Today I am sad and a bit angry. In 1995, the ranger here in Mancos called me and asked if I would come to town to help raise money to build a trail behind the school, between the football field and the river.
We started the Riverwalk with 90 percent of the work done by Bill Ivy of the U.S. Forest Service. The Baptist Church hauled many truckloads of trash, rocks and dirt. And Doc Patton and the Mancos Valley Association (predecessor to the Mancos Chamber of Commerce) helped.
Rob Wilson told me he had cut a path along the river. But this was going to be much wider, covered with fine gravel and wheelchair accessible. We built benches, and installed them. I was asked to raise money, but “Please don’t ask this certain man, as he is very grouchy.” Then one day he came to the office, and I was introduced to him. I smiled, and of course asked if he would like to donate to the river walk. He took out his checkbook: “How much do you need?” So much for “grouchy”!
We contacted the school leadership team. The boy who was the leader was enthusiastic and arranged entertainment by several classes as well as a parade down the walk with a bagpiper leading and 125 people following. (He is now a minister, married and several kids.) A teacher printed T-shirts for all. Greg Cummings was the artist and drew a kid fishing in the river.
In the next six years, I more or less cared for the area – raking, pulling weeds, etc. But I wanted the school to do some of the work, since the land belonged to them and, after some years of hassle, Superintendent Brian Hanson thankfully took over.
Hanson designed a class called The Riverwalk, and I got to work with the teacher. It was lots of fun and very successful. The trail never looked so clean and neat. We were given logs to make an outdoor classroom along the trail, available for any teacher who wanted to use it. Dee Booton, the MVA president, arranged for us to attend a presentation of award certifications. We went to Denver for the ceremony. The award hangs on the fence now, by the entrance.
However, during the Library Races this year, I walked along the Riverwalk and was shocked over the condition – and very sad. All throughout the walk were huge weeds with bright yellow flowers. The town is working to upgrade and beautify with the Mancos Creative District efforts, and the Riverwalk needs some help.
Is anybody willing and able? It was good for the town then and could be again.
