This month the City of Cortez is looking back on the history of its parks. KSJD’s Austin Cope sat down with Chris Burkett. Burkett served as Cortez Parks and Recreation director between 1978 and 2006, and now directs grants and special projects for the City. To start their interview, Austin asked him how the corner of Mildred and Main Street--near the Colorado Welcome Center--looked in 1978.
From Prairie Dog Towns to Duck Ponds: Former Cortez Parks Director Looks Back 30 Years
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The Cortez City Park Complex in 1993, before construction of Parque de Vida and the Cortez Recreation Center. Click "View Slideshow" to see more images of the City Parks complex.
U.S. Geological Survey / via Google Earth
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One of the biggest changes to the City Parks Complex was the construciton of Parque de Vida at the end of the 1990s. This 2000 image shows the newly-constructed park, with an overlay of existing structures
City of Cortez GIS Department
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This overlay from the City of Cortez GIS Department shows an overlay of existing structures on top of imagery from 1995
City of Cortez GIS Department
