TOSC Board requires Conservation Easement for Strawberry Hill
The TOSC Board has laid out conditions for the Broadmoor Land Exchange, including
A conservation easement and deed restrictions on Strawberry Hill. The Broadmoor must put their commitments in writing, including their development plans. The development cannot degrade the adjacent park land.
The Conservation Easement must guarantee that Strawberry Hill is protected in perpetuity.
TOSC will ONLY support the proposed exchange if it meets our conditions, which we have published and presented to the City and the Broadmoor. Read them here.
We are working hard, talking with elected officials and representatives of the Broadmoor to advocate for a solution that matches our mission–protecting open space and connecting the trails. The proposal has already been changed in response to public opinion to include a conservation easement and deed restrictions on Strawberry Hill, to protect the land forever and to guarantee continued public access.
Once the appraisals have been completed and the Broadmoor’s plan is made public, TOSC will evaluate the entire proposal.
We think it is worth working to influence the process, for the potential benefits are great:
More conservation–a conservation easement on Strawberry Hills would protect the land in perpetuity.
More protected acres–the City of Colorado Springs would gain 371 acres of parkland, and some 180 acres, tranferred to the Broadmoor, would be protected by deed restrictions and conservation easement, forever. Both the Incline and the Barr Trail access would be protected.
Trail connections–the City would gain 115 acres of new public trail easements, and realize a big goal of extending the Chamberlain Trail south.
Public process–several more public meetings would be held, to give everyone a chance to be heard.
April 11th, Presented to City Council in Work Session.
April 14th, Parks Advisory Board vote.
City Council vote either late April or early May.
Public Meeting
Wed, March 30, 6-8 pm
Gold Camp Elementary School, 1805 Preserve Drive
Richard Skorman is leading daily tours of the Strawberry Hill property. If interested, meet at 10am or 3:30pm at Sacred Grounds Coffee, 1801 Cheyenne Blvd.
Enjoy special members-only invitations, hikes, rides and parties!
Give to the Trails and Open Space Coalition’s Annual fund campaign. Your membership supports our important work of preservation and conservation.
Help us care for our trails, open spaces and parks! Donate here.
Starlight Spectacular June 18–registration is open!
Register now for the summer’s best family biking event, the Starlight Spectacular!
Saturday, June 18th, 9 pm
Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
This year’s theme is SPACE, so start planning your costumes now. Special discounts at Zeezo’s if you mention the Starlight! Prizes for best group costume and best illuminated bike!
Choose your route, from 14 to 22 miles, starting and ending at Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, through the City of Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and the Garden of the Gods. We ride on streets, with lots of lighted directional signs and volunteers pointing the way. Two rest stops with music and refreshments enliven the route.
Get your tickets now for one of two showings of Rider and the Wolf! The film tells the story of Mike Rust, the Hall of Fame mountain biker who disappeared without a trace. Ticket sales benefit Bike Clinic Too, a non-profit that donates bicycles to those in need, who need reliable transportation to find jobs and keep appointments. The clinic gratefully accepts donations of bikes, locks, bike parts and cash.
Road closures in Cheyenne Cañon will be staged in three phases to accommodate public traffic as much as possible while culverts are being replaced in advance of paving work. No trails will be closed during this project, although there may be brief trailhead closures. Parks Department is focusing on keeping access open as much as possible, so the phases are staged to allow continued recreational use throughout the project.
Phase A, beginning March 28, will close the parking lot above Helen Hunt Falls and Gold Camp Road from the parking lot east to the beginning of the asphalt section.
Phase B will close the Canyon Road from the Starsmore Center to the Mt. Cutler Trailhead. Access will be through an alternate route via Gold Camp Road.
Phase C will close the road uphill of the Mt. Cutler trailhead to the upper parking lot above Helen Hunt Falls.
Paving the Canyon Road, a project funded by the 2C initiative approved by Colorado Springs voters last year, will begin in May,
A major construction project is finishing up at Cottonwood Creek Trail near Vincent and Zios. Look for information about a ribbon cutting soon!
Pikes Peak Greenway (south, near Janitell) Fall 2016
Since the flood took away large piece of land, a portion of the Fountain Creek bank is now on private land. City Parks is working through the city’s legal office to get an easement before they can reconstruct the trail.
Construction is expected to begin this summer with the project completed by fall.
Construction on South Sand Creek Trail to connect with Greenway May 2016
When the trail is complete, possibly by end of May, it will allow trail users to travel from Hancock Expressway to E. Las Vegas St. along Sand Creek and connect to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail near the Juvenile Justice Center. Watch for updates on this exciting development!
Future of our Waterways Wed, April 13, 4 pm
Wed, April 13, 4 pm
Penrose House
1661 Mesa Ave.
FREE event with RSVP
Come and learn about the progress of the Legacy Loop and future projects around Colorado Springs that will connect our community to our waterways. Special guest speakers include Mayor John Suthers, Michelle Larkins, PhD and Pikes Peak Community College Instructor, and Andrea Barker, Board President of The Greenway Fund. Space is limited for this free event, so please RSVP in advance. RSVP Here.
Join us for this year’s Sustainnovate, an all-day summit with speakers, poster presentations, workshops, an indoor and outdoor expo and networking opportunities.
The event is free and includes breakfast and lunch. You must register to attend.
Come engage with the Colorado Springs community in topics including urban infill, pedestrian oriented communities, bike friendly design, innovations such as driverless cars, and what they mean for the future of transportation.
Trails and Open Space:
Rich History, Abundant Assets, Promising Future”
Friday, May 13, 2016 3:00pm – 5:30pm (reception to follow)
Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Ave The first installment of a series of sessions about the Pikes Peak Region
Featured speakers: Gov. Hickenlooper and Lise Aangenbrug, (Exec Dir of GOCO).
Reservations required, 576-2016. May 21: The Southwest Desert: Ed Abbey, (1927-1989) Activist, anarchist, outspoken and hilarious. Bio of the author, one-mile hike, readings from his works.
