Ring the Peak Update: RTP Master Plan Process begins
The Colorado Springs Trails and Open Space Coalition and Friends of the Peak announce the commencement of the Ring the Peak Trail Master Plan Process for completing the southwest 8-mile trail gap. Through a competitive selection process, the Trails and Open Space Coalition and its partners, Friends of the Peak and the City of Colorado Springs Parks Department, selected local land planning consultant N.E.S. Inc. and its team of specialists to lead the Master Plan process. We are excited that Chris Lieber, former director of the city’s TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) program will be project manager for the consulting team overseeing our Ring the Peak Trail project.
Once we have a schedule put together, we’ll list opportunities to participate in the Master Plan process on our website and in this newsletter. You can also sign up to receive project enewsletters by sending an email to Mike Rigney, Complete the Ring Project Manager, mike@trailsandopenspaces.org, requesting to be added to the project contact list.
Free, family-friendly event in the park featuring live music, kids’ activities, food, frozen treats, live theater acts and FUN!
Mobile Music Project providing human-powered sound and live music, pedal-powered smoothies and a bit of spin-art.
Millibo Art Theater providing a host of creative and engaging activities, from their monster bubble factory to a number of fun artsy endeavors.
Food will be available for purchase from The Local food truck with all proceeds directly benefitting SEEDS Community Cafe.
At around 5:00pm, the Millibo Art Theater will put on an interactive live theater event that will be enjoyed by people of all ages, but especially by children. More information at the Facebook event.
Saturday, July 8, 9 am
Monument Valley Park south parking lot, 222 Mesa Road
Join the Friends of Monument Valley Park on Saturday, July 8th, at 9:00 am to help clean up the dry lake bed in the southern half of Monument Valley Park. Meet at the Mesa Road parking lot. This clean-up will be a concentrated effort lasting approximately 1 ½ hours!
Venezia Park Grand Opening July 8, 11 am – 3 pm
Saturday, July 8, 11 am – 3 pm
John Venezia Community Park
3575 Briargate Parkway
Don’t miss the dedication of the newest park in town. Live music, sports, cowboys and ponies! Presentations at 11 am. Activation of the Watering Hole at 11:30.
Full Moon Hike with Hiking Bob July 8
Saturday, July 8: Full Moon Hike with Hiking Bob
Meet at the Starsmore Center by 7 pm.
Bring: flashlight and/or a headlamp, water, snacks, rain gear, hiking poles and a signed release.
Hikers can expect a pleasant hike to the summit of Mt. Cutler, viewing moonrise and a pleasant moonlit hike back down. Expect to be back no later than 10pm.
Friday, July 14th and Sat, July 15th, the public is invited to take park in hikes, talks, and experiments in Jimmy Camp Creek, an area currently not open to the public. You can register for any of the Bioblitz events on the City’s website using the activity number.
A Bioblitz is an intense period of biological surveying to record all the living species within a designated area. Groups of scientists, naturalists and volunteers conduct an field study over a continuous time period.
Join the Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course for a great evening with Sandy Wells! With early pop Country and Southern Rock roots, her music raises strong emotion, yet keeps your foot tapping.
All event proceeds benefit the expansion of the Equestrian Skills Course at Bear Creek Regional Park (equestrianskillscourse.org). More info and tickets at this link.
Fountain Creek Nature Center 25th Anniversary, July 29
Fountain Creek Nature Center 25th Anniversary Open House
Sat, July 29, 10 am – 2 pm
320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain
Music, bug sweeps, pond critters, magic shows! Free open house to celebrate one of our community’s great assets.
Volunteer as an Operation Assistant for Colorado’s Largest Sports Festival!
The 16th Annual Rocky Mountain State Games, July 21-23 & 28-30
The Rocky Mountain State Games is Colorado’s largest sports festival with
competition in 40+ sports for athletes of all ages and abilities, including those with physical disabilities or visual impairment. More than 10,000 athletes of all ages & abilities are expected to compete.
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.
