Durango Mesa Park Trails Close to Completion

Centura Health is now Common Spirit joining 20 other hospitals coming under the umbrella organization that now spans 24 states. Fort Lewis College and the La Plata Economic Development Alliance have announced a new program, Project Run, designed to provide certifications for high priority jobs. Trails in the Horse Gulch and Durango Mesa system are nearing completion as part of the Durango Mesa Park Foundation. And inflate your inner tubes, find your paddles, and pack your life jacket. Float to Work day is this Friday. You're watching the local news Roundup, brought to you by Sky Ute Casino, and Kroegers Ace Hardware. I'm Wendy Graham-Settle. Mercy Hospital is one of 20 hospitals across Colorado, Utah, and Kansas that are now Common Spirit, one of the founding organizations of Centra Health. Common Spirit is a nonprofit health system spanning 24 states, and pledges to bring the same level of care to Mercy and other former Centura Health locations. The consolidation under the Common Spirit name will enable the continuation of care to rural communities, expanded clinical care, and the pursuit of new health solutions, according to a press release from Common Spirit. As of now, there are no planned changes for current Centura health patients. All insurance and doctors under Centura Health will be transferred to Common Spirit. Fort Lewis College and the La Plata Economic Development Alliance have announced a new partnership for a professional certification program. Project Rural Upskill Network, or 'Project Run' is aimed at bolstering the local workforce through micro certifications identified as a need in the community. Certifications will target the top requested jobs and positions in the Durango and La Plata County region. According to the regional task force analysis done by the Alliance between January, 2021 and October, 2022, some of the occupations in the top 10 are positions such as registered nurses, administrative assistants, retail representatives, and more. Project run received a $1.2 million seed grant through Opportunity Now Colorado, a program that funds innovative solutions to address Colorado's workforce needs. Durango might soon be home to the largest municipal bike park in the US with the upcoming completion of seven miles of new bike trails in Horse Gulch. The trails are part of a demonstration project between the city of Durango and the Durango Mesa Park Foundation set to open this fall. The moniker given by the exercise site, Strava, highlights the publicly owned park compared to comparably sized parks that are privately owned. The trails to be included include three multi-use trails from Horse Gulch to Durango Mesa Park, a connection trail from Telegraph Trail, three directional downhill trails, and an intermediate downhill trail. The trails sit mostly on 245 acres sold to the city by the Durango Mesa Park Foundation in June, 2021 as part of the Durango Mesa area Master Plan. There's bike to work, walk to work, and take transit to work, and in Durango, there's float to work. Come join the fun this Friday, August 18th, and float the Animus River on your way to work. Leave the car at home and instead take your paddleboard, kayak, tube, or reserve a seat on a guided rafter ducky by emailing Get Around Durango for the third annual float to Workday. Join the fund between seven and 9:00 AM as folks float from Memorial Park to Schneider Park. Durango Transit will provide free transportation between the two, and participants are highly encouraged to take advantage of carpooling, walking, or biking to the float spots. Make sure to pack a helmet and personal flotation device or rent one for the day from any of the local outdoor recreation stores. Learn more about these and other stories online at DurangoLocal.News. Thank you for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup. I'm Wendy Graham-Settle.