The city of Fruita recognizes that times are changing, and their growth plan, which was adopted in 2001, may have to change, too. They began the most recent process with a citizens' meeting at the end of March. The goal is to make sure that as the city of Fruita grows, its growth meets the needs and the desires of its citizens.

Although there were fewer than 300 new home starts last year, Fruita has averaged between 300 and 400 new home starts per year for the last five years. This year, the city is on pace to hit those numbers again, according to Clint Kinney, Fruita city manager.

Houses aren't the only things popping up in Fruita. Kokopelli Plaza, a large commercial area south of I-70, continues to grow. Currently, the 19-acre subdivision is about 25 percent built out. U.S. Bank is one of the newest tenants to open its doors, and Taco Bell could be opening its doors this summer. Western Colorado Truck Center, a Mack truck sales and service center, is also building a new facility on the south side of the freeway. Other companies like Cudd Pressure Control and Nabors Drilling have opened their doors in the Fruita area, as well.

"We're trying to build a full service community with primary jobs, health care and recreation," says Kinney.

In pursuing those goals, the city is buying land the school district currently owns in town. The land is currently used for little league baseball. The city of Fruita will lease the land to the hospital, so the hospital can continue to expand and meet the needs of Fruita's citizens. The city is also planning a 23-acre park north of Ottley on Pine Street, with little league fields, a t-ball field, soccer fields, and a playground.

A permit for a Walgreen's Drug Store is making its way through the city planning department, according to Chris Brubaker, a Fruita city planner. Unfortunately, there are no plans for a new grocery store in Fruita.

"We'll be happy to work on a project," Brubaker says, "because we know the community wants one."

The community also wants to retain its sense of adventure. The trails around Fruita are gaining a worldwide reputation in mountain-biking circles, and the town embraces the sport every spring with the Fruita Fat Tire Festival, happening April 26 Ð 29 this year, and the 18 Hours of Fruita mountain bike race on May 4.

This is the 12th year for the Fat Tire Festival, and event sponsors expect to see 4,000 people in Fruita for the weekend. Between 200 and 300 attendees are local; the rest come from all over the state, the country and even the world, with participants coming from as far away as Australia to ride the trails that are in our backyard.

"Fruita is world-class, there's no better place," says Jerry Wolf, manager at Over the Edge, the bike shop that started it all in Fruita.

Over the Edge is expecting 10 Ð 12 bike manufacturers at the festival this year. Attendees can demo bikes from different manufacturers, participate in group rides and enjoy live music while rehashing their rides at night.

Fruita also wants to retain its sense of funkiness, with the annual celebration of Mike the Headless Chicken, that famous Fruita fowl who managed to lead a full and meaningful life even after his body was separated from his head. The annual Mike the Headless Chicken Festival will run from May 18 - 19.

For those that want to retain their dignity, Fruita offers the Colorado Riverfront Concert Series. This year, there will be three concerts at the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park in Fruita. Firefall is scheduled for June and the Subdudes will be coming in August.

A July act has yet to be confirmed, although Ron Wilson with Sandstone Concerts confirms that there will be a concert scheduled for July. The setting is one-of-a-kind and the concerts are free, although tickets are limited.

The school district is trying to keep up with the growth in Fruita. Rim Rock Elementary and the Fruita 8/9 School opened in the fall of 2006, but both schools are now at capacity. The district has purchased 14 acres south of the interstate on 17 1/2 Road in anticipation of a future elementary school.

The 8/9 School is a unique configuration in the district, where other 8th graders attend middle school and 9th graders attend high school. There have been a few challenges regarding coordination of sports programs and high school credit for Freshmen, but overall, the blending of the two grades is working well.

"The closed campus has been a bonus for Freshmen," says Principal Cristal Loehr. "Our attendance is much higher than some of the other schools in the district, our overall GPA is good. Academically, it's been very good."

Although some of the Fruita farmland is being swallowed by development, Mesa Land Trust is working with interested landowners to look at all options, including conservation easements, especially if land lies outside of the Fruita growth plan or in the buffer zone between Grand Junction and Fruita.