Big changes ahead for Woodland Park
“The City Above the Clouds” is preparing for a period of new leadership starting next year.
On Thursday, David Buttery, Woodland Park’s city manager for the past 10 years and a city employee for 20 years, announced his retirement effective in April.
“He’s accomplished a lot,” said Mayor Neil Levy. “He’ll be hard to replace. We’ll do a national search. We’ll have a big pool of applicants because this is a great place to live.”
Also next spring, the town will have an election for mayor and three seats on the City Council; Levy said he and at least one council incumbent are seeking re-election.
Under Buttery’s tenure, Woodland Park started or completed several major projects, including a renovation of Memorial Park, the opening of the Woodland Aquatic Center and the construction of a new hotel that will be the town’s largest.
But critics say Buttery was too fond of big-budget projects and too willing to award city construction bids to out-of-state contractors.
Some residents also don’t like the controversy surrounding admission prices for the aquatic center and the proposal to build a ranch-style entertainment venue on the north side of town.
“The aquatic center is our crown jewel,” Levy said. “I don’t know if the venue is going to happen. There was strong opposition to it at a meeting this summer.”
Population growth, economic development and congestion along U.S. 24 are three issues new leaders must not overlook, he said.
“If the people elect a new mayor and City Council, there could be quite a change in leadership and direction,” Levy said. “Who knows how that will turn out?”
Margo and Brent Hill have lived in Woodland Park for nine years and look forward to what the future brings.
“There have been a couple of hiccups that we know of, with the aquatics center and the downtown development area,” said Margo Hill. “Promises that didn’t turn out the way they said they would turn out. And so, transparency is what I look for in the future.”
Her husband wants a friendlier business climate.
“We hear a lot of times where businesses try to start up here, and it’s a little more difficult — whether it be taxes or permitting,” he said.
The Hills said whomever is in town leadership, they want Woodland Park to remain true to one of its slogans as a great place to live.
With a few new additions, though.
“It would be cool if we had a Chipotle and a bowling alley,” the Hills said.
