Hasn’t Estes Park heard the phrase “perception is reality” the Estesparkian thinks it should be our town slogan. In Estes Park a poster with that phrase should appear everywhere for every Estes Park citizen to be reminded of everyday - all day.
A community with only one source of income. Estes Park has no manufacturing, no light industry, no major transportation hub (airport, rail, interstate freeway) no major recreational complex, no central cultural theme (Santa Fe, Cody Wyoming, Vail all have a purpose). 60% to 70% of the income that fuels the operation of our community is all in one tiny little basket - for a tiny amount of time. Other people’s perception of our community is paramount to our existence. Our town planning operations, zoning, land use and codes must reflect our relationship to our geographic location. Anyone who would be brazen enough to claim our community has been and is currently on track, with an adequate administrative tool kit necessary to meet our obligations, without need of major change, need to get familiarized with the phrase “perception is reality”.
With the election drawing ever closer do we need the same rhetoric about; we have this in place, we are on top of it, the status quo has worked, etc. Or are we in serious need of some serious change. The Estesparkian believes the later.
To prove our point we want to dust off this little gem of an article that we brought to your attention last summer. Published in the National Geographic Traveler Magazine; rating all of the gateway communities across Canada and the United States. This was a polling of over three hundred travel writers and various professionals. You tell me Estes Park is the American and international traveler going to believe a local trustee/trustee candidate or a poll of over three hundred travel writers and professionals who expressed their opinions in a national publication?
Rocky Mountain National Park, COLORADO
Score 56
"Attempts to better-manage traffic flow to and from Bear Lake are critical to protecting the high country landscape, but will quieter and less-polluting shuttles or masses of cars dominate the road after reconstruction?
"Estes Park, of course, continues to exemplify what gateway communities should avoid."
"Another crowded, well-loved park that tells the story of its physical grandeur with minor attention to the peoples who once inhabited it."
"Neighboring communities are becoming overcrowded and geared mainly to serving the tourist trade. This is robbing them of their authentic character."
"The National Parks Conservation Association's State of the Park assessment shows that the park's top predators are gone, which has led to very high elk populations and overgrazing of certain plant communities important to beaver and other species. Decades of fire suppression have caused a great increase in fuel loads. Nonnative species edge out many native species. Visibility in the park is somewhat impaired 90 percent of the time, although views still can be dramatic."
Now I’m no scientist or travel writer for that matter, but if three hundred doctors suggested that a tumor should be removed wouldn’t you take steps to remove the tumor?
“Avoid” is not a vowel you want attached to a description of your community, if you want travelers to come to your community and spend money, that is. I looked it up
some synonyms for avoid are; keep away from, stay away from, shun, steer clear of, let alone, pass up, evade, and circumvent.
The travel writers went on to say:
19. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
(score 56)
“Deep blue glacial lakes and majestic mountain views” in a “totally overstressed park”. “Traffic, condo developments, and noise around the sappy tourist town of Estes Park lessons appeal.”
Sounds a lot like a “blight” area doesn’t it? Have we become a blight on Rocky Mountain National Park? That is the perception of three hundred travel writers and scientists. These articles speak directly to our leadership and the lack of competent stewardship of Estes Park.
Could you really blame the State of Colorado if they blighted the whole town, leveled it and bused travelers up from Loveland? Colorado tourism is a 7 billion dollar a year industry, one little statutory town that gives the States number one source of income a negative perception would have to be dealt with wouldn’t you think?
Is our “authentic character” always been hucksters on the side of the road selling sappy stuff?
Did our leaders mobilize the community to address this perception? Nah, your elected leaders were to busy selling the condos they just funded and buying sappy tourist stuff for the new visitor’s center, representing the “authentic character” of the town.
I guess perception in this case would be reality.
