Open space wildland parks

I totally love the idea of greenbelts and open space parks. These undeveloped wildland-like areas are used to separate cities - and neighborhoods within cities, from each other so they don't grow together into one giant sprawling city like Southern California. Oregon has used this to great success. It was also used on the Front Range and now Denver and Colorado Springs will never grow together.

Open spaces also serve recreational purposes such as hiking, cycling, nature trails, etc without carving up the land into picnic areas, athletic fields and playgrounds. Which brings me to something I've been wanting to address for some time.

The City of Grand Junction wants to develop Machett Park into athletic fields, picnic areas, playgrounds. They should reconsider. For one the north end of town already has two large parks with these facilities in Canyon View and Long's parks. Yes, I know Long's is a county Park, but it still serves the people in the same way.

An area of town that is in greater need of athletic fields and playgrounds is the south side of town. Matchett meanwhile should be preserved as an open space style wildlands park for the entire Grand Valley community to get out and enjoy nature without having to drive far away.