A look back at Basalt history

Two years ago July 14, 2016, the Aspen Times ran a headline titled “$8 million plan unveiled for Basalt river park.” Making 2 grass acres out of the field of dirt was at the heart of the proposal. The $8 million astronomical cost figures were a manufactured propaganda effort by the town and some others to scare voters, so they would not purchase the river park in the bond election scheduled to be held four months out in November so the developer holding the option would remain in control. After the propaganda had the desired effect and the bond to buy the park failed, Council members Mark Kittle and Jennifer Riffle convinced the council to landscape the 1 acre that the town owned. They got the work done for the sum of $275,000. You read that correctly.

Mark Kwiecienski

Basalt