Montrose - Daily Press

Caitlin Switzer

MONTROSE - When Richard Harding saw a strange vehicle parked on his Olathe property several years ago, he figured that the vandals who had recently visited a neighbor's land had returned.

"I picked up my gun, and went back to investigate," Harding said. "But it was (naturalist) Peggy Lyons. She showed me a picture of an endangered plant that she thought it was in the area, clay-loving wild buckwheat."

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For Harding, it was not exactly welcome news.

"When I looked at the picture, my heart sank," he said. "Because I knew it was on the property - about three-quarters of a mile north of the house, on land that we owned and had planned on developing."

After identifying the plant, Lyons explained to Harding that he could still do as he liked with his land.

However, Harding's wife Debra encouraged him to save the plant.

"Debbie is a tree-hugger," Harding said. "She said we needed to do something to preserve it."

After Harding consulted with aide George Rossman from Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell's Grand Junction office about issues related to use of the land, Rossman made a suggestion.

"She said, have you ever thought about building a model airplane park?" Harding said, adding, "It was the furthest thing from my mind."

However, he learned that a group of local hobbyists were struggling to find a place to build an airpark for small, radio-controlled electric or gas-powered planes. His interest piqued, Harding began attending public hearings involving the Montrose Model Aircraft Association.

"One of those opposed (to a model airplane park) at one meeting said there was no place in all of Montrose County for the model aircraft association," Harding said. "In my mind, with prudent thinking people, there is always a place for something."

The Hardings found an area that was absent of clay-loving wild buckwheat, obtained a special use permit in 2000, and began construction of the park on the land parcel, an in-holding bordered by federal lands.

"We are still building it," Harding said. "We have a thousand-foot north-south runway of packed adobe, a 400-foot cross runway, and we have some cabanas donated by the Colorado Department of Transportation."

A chain link fence was also donated by a local credit union.

"It just came together," Harding said.

Last fall, the effort was recognized by Model Aviation magazine, the official publication of the academy of model aeronautics, when the field was dedicated at the association's annual Youth Aviation Day. As part of the event, approximately 80 kids from a variety of youth-centered non-profit organizations came together to fly model airplanes, Harding said.

"I am proud of how a group of people known as the Montrose Model Aircraft Association gives their time and gives their talent, sacrifices time with their families to go out and help kids who would not otherwise have this opportunity," he said. "When you see the looks on those faces, it is priceless."

Ownership of 42 acres has now been transferred to the association, he said.

Another 40 acres is protected by a conservation easement put in place by the Black Canyon Regional Land Trust, and includes one acre that has been set aside for use by local schools as an outdoor earth sciences environmental lab.

"Our dream is to build a facility out there where children from all over the state can come and actually stay on the property-we want to build a dorm and a classroom facility, and we would like to see an observatory, planetarium and museum," Harding said. "So kids can have a first-hand knowledge of what is in the adobes."

Thinking about the little plant that has touched so many lives brings tears to Harding's eyes.

"While we were still debating what to do, Peggy Lyons was giving tours to people from all over the state that wanted to see clay-loving wild buckwheat," he said. "I think the combination of being a real estate developer, and seeing people laying on their stomachs with telephoto lenses shooting pictures of this plant just did something to me."

The plant has brought about changes for the Montrose Model Aircraft Association as well. The non-profit works with anywhere from 200 to 250 kids over the course of a year in cooperation with a agencies such as Partners, the Montrose Recreation District, Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club, and the Grand Junction Youth Detention Center.

"Up to this point, we were at the mercy of other landowners and organizations, and now we have a place where we can bring the kids and let 'em try their wings," association president Terry Ryan said.

Planes range in size from those with a wingspan of 20 inches to those of more than 100 inches, he said.

"They are everything from gliders to helicopters, you name it," Ryan said. "We have a wide variety."

The attention that was focused on the field dedication last fall was "thrilling," said Ryan, who has been building models since his high school days.

"We have gotten more attention from more areas," he said, adding that the group has goals beyond the completion of the airpark.

"We are trying to get a (model aircraft) manufacturing facility to come to the Montrose/Olathe area," he said. "We are currently in contact with the Montrose Economic Development Council and with Delta Area Development. They have sent out letters on our behalf.

"We haven't heard anything back from anybody in particular, but it's kind of a slow process."

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