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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.Henry Stein Park.Management Plan Henry Stein Park Management Plan PEN A t i PARKS & RECREATION Original 1972; Amended 1995; 2002; 2005; 2008 Property Description Stein Park is a 1.57 acre parcel within the city limits owned by Aspen Valley Land Trust and managed by the City of Aspen Open Space and Parks Department under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding. Background Stein Park was donated to Aspen Valley Land Trust in 1972 by Henry Stein. After Stein's death, it was discovered that Elizabeth Paepcke owned about 4,000 square feet of the parcel and she quit claimed that part to Aspen Valley Land Trust in 1982. At the time of the original donation, approximately $6,500 was donated for landscaping and improvements. During the early 1990s, Pitkin County made several landscape improvements and paved the parking lot as part of a realignment of Slaughterhouse Bridge. The City of Aspen took over management and maintenance of Stein Park in approximately 1999. In 2002, a public design process for improvements to the Cemetery Lane portion of the Rio Grande Trail resulted in improved bicycle and pedestrian access, as well as landscape improvements to the east end of the park. The City of Aspen conducted a second design process in 2004 and 2005. The parking lot was landscaped and repaved,rafting parking was improved,trail improvements were made and additional trees were added to the park in 2006. Improvements There are two trails, Cemetery Lane along the east side and Rio Grande Trail through the park. The parking lot is bounded by large boulders and pine trees, there are numerous picnic tables along the Roaring Fork River and seasonal port-a-potties at the edge of the parking lot. The Aspen Consolidated Sanitation District, Qwest Communications and Holy Cross Electric System have easements through the parcel. Restrictions/Prohibitions The property is not legally restricted but has been a public park for more than 35 years. Aspen Valley Land Trust has, through management, improvements and decisions, always managed the property as a public park. Management Objectives The City of Aspen maintains and manages Freddie Fischer Park according to the following restrictions: - Open to public access - River access provided for rafting, kayaking and fishing - Permitting and insurance required for commercial rafting access - Maintained picnic tables and trash containers - Maintained restroom facilities in non-winter months - No camping or campfires - Dogs allowed only on leash - Weeds and non-native invasive plants will be managed according to the terms of the City of Aspen weed management plan. - No structures are allowed 2 - The park will be patrolled by City of Aspen parks staff for dogs on-leash enforcement and litter enforcement - Other restrictions as may be required by the City of Aspen Biological Resource Stein Park is one of Aspen's most-used parks and provides a rare easily accessible access to the Roaring Fork River. Pedestrians, cyclists, picnickers, kayakers, rafters, fishermen, cross- country skiers and others uses the trail system and passive park A small irrigation stream crosses the property to the Roaring Fork River, and has created a wetlands area on the west end of the park. River birch, cottonwoods and spruce trees support a number of bird species and small mammals. The park is part of the Stream Health Initiative: Physical Habitat Assessment of the Roaring Fork Watershed, a project sponsored by local governments. Photo Credit:City ofAspen 3