Vail names skate park for local youth, reviews body cameras

Board: Vail Town Council, May 3 afternoon and evening meetings.

Present: Greg Moffet, Jenn Bruno, Kim Langmaid, Jen Mason, Dick Cleveland, Mayor Dave Chapin.

Absent: Kevin Foley.

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Issue: A name for town’s new skate park.

How they voted: 6-0 to approve.

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Who they talked to: Vail Capital Projects Manager Todd Oppenheimer.

What they talked about: The initial idea for the town’s new, permanent skate park — in particular, locating the park between the north and south structures of the Lionshead parking structure — came from Cameron Chaney, who was then a freshman at the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy. That idea led to a formal design by a California-based company. The $1.5 million skate park will open this year.

Chaney, whose family has since moved from the valley, asked that the skate park be named for Zeke M. Pierce, a friend and classmate who died in a 2013 mountain biking accident.

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Council members agreed.

What’s next: Get the boards ready.

Issue: Council members in the afternoon took a visit to the site of the new Vail Golf Club. Returning to town hall, members said the new clubhouse will be a great improvement during the 1970s-vintage structure it’s replacing.

What’s next: The new facility should be open in September of this year.

Issue: Body cameras for police officers.

Who they talked to: Vail Police Commander Daric Harvey.

What they talked about: Harvey at the afternoon meeting told council members which cameras were tested by officers over the past several months. Using that research, as well as reviewing body-camera policies in other cities, Harvey said a policy has been written and all officers will soon be camera equipped.

What’s next: Smile …

Issue: The town of Vail’s 50th anniversary.

Who they talked to: Public information officer Suzanne Silverthorn.

What they talked about: The Vail community started out as little more than a few buildings at the base of a new ski mountain. Less than four years after the first season, the small community took the legal steps to become a town. The 50th anniversary of that rolls around this year.

Silverthorn and council members talked about what that celebration might look like and where it might be. Current thinking has a stand-alone celebration on an afternoon in August. In addition, there will be school civic projects, a library exhibit and employee recognitions.

There should be some small-item giveaways, but council members seemed to nix the idea of giving out tote bags.

What’s next: Watch this space.