Get your Superhero costumes ready! Enter online to win great prizes.
Sponsored by Heuberger Subaru. Go to this link for more information and to enter. Ends June 7th.
First prize is a bike from our friends at Ted’s Bicycles. Other prizes include a roof mount bike rack, and a light set.
Our friends at Ted’s Bicycles are having a sale on the light set YOU need to ride the Starlight!
Ted’s is having their annual Starlight Spectacular light sale! Special front and rear light sets are on deep discount for in-store purchase at Ted’s 3016 N Hancock Ave, 719-473-6915. All other in-stock lights are 15% off until June 19. Check out their website here.
Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group gives back–in a big way.
On May 16, Liz and Randy Price, owners of the Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group, presented the Trails and Open Space Coalition with a check for $10,798, which represented one year of putting aside $1 per daily special at their five restaurants: Sonterra Grill, two Over Easy and two Salsa Brava locations.
Over the year, the five restaurants competed with each other to sell the most specials. Each location created a thermometer to keep track of their progress. The restaurants put a short explanation of the partnership on all their tables. Guests learned about the Trails and Open Space Coalition and what we do in our community to make it better.
We’re grateful to Liz and Randy Price for their leadership and generosity, to all the staff at the restaurants for their work and support, and to the guests who gave to the Trails and Open Space Coalition through their purchases, one dollar at a time. Thank you!
Closure update: Midland trail complete end of August
Work is progressing and contractors estimate that the Midland trail connection should be complete by the end of August.
The detour for the Midland Trail to Colorado Avenue is still in place. The Midland Trail will be relocated adjacent to Fountain Creek. The new Fountain Creek and Monument Creek pedestrian bridges have been placed.
The project team will finish the remaining trail and stream improvement work to open all of the trails by late summer 2017. More information.
Bike Master Plan Meeting — great turnout, how to give feedback.
300+ attended the Bicycle Master Plan Open House! Attendees were asked to comment on how to make Colorado Springs a more bicycle friendly community. When completed, the plan will provide tools to get there.
If you couldn’t attend, check out this link https://coloradosprings.gov/bikeplan, and add your suggestions. We want to make sure the bike master plan contains best practices and great ideas to improve bike safety and infrastructure.
Norris Penrose Event Center Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course needs help with some maintenance work in the form of shoring up some structures, adding more rock in areas, etc.
Protect rivers, streams, and ponds from runoff pollution, divert water from our drainage systems (stormwater), conserve vital natural resources and reduce water bills. Use rainwater to grow healthy and lush plants and control moisture around your home’s foundation.
The City of Colorado Springs is seeking volunteers (two seated positions and alternates) to serve on the Parks Advisory Board. Members of the board advise City Council on planning, development, improvement, beautification, equipping, and maintaining of public parks, playgrounds, programs, urban forest, recreation facilities and resources including golf courses and center street parking.
The events will kick off with a morning of trail finishing work on the new multi-use White Acres Trail followed by lunch donated by La’au’s Taco Shop. After that, you can choose your own afternoon excursion including the UpaDowna 3rd Saturday Adventure Hike, an interpretive geology hike with Friends of Red Rock Canyon, a group bike ride, or group climbing. More info or sign up.
Events
Wed, May 17, 6 pm
Red Leg Brewing Company, 4630 Forge Rd, Suite B
Join Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates and the Trails and Open Space Coalition for an evening of smooth brews, trail talk and general socializing. Learn about:
Missing Link Trail Ring the Peak Trail
COS Bike Center plans
Ute Valley DH trails
Starlight Spectacular night bike ride to support trails
Volunteer opportunities with Medicine Wheel and the Trails and Open Space Coalition
Field trips, Seminars, Workshops, Keynote, Art Auction, Bird Banding, Beginning & Intermediate Birding Workshops, Family Friendly More info and registration.
Mountain Equipment Recyclers Summer Kickoff
Saturday May 20th from 10 AM – 6 PM
5th annual Kick off to Summer sale! Whether your favorite summer activity is rock climbing, hiking, backpacking or hammocking, MER will have something for you.
Great Sales on Summer Gear!
FREE lunch for first 100 guests starting at 11:30!
Live music!
Prizes and giveaways!
As you’re cleaning out your closets and garages make sure to take the summer gear you are no longer using to MER! Be sure to tell them you’re donating your good for the Trails and Open Space Coalition. Give gently-used gear a new life and help support TOSC! MER website.
Save the Dates
2nd Annual COS Bike Summit June 2
Friday, June 2, 1 pm – 7 pm
UCCS, Berger Hall, University Center
Registration is required for this FREE event as space is limited. Includes workshops and after-Summit Happy Hour and networking.
The Colorado Springs Bike Summit is designed to get information to people who care about biking, create bike advocates, and shape a vision of what’s possible in Colorado Springs. Partners include UCCS, Colorado Springs Independent, SRAM, Bike Colorado Springs and the Trails and Open Space Coalition. Sponsored in part by Downtown Colorado Springs.
Your free summit registration includes:
* Keynote starting at 1 pm.
* Two breakout sessions
* Plenary session
* Optional Happy Hour and Expo
You can register for the Happy Hour & Expo Only. Register here.
Starlight Spectacular Saturday, June 17!
Events and Specials heading into Starlight Season.
Starlight Karma Hour at Bristol May 23
Tuesday, May 23, 5 – 9 pm
Bristol Brewing Company, 1604 S. Cascade Ave.
Join us for a Starlight-themed Karma Hour at Bristol Brewing! Super Starlight Girl will be there to highlight our SUPERHERO theme. Find out about the online costume contest sponsored by Heuberger Subaru, drawings, prizes, and great beer! $1 from every pint sold goes to the Trails and Open Space Coalition. Facebook event
23rd Annual Starlight Spectacular on June 17th, 2017, the SUPERHERO Starlight!
This fun night-time bicycle ride is suitable for most ages and abilities. 14-, 17-, and 21-mile courses. All riders must wear helmets, and have front and rear lights on their bikes.
Festivities begin 9 pm. Enjoy music, food and drink, and fun!
Watch our Facebook pages for details about our NEW Costume Contest–starting May 10. The theme is SUPERHEROES, so start planning your costumes now!
NEW FORMAT! This year you can truly ride your bike to work! Rather than have a big breakfast in one location, ride your route and stop by any of the nearly two dozen breakfast locations on your way.
Join over 1,000 runners competing in the 2017 American Discovery Trail Races Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and Kids 1K. The scenic course along paved and dirt trails is about as fast and flat as you can find in Colorado. All proceeds directly benefit local trails and local non-profits dedicated to trail stewardship and community running events in Colorado Springs.
Labor Day – Monday, September 4, 2017
America the Beautiful Park
Marathon will start at Palmer Lake and finish at America the Beautiful Park.
Boston marathon qualified point-to-point course through the United States Air Force Academy.
The half marathon, 10K, and Kids Races will start and finish at America the Beautiful Park in downtown Colorado Springs.
The Trails and Open Space Coalition Celebrates 30 years!
Donate now–your donation helps preserve open space and parks.
Thanks to those of you who have generously renewed your membership AND added $30 as we celebrate our 30th anniversary. It was 1987 when a group of community leaders came together to form the Pikes Peak Trails Association to see that land was set aside, trails were built and connected.
We come to you each spring asking you to renew your annual membership. If you just joined us last fall, renew when it’s most convenient for you. We’re glad to have you! By sending out membership letters all at once, we save on staff time and postage. Thank you!
The City TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) turns 20 this year! The City put together a wonderful video featuring people who helped make TOPS a reality, and the landscapes that inspire us all. (6-minute run time)
Here’s the link in case you can’t just click on the picture above.
Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival
