The weed-eating goats are scheduled to arrive in Bear Creek Park East on September 26th for a ten-day grazing. Last fall, the herd was pulled out early because of unleashed dogs threatening the goats.
The El Paso County Parks Department will work to protect the goats from harassment by dogs by assigning a security officer to the area with authority to write tickets for violation of the leash law.
Please, leash your dogs !
Seven Bridges Trail Closure beginning Sept 19.
Heads up trail users in the Bear Creek Watershed!
The upper bridge on 7 Bridges Trail #622 is being replaced. On Monday, September 19, the trail was closed above the sixth bridge while crews work to replace the seventh bridge. Expect closures for the next 2-3 weeks along Seven Bridges Trail while the construction is occurring.
Last chance to sign up for Sept 24 Members-only fall color hike with photography tips!
Sat, Sept 24, 9 am
Join us for a very special Members-only fall color hike at the peak of aspen season!
Local hiking expert and trails blogger Hiking Bob will take us on some of his favorite fall color trails, and give us tips on how to capture the best images, with phones, point-and-shoot cameras and full photography equipment. Bring your photo gear of choice and your questions!Signups close Friday, Sept 23 at noon.
Capture rainwater legally, help the Greenway fund!
Sale ends September 25.
The Greenway Fund is the first organization in Colorado offering “Ivy” Rain Barrels® through their new rain barrel program. They are offering the rain barrels at nearly a 50% discounted price to encourage residents to conserve precious water resources as well as to protect water quality. Sale runs now through September 25 and pick up date is October 1, 2016.
Greenway-Rock Island-Shooks Run connector close to reality
Beacon Street protected bike lane, left, and Numismatic warehouse, right, future rail-with-trail (along the railroad corridor) connection between the Pikes Peak Greenway and the Rock Island Trail.
City Parks was able to secure a deal with the Union Pacific Railroad to allow space for a rail with trail connection between the Greenway, the Rock Island Trail and the Shooks Run Trail. The missing link was a piece of property owned by the Numismatic Association. The Association and the City have reached a deal that will allow TOPS to buy the property and finally connect the trail! Both the Tops Working Committee and Parks Advisory Board unanimously supported the proposal. City Council makes the final decision.
We’re inviting individuals and groups (families, clubs, schools, neighborhoods, etc.) to form a Creek Crew for the 3rd Annual Creek Week Cleanup!
Trash and debris ends up in our waterways – clogging drainage systems, hurting wildlife, affecting water quality and ruining the view of our natural landscapes.
Roll up your sleeves to take action during Creek Week by volunteering for cleanup duty and litter patrol along a creek, trail, park or open space throughout the watershed. Get outdoors, get active, and create some good for your community and those living downstream.
Tuesday, September 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: (Doors open at 5 p.m.)
First Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 219 E. Bijou St. (Enter on the Weber St side of the building.)
Parking: Free parking is to the east of the building, SE corner Bijou and Weber.
Following extensive community input, the planning study known as Envision Shooks Run reached a milestone with a recommended corridor theme in June 2016. The next milestone is a draft Facilities Master Plan. Your input to the draft plan will guide how infrastructure improvements and enhancements are put into place along and near the Shooks Run corridor over the next 50 years.
Fieldhouse will host the 2nd annual Cystic Fibrosis Legacy Ride in support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Sign up for a guided tour of the Legacy Loop, an 11-mile loop trail around the outskirts of downtown Colorado Springs. The ride rolls out at 2 pm, and lasts for approximately one hour. All ages are invited, as long as you can keep up. After the ride, there will be giveaways, specials on beer, food from Treehouse BBQ, cornhole, and a strider bike course for small children.
Join in for a day of fun and cycling, help out a good cause, and learn more about our city’s awesome bike trail system! More information and registration.
Join Kids on Bikes for a free family bicycle parade from 4 starting locations that all end at the PopCycle Bridge for a party and popsicles. Then roll down a 1/2 mile to Monument Valley Park for the Carnival with music and carnival games at the park. Bring a picnic and enjoy time with family, friends and everything bikes! More info and sign ups.
Register now for the Waldo Waldo 5K Oct 22.
Join thousands of Waldos and Wendas in downtown Colorado Springs this October 22 for the Waldo Waldo 5K, a family-friendly walk and fun run fundraiser. Registration comes with a “Where’s Waldo” costume kit and the money raised supports the Trails and Open Space Coalition and RMFI. Register at this link.
Help build the new playground at Cheyenne Meadows Park!
Prep Day: Mon, Sept 26
Build Day: Wed, Sept 28
Join the community effort to build a new playground in Cheyenne Meadows Park. Volunteers 16 and over are needed to assemble the playground equipment for the park. No skills required, tools supplied, breakfast and lunch provided. Onsite childcare upon request. More info and signups.
(To find the event, choose “Show calendar,” and click on date).
Have some time? Get out and help make a difference!
Benefits work on the Dixon Trail, which one day will provide runners with a new challenging trail race that will be 12-13 miles long with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. Signups.
“Single Track High” follows High School students through the up and downs of life as a High School Student and how riding for Mountain Bikes for their High School team changed their lives.
This film event is a fund raiser for the newly formed Manitou Monsters Middle/High School Mountain Bike Team and to support the Pioneer Park Access Legacy, preserving access to Pioneer Park to and from Friendship Lane. This Access allows kids to Ride their bikes or walk to Holmes Middle School and Coronado High School.
Take the Bike Master Plan Survey!
The update to the Bike Master Plan will outline a plan for bicycle infrastructure to support the growing needs of our bicycle friendly community.
Joint City/ County Presentations. Learn how the community works together and learn more about how YOU, as a citizen, are at the core of local government.
Saturday, Sept. 24, Bear Creek Park Sign up to be a runner or a Zombie. First run begins at 10 a.m. At the end of this adventure is the “I Survived the Zombie Apocalypse Party” including emergency preparedness booths, music and food. This is a fun event aimed at creating awareness for community and individual emergency preparedness.
This coming year’s calendar will focus on TOPS properties, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Trails, Open Space and Parks Program, funded by a 1/10% sales tax. Some of the landmark open spaces purchased with TOPS funds include Red Rock Canyon, Stratton Open Space, Bluestem Prairie Open Space, Ute Valley Park, and more.
This hands-on training is designed to meet the needs of trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts and individuals working in remote locations. It will introduce you to caring for people who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care.
“Table to Trails” with Salsa Brava, Over Easy, Sonterra Grill
Now through May 2017, join Salsa Brava, Over Easy and Sonterra Grill in the Table to Trails fundraiser, and $1 from every lunch special sold will go to support the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
These restaurants are locally owned, and use local ingredients when possible. Now they’re taking their local commitment one step further to support our local trails and open spaces.
Enjoy time out with lunch at Salsa Brava, and support TOSC!
Love the trails? Want to see more connections, more bike routes, more care for our parks? Support parks, trails and open spaces!
