Correction, October 14, 2025 1:37 pm: After publishing this News Brief, Rep. Smith reached out to say that she initially provided the wrong date for her Town Hall. She will be in Estes Park on Oct. 20 not Oct 25.
Town Hall with Rep. Lesley Smith
(Please note an updated date from Rep. Smith’s office of Oct. 20.)
State Rep. Lesley Smith will be in Estes Park for a Town Hall on Oct. 20 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Hondius Room at the Estes Valley Voice Library.
Smith was elected in November 2024 to represent Colorado’s House District 49, which includes parts of Boulder, Larimer, Gilpin, and Clear Creek counties. House District 49 includes the Estes Valley.
Before joining the state legislature, Smith had a career as a scientist, educator, and elected official in Colorado. She served from 2018 to 2024 as an at-large member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents. During her tenure, Smith focused on higher education issues, including sustainability and student affordability. She was also elected to the Boulder Valley School Board, where she served for eight years.
Town sees sales tax receipts jump in August
August was a good month for the town’s coffers.
While details for specific sectors of business won’t be known until later this month, the Town of Estes Park’s August sales tax collections were up 19.16% over August 2024.
The August preliminary report shows year-to-date income 5.16% higher than in 2024.
In July, sales tax collections were 4.77% higher than in July 2024, resulting in year-to-date sales tax collections at that time being 2.41% higher than those for the previous reporting period.
The report on July’s economic indicators, released Oct. 8, showed monthly increases in tourism-based calculations. In July, visits to the Estes Park Visitor Center were up 9.55% over visits in 2024; town shuttle ridership increased 7.87% over the monthly tabulation for 2024; traffic coming into Estes Park was up 16.08% over that seen in 2024; and visitation to Rocky Mountain National Park increased 8.26% over that seen in July 2024.
Community input sought on Town’s parks and open space
The Town of Estes Park is seeking community input to inform the future development of parks and open spaces. If you live or work in Estes Park, your opinion will help shape the Town’s Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan.
The Estes Valley Land Trust has partnered with the Town’s Park Division on a number of projects, including Mrs. Walsh’s Garden, Knoll Willows Open Space, Estes Park Riverwalk, and the Thumb Open Space. Click here to share your perspectives and help craft the plan.
For more information on this process, please contact Parks Division Supervisor Brian Berg bberg@estes.org or call or 970-577-3724.