The Board of the Estes Park School District R-3 will discuss a land-exchange proposal from the Town of Estes Park during its Aug. 12 regular work session. The Town, seeking a location for a new police facility, approached the district to inquire about the possibility of a land exchange.
The Town proposes an acre-to-acre exchange, offering the School District a 3-acre parcel on the north edge of the campus. A portion of the parcel is occupied by the District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) building, and is secured by a lease through 2044. As proposed, the District would transfer 3 acres at the southwest corner of its property known as “top field.” The Town views this potential exchange as an opportunity for both partners to address community needs while significantly improving police response time to the school campus.
In the spring, the School District initiated a long-range planning committee which is an advisory committee consisting of 15 parents, community members, and district staff to review the aging buildings in combination with other district data to suggest areas of focus for the district’s facilities into the future. The Estes Park School District Long-Range Planning Committee recommended a strategic focus on improving facility utilization, exploring innovative academic programming, and developing partnerships and shared-cost opportunities ensuring financial sustainability to meet the district’s evolving needs at the April Board of Education meeting. Their vision prioritizes community partnerships and long-term planning to support student success…