This month the Town of Superior welcomes Leslie Clark as the new Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director.  Leslie comes to the Town from Arizona where she worked as Recreation Administrator for the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department.

Leslie found a love for parks and recreation first as a child. Her father was a military infantryman who specialized in mountaineering. As the family moved from place to place they camped along the way, visiting national parks, historical sites and enjoying the outdoors. These experiences gave Leslie an appreciation and love for nature and natural resources.

Later, while at Colorado State University, Leslie followed her passions for the outdoors in her studies as she pursued and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Administration. She continued her education at Indiana University accomplishing a Master’s degree in Recreation Administration.

Leslie has worked in a variety of positions and municipalities – from the college town of Bloomington, Indiana to the metropolis of Indianapolis, and from the suburbs of Scottsdale, Arizona to the suburbs of Denver in Centennial. These diverse opportunities gave Leslie a broad range of experience in several areas such as cultural arts, adaptive recreation, outdoor adventure, public lands and waterways management, community engagement, aquatics, serving disadvantaged populations, major capital projects, working with foundations and community partners, rebuilding and renovating parks, city buildings and pools, ice rink management, restaurant management and more. Leslie has done a little bit of everything and brings this expansive expertise to Superior.

Leslie’s best hope as Director is to serve people. She says, “I’m very service oriented. If there’s a community need, I will work diligently, tirelessly and cooperatively within my purview to meet those needs. It is very important to listen to what people have to say, to be approachable and be responsive to all residents and customers. I have a true desire to help provide what is needed in the community.”

Welcome to Town Director Clark!

[Photo Above: Leslie Clark helps set up the petting zoo at Celebrate Mesa, a city-wide event that brings 13,000 people together to build community and provide City departments with a format to share information with the public.]

Coyote activity increases in the winter. This means more sightings and potential coyote encounters. Coyote breeding season “officially” occurs January and February but coyotes begin to demonstrate more territorial behavior early to mid-winter as they prepare for pups. Multiple den sites are being scouted and prepared now and territorial boundaries are being marked with scat, urine and vocal displays.

Pets can look more like competition and coyotes may be more interested in pets than normal this time of year. To reduce the chances of negative encounters always keep your pet on leash when outdoors, especially in and around parks and open spaces where coyotes may live and move. Check your yards before letting pets outside after dark, especially pets under 20 pounds. Go outside with your pets when possible. If you do encounter a coyote, make eye contact, yell, wave your arms and act big and scary. Coyotes need to be reminded that people are dangerous and unpredictable. A few negative encounters with a person can really make a coyote think twice about approaching a person or hanging out around their yards.

Pets do not appear differently to a coyote than any other animal would and they may interact with them in a variety of ways. They can show interest, playfulness, fearfulness, wariness or predatory behavior depending on the animal and circumstances in which they meet. When you are present with your pet divert the coyote's attention from your pet and send them the message to back off. When people are prepared and aware that coyotes may be present much of the potential danger can be averted.

If you would like to learn more about coyote coexistence and have the Town's wildlife ecologist answer all of your coyote questions, please join us at the "Living with Coyotes" wildlife education program Friday, December 20 [6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the community room at the Sport Stable]. Use the following link to register: http://www.amilia.com/store/en/town-of-superior/shop/activities/2481578

Walk with a Doc is a free, monthly, community program that brings together neighbors of all ages for the sake of health, learning and friendship. Join us at our next Walk Saturday, December 21 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Wildflower Park (3151 S. Indiana St.). Participants will be able to talk to a local doctor and ask questions, enjoy healthy snacks and of course walk with great people. This month learn about 'Cold Weather and Mind Body Movement' from Mary Scott, Family Nurse Practitioner.  For questions contact Lydia Yecke at lydiay@superiorcolorado.gov or 303-817-2957.

Each year the Boy Scouts in Troops 278 and 575 assist in our community by picking up used Christmas for safe and responsible recycling. Our two Troops pickup over 700 trees on the first Saturday following New Year's Day. All the Boys volunteer their time to help with this important activity and we ask that you provide a donation of $10 to $20 to help support our Troops with the costs of camps and activities all year long.

To find out more about this awesome service and request a pickup of your Christmas tree, please visit this website: https://sites.google.com/view/bsatreepickup, fill out the form and one of the Boy Scout pickup crews will stop your house.

Here is a list of current vacancies.

Advisory Committee for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) - 1 vacancy

Cultural Arts & Public Spaces Advisory Committee (CAPS) - 1 vacancy

Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) - 2 vacancies

For detailed information & applications for each Advisory Group visit the Advisory Group Web Page. For questions or more information please contact Karen Snortland, Committee Coordinator, karens@superiorcolorado.gov.

Create your household account now! The Town of Superior Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department is transitioning to a NEW activity registration software called Amilia. This new platform will give you easy and direct access to sign up for the Town's recreation & enrichment programming, volunteering opportunities, facility rentals and pool access.

You can create your household account by visiting the Superior Parks and Recreation Amilia portal.  We are very excited to offer this new and improved process to our residents!