Council Liason Parks & Recreation Staff: − Austin Rickstrew Parks & Recreation Director − Kim Arnold Parks & Recreation Administrative Assistant − Matt Rowe Recreation Program Manager − Keith Gray Parks & Facilities Maintenance Manager − Kyle Mills Recreation Coordinator − Taylor Walters Recreation Coordinator − James Magnuson Parks Maintenance Worker − Jon Hutchinson Parks Maintenance Worker − David Lowery Grounds & Facilities, Building Maintenance, Cemetery Supervisor 10 Page 16 of 19  CITY OF RIFLE AGENDA ITEM REPORT MEETING DATE: July 13, 2026 Agenda Item #4.a. Agenda Item Name: Consider Minutes of the June 08, 2026 Regular Meeting Presenter: Sarah Stubbs, Senior Administrative Specialist Item Description: Consider Minutes of the June 08, 2026 Regular Meeting Recommended Action: Move to approve the minutes of the June 8th, 2026 Regular Meeting Fiscal Impact: N/A Operational Impact: N/A Prior Board Motions: N/A Background Information: N/A Executive Summary: Consider Minutes of the June 08, 2026 Regular Meeting Notification Requirements: N/A Prepared By: Sarah Stubbs, Senior Administrative Specialist Attachments: 1. 06-08-2026 PRAB DRAFT Minutes Page 17 of 19  RIFLE PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING June 08, 2026 5:30 p.m. 202 Railroad Avenue Rifle, CO The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Annie MacGregor. Roll Call Members Present YES NO Ken Blatter X Kirsten Clancy X Aaron Cumming X John Douglas X Annie MacGregor X Betsey Seymour X Ari Philipson X Marisa Skajewski X Staff Present: Austin Rickstrew, Matt Rowe, Sarah Stubbs, Keith Gray, Brandon Steele Public Comment • Comments heard from Annie MacGregor and John Douglas. Consent Agenda • Consider the minutes of the May 11th meeting. o Ari Philipson moved to approve the minutes of the May 11th, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Regular Meeting; seconded by Aaron Cummings. Unanimous approval. Presentation 5.a. South Rifle Master Plan Meg Robie and Jeremy Allinson from DHM Design presented the South Rifle Master Plan. After working with stakeholders, local trail builders, and a disc golf club, finishing elements were added to the plan. Cost analysis for each trail was reflected based on required development methods. Phased planning has been integrated and was reflected on the map in color coded zones and a phasing column. Phases are based on community need priorities. Each amenity was broken down in a cost estimate table which included an annual maintenance cost for each amenity. Funding strategies through possible grants was presented in a “grant stacking” format, utilizing the master plan as the roadmap for grants. A list of funding sources was also included. Comments were heard from Annie MacGregor, Ari Philipson, and Betsey Seymour. Rifle Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting June 08, 2026 1 Page 18 of 19 5.b. Rifle Creek Restoration Conceptual Design Presentation Alex Heller and Jason Careby from River Restoration ORG presented the conceptual design to improve access to Rifle Creek via the Rifle Creek Trail through Centennial Park. Current conditions of the creek do not allow for easy accessibility to the creek. The report consisted of current access hazards, hydrology studies of existing bridges, and public survey results that gauged the needs of the community. Visual mockups were presented of possible improvements in different areas of the park. Comments were heard from Annie MacGregor 5.c. Garfield County Outdoor Presentation Scott Partan, the Program Director for Garfield County Outdoors, gave a presentation with general information for Garfield County Outdoors. They are a Generation Wild community coalition that encourages outdoor recreation for youth and families in the community, funded by lottery sales in the state of Colorado. Their service area consists of communities from Battlement Mesa to New Castle and includes partnerships with Garfield County RE2 and RE16 School Districts, CU Extension Office, New Castle Recreation, GOCO, CMC, and CPW. Garfield County Outdoors is currently seeking more partnerships and discussed possible collaboration for youth and adult recreation programs in the future. Comments heard from Annie MacGregor, Regular Agenda 6.a. Review and Discuss the Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan The strategic plan from 2025 was included in the packet, but discussion on this item has been moved to the workshop in July. Administrative Reports 7.a. 2027 Budget Update Austin let the board know the department has begun working on the 2027 budget. 7.b. Fieldhouse / Activity Center Feasibility Study The Fieldhouse study was presented to City Council at their regular meeting on June 3rd. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Annie MacGregor at 6:49 PM. Rifle Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting June 08, 2026 2 Page 19 of 19