“We’re delighted to add Diane and Darla to the Conservancy leadership team as we look ahead to the financial and operational challenges facing Rocky Mountain National Park and our other public lands,” said Walt Borneman, board president. “Each brings lifelong experience and passion in leading beloved public organizations and serving their constituencies.”
Originally from the state of New York, Goddard graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in economics and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas. She retired from the university in 2020 but advises campus leaders on budget reviews and optimization practices with the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Diane, husband Stephen, and their three children, vacationed in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park every summer for 35 years. Because of their love of Rocky and the many outdoor activities in the park and connection to the Estes Valley, they purchased a home in Estes Park in 2016 where they now live full time and regularly enjoy hosting their lifelong friends. “We enjoy watching our four grandchildren discover all the magic of Rocky Mountain National Park and develop their own deep love of nature as well as the understanding of the need to protect and conserve this amazing natural resource,” said Goddard.
Sidles began her federal career as a Student Conservation Association (SCA) volunteer in the North Cascade mountains in Washington State. She worked summers as a U.S. Forest Service wilderness ranger while obtaining her business degree at the University of Texas at Arlington and then completed graduate school at Western Washington University.
Sidles’ 37-year career spanned numerous national parks and sites across the country including Arches and Zion in Utah; Big Bend in Texas; Denali in Alaska; NPS headquarters in Washington, D.C.; Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia; Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California; Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and Saguaro National Park in Arizona; and, finally, the last seven years at Rocky where her leadership was critical in navigating challenges including the pandemic and historic wildfires. Sidles and her husband reside primarily in Arizona but regularly return to the Rockies where she says, “the park and its communities remain firmly in my heart.” Joining Borneman as returning board president and Goddard as the new treasurer, are Christina Kraft serving as vice president and Rich Fedorchak returning as secretary. In addition to Sidles, other board members are Brian Ross, Greg Danielson, Timothy Davis, Liza Grant, Laurie Mathews, Claudine Perrault, Jim Pickering, Kim Skyelander, and Zachary Wiebe.
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 Courtesy RMNP - Firefighters Managing Prescribed fire on the Headquarters Unit, November 1, 2024 Based upon the potential for favorable weather and fuels conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn beginning on Monday, March 10, 2025. Firefighters plan to burn approximately 50 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Unit. This burn unit is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and south of U.S. Highway 36. Because of the fuel type that will be burned, which include mainly grasses, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation. The primary goal of the project is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and NPS infrastructure by using prescribed fire to reduce the amount of fuels available in this area. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fires and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in stopping both fires from crossing Bear Lake and Trail Ridge Roads. If conditions are favorable, ignitions are planned to occur on Monday, March 10. Firefighters will be on scene for the duration of the operation and will be patrolling the burned area. Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas. Fire operations near the Beaver Meadows Entrance to RMNP may cause brief delays or temporary road closures. Traffic may be diverted through Fall River Entrance. Motorists should watch for fire vehicles on the roads and allow extra time for entering and exiting the park. Traffic control will be in place on U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area. Additional information will be shared on InciWeb athttps://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cormp-front-country-prescribed-fire and on RMNP’s official social media channels.  RMNP Map - Headquarters Unit of the Frontcountry Prescribed Fire For the safety of visitors and firefighters, park visitors will not be allowed to stop along U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area. Visitors will also not be able to walk within the burn area.
Smoke may be visible both inside and outside the park. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the adjacent community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park. Smoke may affect your health: For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability and environmental regulations are continually monitored as part of any fire management operation. For more information please contact the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206. |
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