Carbondale staff on Thursday presented a schematic master plan for Chalkos Park that centers a raised, pedestrian‑first "lunar" street and a redesigned water play area while identifying phased work and funding sources for construction documents and early buildout.

The plan, described by a town staff member as a concept that "feels pedestrian and bike first versus vehicle first," shows a single‑level pedestrian platform for part of Fourth Street, bollards and multiple treated crossing zones to slow traffic, relocated water play elements and added planting pockets intended to increase canopy and event space.

Staff said the town has money in the current year’s budget to produce shovel‑ready construction documents and that undergrounding overhead power lines is the first phase. The town has issued an RFP to Xcel for undergrounding work. Staff also said the town applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for roughly $1 million but was unsuccessful; that grant required a 100% match. Officials said they plan to pursue other grant sources, including a GOCO community impact grant, and to leverage remaining local budget funds.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about accessibility, vendor operations, and event layout. Staff said the park design accommodates about 26 10‑by‑10 vendor booths, with planting islands and benching between tent locations. The design assumes vendor loading and temporary drop in the parking easement/launchpad alley rather than in the main park footprint; staff said the easement is intended for temporary vendor drop‑off only and that event vehicles would not remain parked in the park during events.

Commissioners pressed staff on accessible parking after plan scenarios reduced on‑street parking near the park. Staff pointed to nearby alley/launchpad options and said the design could add designated accessible stalls on adjacent streets or in the alley if the trustees and property owners agree. Staff also confirmed the town intends a recirculating water treatment system for the water play rather than a single‑pass feature to reduce net potable water use.

On traffic calming and winter maintenance, staff described the pedestrian platform, bollards and raised crossings as the primary measures to slow vehicles. Commissioners discussed tradeoffs for permanent curb islands or regularly spaced physical islands similar to those on other town streets, noting any permanent solution should be engineered to allow plows and public works equipment to operate in winter.

Staff asked the commission for feedback to carry back to Parks & Recreation and the trustees and said the design will move from schematic to construction drawings as funds and grants allow. They also invited commission members to provide design theme input (materials, colors, and texture) so that crossings and treatments could be made consistent with town wayfinding and identity.

"We have to make it everything to everybody," the staff member said of the park’s multiple event and passive uses, noting the park already supports farmers markets, an ice rink and live music and that the design aims to preserve that flexibility while formalizing circulation, event staging and safety.

Next steps identified by staff: finish design documents this fiscal year as funding allows, complete the undergrounding phase with the utility contractor, pursue GOCO and other competitive grants, and then bring phased construction to the trustees for approval and implementation.