CREATE and ReCREATE Community 2026

In our little town, in our big valley and in recent memory we have begun to take recreation for granted. Maybe it is a passive thing- that we are spectators in our community, fans of hometown teams, politicizing our public schools and school boards, not good enough to be artists or writers, singers or dancers, too old to walk, take the bus or plan a trip, or too strapped to launch a product, sevice or endeavor. I tell my friends that "the essence of creating is recreating." When you put the R-E in front of the word you begin to see the thing you are focusing on with new eyes! That happened to me last week when I met with the longtime President of the board at Valley Parks and Recreation in Westcliffe, Colorado. "The board is made up of me. I often call a meeting between myself and me!" To be fair there were three members of Parks and Recreation up until recently. One is in Assisted Living, and the other suddenly passed away. You start loosing a sense of purpose when you come at something after great loss. And there are expectations of either renewal or surrender.

History and Vision

In 1996, I was the Director of Youth and Adult Programs at Valley Park and Recreation. At the time, Stan and Irene Francis ran the Old Westcliffe School House Historic Museum and home to Valley Parks Recreation and Youth Center. It is a beautiful structure beside the town of Westcliffe Park. Not that long ago the park had Tuesday and Thursday for men and women. Local businesses sponsored and often played in the very well organized ALL Generation League. Women on Tuesday and Men on Thursday, under the lights and with the old schoolhouse looking on. Soccer fields were added, and tennis courts in the extension across the Hermit Road. A group of mothers got a grant to upgrade the playground. A Christian School leases the Schoolhouse from Labor Day to Memorial Day. A Jazz Festival was an annual end of summer event. The schoolhouse was used as a greenroom and an occasional workshop. "People get old, young ones leave, people die," says a friend. "With it they take their ideas, their programs and their organizations."

Structure-Restructure

Valley Parks and Recreation operates a 501C-3 for siloed organizations such as Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, FlingGolf, and the Christian School. "The Bi-Laws state that it is managed by the board. The Board consists of a President, Treasuer, and Secretary. That can be changed and ammended by the new board." The current President tells me. In 1974 the Custer County School District gave Valley Parks and Recreation a 99 year lease on the Old Schoolhouse. When I met with Marci, she was about to tell the schoolboard that the organization was done. And then I raised my hand. "The essence of structure is restructure." And so, Marci will stay on. I will then fill Board Positions from Community Members, Recreational Leaders, Educational Leaders, Arts and Media Leaders, Transportation Leaders, and Entrepreneurial Leaders.

Renew and Rekindle

In our hour radius from the Valley, there are the communities of Walsenburg, Buela, Pueblo, Pueblo West, Canon City, Salida, and Buenea Vista. Each location has a Parks and Recreation. While we do not have a Golf Course, there are six in the radius. I am meeting with all the Park and Recreation Directors and Art Centers to form a network. In addition I will be meeting with educators of the Emergent Schools from Pueblo Community College which has degree programs for High School, Homeschool and young adults.

Revival in Our Human Resources

Most small towns are facing economic, ecological and educational challenges for many reasons. And yet, online education with a community campus through entreprenuership is what renews the soul and the spirit of community. A Home-Work-School-Community is in reach for everyone with an entreprenuerial mindset. In the coming years, as it is with corporate America, the need for housing and converting office space in the city is a well documented need. In rural America, farms, ranches, mixed use, galleries and studios, products, services and endeavors are needed to sustain a Main Street Economy. Most of that will come from within. While tourism is great, we need to make it worth the next generation's purpose to pass on the value of CREATE Daily. While I a taking the role of President of Valley Parks and Recreation, I continue to serve the state as President of the Colorado Chapter of the Leadon Family Foundation, to Create Community, Recreation, Education, Arts and Media, Travel and Transportation, and Entreprenership. CREATE Cafe's are the catalyst in Thinking and Action.

To find out membership benefits or to book a CREATE Cafe in your community email RichardBeattie809@gmail.com.