Oxbow Preserve to Expand

The city of Durango has announced the completion of the acquisition of about 50 acres in the Oxbow Preserve area. There's a new push to help local grain producers learn more about their craft, thanks to the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. And the design phase of a project to improve ADA accessibility along North Main, will begin this fall. You're watching the "Local News Roundup", brought to you by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Tafoya Barrett and Associates. I'm Connor Shreve. A property donation 16 years in the making was completed with the finalization of a land donation of nearly 50 acres of Animas Greenway next to Oxbow Preserve. The donation from Bill and Maddy Waters will provide additional land to the region and will be commemorated with a memorial placed on the property before it's open to public access. The city will begin a public process to determine the best management for the land. It will remain closed until then. The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs is offering three classes as part of its online grain school this winter and spring. The courses offer a deep dive into the wide array of grains through the lenses of crop science, nutrition, and community. Topics will include ancient grain pathways from grain handling and processing, including milling and malting, to the hands-on application including making pizza, pasta and protein bowls. The UN has named 2023 the year of the millet. To celebrate, all three classes will include millet. From farming to processing, nutrition and health and culinary uses. The three classes will be Farming and Processing, Health and Nutrition and Community. You can take one class for $150 or all three for $400. Scholarships are available for Colorado farmers, as well as grain-focused businesses. Visit the Colorado Grain Chain website to pre-register and apply for scholarships. The City of Durango has begun the design phase of ADA improvements along Highway 550 between 17th Street and Animas View Drive. The project will address deficiencies at 17 transit stops including sidewalk improvements and accessibility improvements adjacent to transit stops, upgrades to current ADA ramps and the installation of new ramps. Other improvements will include transit shelters, expanded landing pads, lighting, and bike racks where possible, public meetings for the process will begin this fall and the design phase is expected to be completed in early 2024, with construction beginning shortly thereafter. Funding for the project comes from two Senate bills, which pay for four and a half million dollars of design and construction. The remaining project costs of over $1 million come from the 2015 half-cent sales and used tax fund. You can learn more about these and other stories online at durangolocal.news. Thanks for watching this edition of the "Local News Roundup." I'm Connor Shreve.