Help bike orgs through Give, drawing for Subaru lease.
Update: Bear Creek Park and Paint Mines.
Jones Park vote postponed to January 13.
Fire mitigation and trail repairs in Cheyenne Cañon.
Community Open Houses about City priorities Jan 8, 15.
Ute Valley Park Master Plan update.
State transportation plan–comments invited.
Holiday gifts from TOSC business partners.
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 17, 2014
Give! for TOSC and bike advocates.
Chance to win Subaru lease, and great rewards!
Donate between now and December 31st to all three of these great local bike advocacy nonprofits and get a chance to win a 2-year Subaru lease from Heuberger Motors!
Plus, get rewards from fine local establishments such as Adam’s Mountain Cafe, Bristol Brewing, the Fine Arts Center, and more.
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.
Bear Creek Watershed, Ring the Peak, Banning Lewis Ranch. These are some of the top priorities on our plate in the coming year. If you would like to see these areas preserved, and want to help us make these projects a reality, please consider a gift through the Indy Give! It’s fast, easy, and you get great rewards from local merchants!
We are so grateful that so many of you value TOSC! Let’s work together to protect what so many of us came here for–our parks and open spaces.
El Paso County Parks News.
Paint Mines and Bear Creek Parks affected by decisions.
El Paso County Parks Advisory Board unanimously agreed with TOSC – wind turbines placed near the Paint Mines should be at least 1.5 miles away from the public space in order not to detract from hikers enjoyment of this geological jewel.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the Bear Creek Master Plan WITH a neighbor-supported conservation easement AND Equestrian Skills Park. TOSC advocated hard for both.
Jones Park vote postponed.
Final vote delayed to January 13.
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. 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.
Cheyenne Cañon fire and FEMA projects.
Fire mitigation; some closures of Mt Cutler, High Drive.
City Forestry will start work in the next two weeks on a major fire mitigation projectin Cheyenne Cañon near the Starsmore Center. The project will focus on removal of dead and non-native trees and stands of scrub oak, which provide ground-level fuel for fires, leaving fire-resistant pines in place. Users may see heavy equipment and cutting activity, but no related trail closures are expected as this work progresses. The Mt Cutler Trail will be closed Monday through Fridaymornings as crews repair a failed slope above the pedestrian bridge. To accommodate hikers, the trail will be open Friday 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.
Open Houses to learn about Parks Projects.
Additional community meetings January 8th, 15th.
Two more community meetings have been added to the schedule.Both meetings are 5:30 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.
CO releases State Transportation Plan.
Public comments invited; we encourage you to participate!
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. Comments will be accepted through January 4th.
Ute Valley Park Master Plan update
Draft Master Plan Open House Jan 27, 5 pm.
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.
Need a stocking stuffer or last-minute gift?
These TOSC supporters have solutions for you!
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory‘s Red Rock chocolate bars make a great gift for anyone on your list, and each bar sold benefits the Trails and Open Space Coalition! The big, 6-ounce bars are available in milk, dark and white chocolate, and retail for $9.99.
Holiday specials atMountain Equipment Recyclers:
– MER has a TON of backpacks from Camelbak, Deuter, and Sierra Designs. They are all new-with-tags closeouts from these companies. Normal price is 20%-35% below MSRP. Through December 24, take an additional 15% off these items!
– They are also extending the 15% to all camping and backpacking gear in stock.
– $25 gift certificates for $20 and $50 for $40.
– 15% off MER shirts and hats.
As always, most new and consigned gear is priced well below MSRP. Save money while holiday shopping for your friends and family!
