New Year’s Day hikes, runs, bike rides, outdoor fun.
Bob Falcone, “Hiking Bob,” selected for Parks Board.
Falcon Regional Park meeting Jan 7.
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 Jan 27.
Two volunteer opportunities Jan 10.
NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 30, 2014
Last chance to Give!
Campaign ends Dec 31 at midnight.
Less than 12 hours remain to support your favorite local nonprofits and get great rewards through the Give! campaign.
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. If you’ve already donated, thank you! If you’re waiting until the last minute, you are there . . . Donate now!
Happy New Year! Hike, run, ride!
Area hikes, runs, statewide First Day Hikes.
Start out the New Year right in our beautiful outdoor spaces! Here’s a listing of a few opportunities that we’ve found out about for New Year’s Day (all events are January 1):
Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s First Day Hike. It’s the fourth Annual New Year’s Day hike in CMSP. Choose from a one- or three-mile guided hike and enjoy hot chocolate at the Visitor Center afterwards. Hikes start at 11:00 AM at the Trailhead parking lot. Call for information: 576-2016.
37th Annual Rescue Run in Palmer Park, 10 am. 5K and 10K runs, free kids’ fun runs. See this link at the Pikes Peak Roadrunners website for more information. Day of the race signup is available. Benefits El Paso County Search and Rescue.
28th Annual Frozen Water Bottle Ride, 10 am. Colorado Springs Cycling Club’s road ride starts at BJ’s Brewhouse on N Nevada, for a 21- or 23-mile group bike ride. See more information at this link.
Vert-n-Dirt Urban Off Road Frozen Water Bottle Ride, 10 am. This is the CS Cycling Club’s trail ride, described as “cold, bold, urban adventure cycling.” Two-hour duration in Austin Bluffs Open Space. Get the details at this link. First Day Hikes, Colorado State Parks. If you want to go out of our area on New Year’s Day, State Parks all over Colorado (and, in fact, all over the country) have First Day Hikes–seethis list on the State Parks website.
Bob Falcone selected for EPC Parks Board.
Parks Advisory Board term starts Jan 2015.
TOSC member Bob Falcone, aka “Hiking Bob” of blogging and hike leading fame, has been selected to sit on the El Paso County Parks Advisory Board. Bob, an outspoken advocate for parks who also serves as the President of the Friends of Cheyenne Cañon, will join the advisory body as of January of 2015. Congrats, Hiking Bob!
Falcon Regional Park Meeting Jan 7.
Public input on Master Plan for new Park.
Public Meeting – Jan 7, 2015, 6-8 pm – Meridian Ranch Recreation Center (10301 Angeles Road).
El Paso County Parks collected public input through their survey that closed Dec 12. This Master Plan public meeting will present the results of the survey and review alternatives for uses and activities in the park.
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 after the first of the year 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 Fridayafternoon 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.
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, emailsbryarly@springsgov.com.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Two events Saturday, January 10.
January 10, 9 am to noon, Palmer Park, monthly cleanup and workday. Meet at 9 am by the baseball diamonds near the Maizeland entrance. Activities may entail picking up trash, ridding the upper mesa of dog waste and possible trail repair work. Well-supervised children are welcome. Please RSVP to gopalmerpark@gmail.com. As with most trail/park projects, please bring work gloves water, snacks, sunscreen, sturdy footwear, rain gear, clothing layers, and anything else you would commonly bring on a short hike. Look for white trailer or a yellow XTerra with a Guardians of Palmer Park sign.
January 10, 2:30 pm, Greenway Cleanup. Meet at America the Beautiful Park @ 2:30PM for a trash clean-up day with COS Racing Org. Goals for the 10th if there are enough volunteers:
1. Clean up both sides of the creek exiting south of ATB to the Pedestrian Bridge near the south east corner of Wal-Mart. (if enough man power extend this to Tejon)
2. Connector from Bear Creek to Greenway (Southside of Walmart)
3. Connector from 8th St. to ATB
For more details, see the Facebook event at this link.
