News December 11, 2014

This week Colorado Springs City Councilpostponed a final vote on Jones Park until January 13th, to give the City Attorney time to correct minor legal language in the resolution giving the parcel to El Paso County. The resolution as presented calls for a conservation easement on the property, and deed restrictions that include adopting the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) plan upon transferring Jones Park to the County. The proposed changes will not change the purpose of the conservation easement, or access for hikers and cyclists balanced with the threatened trout. A limit on motorized use is included in the NEPA plan (still to be finalized). El Paso County has said they have no intention of expanding that use.
Once the conservation easement is in place, Jones Park will be protected forever as a favorite, wild place for the public. 
Thanks to all who expressed to City Council that Jones Park is a public asset and should not be for sale!

For more information about the proposed sale or transfer of Jones Park, and links to documentation on the NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) process, and the Bear Creek Watershed, see our article at this link.

Do you love:

• Adam’s Mountain Cafe?
• Bristol beer?
• the Fine Arts Center?

With a $25 donation throughIndy Give! you can help trails and open spaces, and get rewards from your favorite local spots!
 

In the past five years with Indy Give!, your donations have helped us make a real difference in our community for trails, parks and open spaces.

Expect trail repairs over the next few weeks as FEMA projects go forward. The Mt Cutler Trail will be closedMonday through Fridaymorning beginning next week as crews repair a failed slope above the pedestrian bridge. To accommodate hikers, the trail will be openFriday afternoon through Sunday during construction.
Construction will resume on High Drive, but recreational use will continue during construction. Hikers with dogs are asked to keep them leashed for the safety of construction workers and the pets while work is underway.
Hikers and bicyclists will see lane closures in Cheyenne Cañon and Bear Creek Canyon Parks due to smaller construction projects also underway.

Our parks need you to speak up! Two more community meetings have been added to the schedule. Please attend and let the Mayor know that parks are a priority and as important as fixing potholes–they are necessary for our quality of life, and are an economic driver for the region. Both meetings are5:30 to 7:00 pm.

• Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015 at Sabin Middle School
• Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 at the Stetson Hills Police Substation

If you can attend, check out the trail projects on the city’s list of “high priority projects.” The list includes  sections of the Palmer- Mesa Trail, Homestead Trail, Shooks Run Trail and Rock Island Trail.  We encourage residents to come to the meetings with your questions and concerns, and speak up for the importance of our City Parks.
 
See more information and the full schedule at our website.

From Bicycle Colorado: The Colorado Department of Transportation has released a Statewide Transportation Plan and 10 Regional Transportation Plans and is encouraging public comment.
The statewide plan acknowledges that the need for improved bicycle infrastructure was a recurring topic during a series of statewide telephone town hall meetings, and the plan states a goal of inventorying bicycle infrastructure throughout the state to assess gaps in the system.
We encourage you to take a look at the plans and submit comments to ensure that cyclists’ perspectives continue to be heard.

You’re invited to the third annual Pikes Peak Sports and Jack Quinn’s Christmas bash, 5-9 pm, Dec. 16 at Stargazers Theatre, 10 South Parkside Drive (about three blocks east of Memorial Park on Pikes Peak Blvd.) Bring a new, unwrapped toy, or non-perishable food items for your entry, which go to the nonprofit organizations the Bob Telmosse’ Foundation and Care and Share Food Bank. There will be good beer and food for sale, live music, vendors and merry makers to spread the Christmas cheer. There will be a 5K course laid out–your choice to run, walk, or stay at Stargazers.
Last year, you all contributed about 830 pounds of food and about $2,000 worth of toys. Can we do better this year? We’ll see you there, Colorado Springs!

Help the Bob Telmosse Foundation make the lives of children and families a little brighter this Christmas by volunteering for the big Christmas Giveaway. They need help particularly with setup on Thursday, December 18th, and cleanup the afternoon of December 20th. Go to http://www.santa-bob.org/volunteer.php to sign up for a shift.

Parks staff is working on a draft Master Plan for Ute Valley Park, using input from the two public meetings that have been held so far, and will present it at an open house Jan 27, 5-7 pm at Eagleview Middle School. To see the input from the first public meeting and the stated goals of the process, see this link. To give your input on the proposals, email sbryarly@springsgov.com.