Fruita Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Meeting Called to Order: August 3
rd
2026 @ 5:30pm, Meeting Held at Fruita Public Works Building
Roll Call: Present
• Nathan Darnall
• Steven Sparks
• Hunter McKie
• Keith Baldwin
• Steve Moralez (Parks Liaison)
• Arlene Jackson
• Michael Hughes (Director)
• Ed Pacheco (Fruita PD)
• Lana Mclaughlin
• Hannah Bihr (Parks Liaison)
Not Present:
• Aaron Hancey
Approval Of July Minutes:
• Corrections: Spelling to Steve Moralez, Under First and Fourth Bullet: Steve Sparks should be Steve Moralez.
• Motion with Corrections: Keith Baldwin
• Second: Lana Mclaughlin
• Minutes Pass Unanimously
Public Comment:
• Community Members Present: Drake Bonnell, Taylor Scofield
• No comments or discussion at this time.
City Council Update:
• None
Parks and Recreation Department Update: Steve Moralez, Hannah Bihr and Michael Hughes
• Drone Show: Held August 1
st
. Overall success. Attendance was high.
• Rec Center Construction: Verizon Cell Towers are being upgraded, should end today and equipment removed by
tomorrow, 8/4/26.
• Upstairs Bathroom Renovation: The updates should be done well before the October deadline.
• Fall Program: Will be starting in the next few weeks. Fall/Winter Programs will be released soon.
• Community Garden: Some produce is ready to be harvested. Community members are welcome to stop by and
take what they’d like.
• Staff: Training with shelter-in-place and emergency management has been completed.
• Note on Prospector Park in Comstock Subdivision: Plumbing is being repaired and identified, workers are
friendly.
• River Front Trails: Mile markers are underway from Loma to Las Colonias and should be installed soon.
• Snooks Bottom: Trees were being watered every 3 days, have since moved to every week now that they’re
established.
• Bike Library and Bike Safety Event/Bike Helmet Event: Shelledy Elementary, Saturday August 29
th
, 10:00am to
1:00pm.
Community Feedback: Farmers Market
• Community Center: Several community members requested more lap-lanes or extended hours.
• Status of Grass in Fruita Parks: Civic Center Park grass is wearing thin due to high use. Discussion to potentially
ask the Chamber to move Farmer’s Market to Reed Park or alternate between Civic Center and Reed Park.
Discussion about potentially closing down part of Aspen to keep the Farmer’s Market closer to the businesses
down-town. Salt Wash Soccer Field is turning in to dirt/dust per community member feedback. Fruita will
attempt to get water back to those fields but that has been an effort to reduce water use during drought
conditions.
• Fruita Farmer’s Market Booth Availability: September 19
th
and 26
th
are available.
o September 19
th
: Arlene, Nathan and Keith are available for that booth slot.
Michael Huges: New Director Introductions
• Served in several positions at CMU prior to hiring with the City of Fruita.
• Will look in to moving to Fruita in the future when the right opportunity arises.
E-Bike/Motorcycle Use in Fruita: Ed Pacheco
• Has been an officer for 7 years, has seen a significant increase in use of e-moto/bikes in the city.
• Three Classifications for E-Bikes: All have pedals.
o Class 1: Up to 20MPH, w/ motor less than 750 watt. Pedal assist only (required to pedal). No registration
or license required.
o Class 2: Up to 20MPH, w/ motor at 750 watt. No pedal requirement, throttle will allow you to go w/o
pedaling.
o Class 3: Up to 28MPH, only pedal assist. Not allowed on pedestrian paths/sidewalks.
• Electric Motorcycle:
o On Road: All required to have a license, registration, and are not allowed on pedestrian areas.
o Off Road: Not allowed on roads or pedestrian areas. Designed to be off-road use only.
• Increase of use in area in the last year or so.
• The Police Department is trying to help with education to parents and children on classifications and appropriate
use.
• Use and regulations should be shared with the community. Fruita PD is working with GJPD to align the
communication and ensure a unified message is being shared with the community.
• Fruita PD, GJPD and CSP are looking in to aligning an educational effort to the community prior to enacting a
enforcement side of things.
• E-Scooters: Little regulation on same. Ideal to use the bike lane on the road rather than the sidewalk if they’re
going fast however there is little regulation on same.
• If unsafe behavior is being observed, a call to the non-emergency number is encouraged. If it is significantly
dangerous, use 911 to call it in immediately so Fruita PD can take appropriate, timely action.
Action Items/Topics for Future PARC Meetings To Consider:
• Little Salt Wash Expansion Plans
• Revisit Grand Junction Rec Center Opening: Do we adjust/react to the Grand Junction rec center opening? The
general consensus is the GJ Rec Center likely won’t affect Fruita. This will be monitored.
• Trail Clean-Up: Follow up on the trail sign needing to be installed.
• LAUNCH Project: Possible future concerns with homeless camps in area.
Next Meeting:
• No Meeting in September Due to Labor Day
• Net Meeting: October 5
th
@ 5:30pm, Meet at City Shops
Meeting Adjourned @ 5:32pm
• Motion to Adjourn: Lana Mclaughlin
• Second by: Arlene Jackson