As the May 5, 2020, election approaches, South Metro Land Conservancy asked the three candidates for the two seats on the Board of Directors of the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District to answer some questions about open space, access to natural areas, water management, and other issues. Here's the response from candidate Ken Lucas.
1.One of SSPRD’s four guiding Principles is, “Connect with Nature.” The 2017 Master Plan highlights a number “Potential Steps” to achieve this principle. Please tell us your thoughts about all or some of the “Potential Steps” highlighted in the document.
I have read in detail the SSPRD Master Plan and the District’s three-year operating budget. But given the current state of significant COVID-19 financial impacts, these documents will both have to be revised. The current board and staff are working diligently to determine which projects can be moved forward and what service levels will be sustainable for the foreseeable future.
Having said this, if elected to the board, I will continue to take steps to improve access to nature for residents of all ages, seeking to overcome the challenges of incorporating the new best practices of social distancing and wearing masks, so all of us can safely continue to spend time maintaining our health and enjoying nature.
I will also encourage looking for opportunities to acquire and provide more green spaces throughout our south metro area, utilizing ecologically sound management practices when the timing is appropriate.
I will continue efforts to identify and implement water and energy efficiency improvements to help parkland and facilities meet or exceed industry and peer standards that lead to sustainability.
2. What specific ways can SSPRD inspire community members, especially youth, to get outdoors and enjoy nature?
It’s my opinion that playground renewal stimulates interest in local communities to use their neighborhood parks and trails. In addition, a wide array of youth, individual, family, and older active adult outings and programs are offered throughout the District to connect community members to nature during all hours of the day and in all seasons.
Because I was the Centennial City Council liaison to SSPRD, I am very familiar with all of the collaboration that occurs between SSPRD and its local partners. Centennial and SSPRD have been joint partners on many projects in the past, and as a South Suburban board member, I will work with the new Centennial City Council liaison to continue the success of our shared partnerships. In addition, I believe multi-purpose field improvements shared by both entities are important, but because they can be expensive and because of the near-future financial challenges, some may have to be rescheduled where possible.
I can’t over emphasize that with the COVID pandemic and resulting financial challenges, at this point we are in new territory. We don’t know when the current COVID pandemic will be eliminated in the near-term, or whether it will return in the months or years ahead. For this reason, we can’t predict how fully open the District’s recreation centers and other facilities will be in the near and long term, or how safe all of our residents will feel in using them if they are open. Or as importantly, when all group events and sports be again be allowed and fully embraced by our residents of all ages, as has always been the case in years past. Therefore, we must preserve, maintain, and add to our open spaces as much as is financially feasible, knowing that most residents feel a much greater level of safety in being able to maintain healthy distances in these open lands.
1.One of SSPRD’s four guiding Principles is, “Connect with Nature.” The 2017 Master Plan highlights a number “Potential Steps” to achieve this principle. Please tell us your thoughts about all or some of the “Potential Steps” highlighted in the document.
I have read in detail the SSPRD Master Plan and the District’s three-year operating budget. But given the current state of significant COVID-19 financial impacts, these documents will both have to be revised. The current board and staff are working diligently to determine which projects can be moved forward and what service levels will be sustainable for the foreseeable future.
Having said this, if elected to the board, I will continue to take steps to improve access to nature for residents of all ages, seeking to overcome the challenges of incorporating the new best practices of social distancing and wearing masks, so all of us can safely continue to spend time maintaining our health and enjoying nature.
I will also encourage looking for opportunities to acquire and provide more green spaces throughout our south metro area, utilizing ecologically sound management practices when the timing is appropriate.
I will continue efforts to identify and implement water and energy efficiency improvements to help parkland and facilities meet or exceed industry and peer standards that lead to sustainability.
2. What specific ways can SSPRD inspire community members, especially youth, to get outdoors and enjoy nature?
It’s my opinion that playground renewal stimulates interest in local communities to use their neighborhood parks and trails. In addition, a wide array of youth, individual, family, and older active adult outings and programs are offered throughout the District to connect community members to nature during all hours of the day and in all seasons.
Because I was the Centennial City Council liaison to SSPRD, I am very familiar with all of the collaboration that occurs between SSPRD and its local partners. Centennial and SSPRD have been joint partners on many projects in the past, and as a South Suburban board member, I will work with the new Centennial City Council liaison to continue the success of our shared partnerships. In addition, I believe multi-purpose field improvements shared by both entities are important, but because they can be expensive and because of the near-future financial challenges, some may have to be rescheduled where possible.
I can’t over emphasize that with the COVID pandemic and resulting financial challenges, at this point we are in new territory. We don’t know when the current COVID pandemic will be eliminated in the near-term, or whether it will return in the months or years ahead. For this reason, we can’t predict how fully open the District’s recreation centers and other facilities will be in the near and long term, or how safe all of our residents will feel in using them if they are open. Or as importantly, when all group events and sports be again be allowed and fully embraced by our residents of all ages, as has always been the case in years past. Therefore, we must preserve, maintain, and add to our open spaces as much as is financially feasible, knowing that most residents feel a much greater level of safety in being able to maintain healthy distances in these open lands.
3. Another SSPRD guiding principle is “Lead Sustainability”. This principle stresses identifying and implementing water efficiency improvements. What are your thoughts about the potential steps identified to accomplish water efficiency? Water quality is only generally referred to in the document; what are your thoughts regarding SSPRD as a steward of water quality?
I believe that my experiences in working collaboratively with SSPRD and the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA) and as a Mile High Flood District board member over the years have both given me a unique perspective on current methods and practices that these partners work towards in making improvements to greater water project sustainability., My experience and knowledge will also be of value in identifying new projects, while being mindful in creating water efficiency from all resources.
4. The South Platte Working Group,(SPWG) of which SSPRD and SMLC are both members, is deeply committed to enhancing the Platte River corridor. One way to accomplish this is to expand connectivity of parks, trails and places that people need to travel in order to meet the needs of their everyday lives. Tell us any thoughts you may have about the Working Group’s activities relative to connectivity.
Since 2006, the South Platte Working Group (SPWG) has procured more than $50 million from a variety of funding sources to purchase, conserve, enhance, and expand the properties and user experiences along the South Platte River corridor in Arapahoe County. In partnership with SSPRD, a number of new bridges have been added to the trail systems feeding into the South Platte River corridor, and trail accessibility, quality, and connectivity have been significantly improved. Currently, the SPWG has completed, or is in the process of completing, more than 20 projects of significant size. I anticipate that due to COVID-caused financial impacts, the SPWG will have to revisit its budgets and service levels. But as future budgets allow, trail connectivity will continue to be of utmost importance in the years to come by all partners of the SPWG, including SSPRD.
If voters elect me to the SSPRD Board of Directors, I will collaborate with the SSPWG and other existing partners to coordinate and improve any efficiencies that we can find, given the current financial and social circumstances. I will also continue to foster and improve SSPRD’s working relations with both SPWG and the High Line Canal Working Group.
5. Please share any additional thoughts you have about preserving open spaces and natural areas in our community.
All of our special districts and communities are currently in distress, and each is grappling with very difficult decisions regarding impending and significant budget cuts, staff layoffs, and the unfamiliar future that lies ahead. I believe that my extensive financial and public management experience can contribute to this process in preserving our open spaces and natural areas and returning SSPRD to its full good health in the time ahead. This will then allow us to maximize our working relationships with the South Metro Land Conservancy and all other entities that are dedicated to acquiring and preserving open space in our south metro area.
I believe that my experiences in working collaboratively with SSPRD and the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA) and as a Mile High Flood District board member over the years have both given me a unique perspective on current methods and practices that these partners work towards in making improvements to greater water project sustainability., My experience and knowledge will also be of value in identifying new projects, while being mindful in creating water efficiency from all resources.
4. The South Platte Working Group,(SPWG) of which SSPRD and SMLC are both members, is deeply committed to enhancing the Platte River corridor. One way to accomplish this is to expand connectivity of parks, trails and places that people need to travel in order to meet the needs of their everyday lives. Tell us any thoughts you may have about the Working Group’s activities relative to connectivity.
Since 2006, the South Platte Working Group (SPWG) has procured more than $50 million from a variety of funding sources to purchase, conserve, enhance, and expand the properties and user experiences along the South Platte River corridor in Arapahoe County. In partnership with SSPRD, a number of new bridges have been added to the trail systems feeding into the South Platte River corridor, and trail accessibility, quality, and connectivity have been significantly improved. Currently, the SPWG has completed, or is in the process of completing, more than 20 projects of significant size. I anticipate that due to COVID-caused financial impacts, the SPWG will have to revisit its budgets and service levels. But as future budgets allow, trail connectivity will continue to be of utmost importance in the years to come by all partners of the SPWG, including SSPRD.
If voters elect me to the SSPRD Board of Directors, I will collaborate with the SSPWG and other existing partners to coordinate and improve any efficiencies that we can find, given the current financial and social circumstances. I will also continue to foster and improve SSPRD’s working relations with both SPWG and the High Line Canal Working Group.
5. Please share any additional thoughts you have about preserving open spaces and natural areas in our community.
All of our special districts and communities are currently in distress, and each is grappling with very difficult decisions regarding impending and significant budget cuts, staff layoffs, and the unfamiliar future that lies ahead. I believe that my extensive financial and public management experience can contribute to this process in preserving our open spaces and natural areas and returning SSPRD to its full good health in the time ahead. This will then allow us to maximize our working relationships with the South Metro Land Conservancy and all other entities that are dedicated to acquiring and preserving open space in our south metro area.
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