The Battlement Mesa Activity Center, the "BMAC," will begin 2013 with a new name.  Effective January 1, 2013 the 53,000
sq. ft. facility which we all know as the "BMAC" will become the Grand Valley Recreation Center, "GVRC."

Not to worry!  Despite the name change, you will be greeted by the same friendly and capable staff providing the quality services that you have enjoyed in the past and can expect in the future.  In fact, Anne Huber, Director of the center has emphasized that if you notice changes, it will be positive change.  

The center will continue to be owned and operated by the Battlement Mesa Metro District.  The BMMD Board of Directors voted to change the name to Grand Valley Recreation Center to more properly reflect the area that is served by the center.

One of the absolutely positive changes to the center is already occurring:  The center is getting a new roof over the pool area.  Funding for the new roof was provided by a grant from the Federal Mineral Lease District.    

West Parachute, Exit 72

The long hoped for and badly needed Exit 72 is now open.  The official Grand Opening was held on October 31st but, in truth, the project was not quite completed. 

Exit 72 was a dream come true for many in the community.  One resident stated that he no longer says things "won't happen in my lifetime" because I was proven wrong by the construction of the West Parachute interchange.

Many thought the exit was unlikely, at best, and, if built it would be decades from now.  Despite the difficulty of the task many supporters "shouldered on" and were able to craft a partnership for the funding of the $12 million project that has already eased congestion at the main I-70 Parachute interchange.  Additionally, Exit 72 provides an important new access to the Parachute business park.

 

To view some of the Grand Opening Ceremony, click  on the images below. 
 

I 70's New Exit 72, Parachute, CO 10 3112 1

I 70's New Exit 72, Parachute, CO 10 31 12 2

In addition to the receiving over $10,000 from the September 29, 2012 2nd Annual Common Ground Community Golf Classic, the Parachute-Battlement Mesa Parks District was awarded a $350,000 Federal Mineral Lease District grant.   

The new Community Park will be built on a 6.15 acre parcel adjacent to the Grand Valley Middle School.  The "park parcel" was part of the approximately 35 acres that the District acquired from Battlement Mesa Company in 2007 in order to build the new school.  As part of the transfer, Garfield County School District No. 16 provided a Public Park Easement on 6.15 acres of the approximately 35 acre tract.  As a result of the easement, the 6 acres can only be used for a public park.

The Community Park project is a joint effort between the Parachute-Battlement Mesa Parks District, Common Ground, Battlement Mesa Company and the Battlement Mesa Service Association.

Over the course of the past year, the park's sponsors conducted an extensive survey of what the community wanted in their new park then worked with Connect One Design to create and evaluate three different designs for the park.  After gathering public input at three public meetings, the sponsors approved a final project design for the 6.15 acre park.  Click Here to view the latest Park Master Plan.  Click Here to view the Park Play Area Enlargement. 

In a Park Project presentation to Garfield County's Board of County Commissioners, Mary Anderson, Director of the Parks District, stated that the groups objective is to develop a park that is complementary to rather than duplicates the existing park facilities.

Jerry Mohrlang, a Common Ground leader and dedicated Community Park volunteer readily admits that the $350,000 Federal Mineral Lease District grant isn't enough funding to build the entire park which is expected to cost about $2,8 million.  Nevertheless, Jerry and other are optimistic that additional sources of funding can be secured for the park.  

Construction on the park is expected to begin in the Spring of 2013 and will consist of multiple construction phases.  Actual completion of the multi-use Community Park substantially depends on how soon additional funding can be arranged.

The BMSA has approved the 2013 budget which projects total operating expenditures at $910,000.  Of this total $195,500 will fund administrative expenses, $418, 400 will fund landscape maintenance expenses, $122,500 will fund street/bike path maintenance and $173,600 will fund trash services expenses.   The $296/$148 per year HOA assessment rates are unchanged from 2012. 

The three primary sources of the $910,000 of revenue are from a) $299,580 in common assessment (what each of us pay in HOA fees), b) $382,520 in developer common assessment (what Battlement Mesa Company pays in HOA fees and c) $147,700 from the trash assessment (collected from individuals who receive trash services from the BMSA).  The remaining $80,200 in revenues comes from various sources including a Comcast franchise fee and donations.  

In previous years, the BMSA held a Community Meeting to review the new budget, recap the current year's activities and answer questions from Members.  Due to the low meeting attendence since the meeting was moved from March back to December, the BMSA board of directors has decided to delay the meeting until early 2013 in hopes that more people will be able to attend.

The board of directors of KSUN, 103.9 FM would like to thank everyone that attended this important fundraiser.

This year's Gala featuring great food, music and dancing was held on Saturday, December 1st at the BMAC.  Funds raised by the Gala are critical to the continued operation of our non-profit FM station.  If you missed the Gala but still want to contribute funds, please contact Anne Huber or Mary Lee Mohrlang.