Starts and ends at the Sustainacenter, 702 E Boulder
For the past several years, REI stores have closed on Black Friday, (which this year is November 24th), and encouraged their staff and members to get outside and enjoy nature, exercise and generally “opt outside”. The staff and volunteers at Trail and Open Space could not agree more!
In the spirit of REI’s #optoutside campaign, we’re sponsoring a bike ride and a hike on our urban trails. Bike Colorado Springs, a program of TOSC, will lead a leisurely ride/tour around the Legacy Loop in downtown Colorado Springs, and Trails and Open Space Coalition staff will lead a social hike along a scenic and historic portion of the Shooks Run Trail (the eastern leg of the Legacy Loop).
2017 has been a huge year for us, with major projects involving Ring the Peak, the Legacy Loop, and El Paso County Parks. We’ve got exciting new projects coming up around parks, trails, and open spaces. But we need your help to make it happen!
From Nov 1st to Dec 31st, our donation page will be open for business at the Indy Give! site at www.indygive.com/tosc. Our goal is $50,000. We already have matching grants of $10,695, so your dollars go farther! Donate now!
We have free, fun events scheduled from now until the end of the year. November events:
The public is invited to Envision Ring the Peak: Gateway to the Outdoors
The forum, sponsored by the Trails and Open Space Coalition, Friends of the Peak, and Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, provides an opportunity for community members, property owners, public officials and all interested individuals to learn more about economic development opportunities associated with outdoor recreation in the Pikes Peak Region and provide input on the Ring the Peak Trail Master Plan.
We’re excited to participate once again in the COS Outdoor Rec Expo! Everything to do with outdoor recreation–clubs, nonprofits, retail, manufacturers, events, rehab, cross training, and more–on display for your entertainment, education, and shopping pleasure. Join us for a fun time in the gym!
Being in Ivywild School gives people the chance to order drinks in the gym or The Principal’s Office as well as food. Plus when you’re done at the show, swing by Bristol Brewing Company or Axe and the Oak Whiskey House to snag a growler of beer or bottle of whiskey to go, or just stick around and get social with others passionate about outdoor based recreation. This is more than a simple expo, it’s a community.
Preview the Draft Bike Master Plan and give input!
The city is in the process of updating the bike master plan. The plan is a road map to develop our bike infrastructure from where it is right now to where we want it to be. The plan includes specific recommendations and priorities.
You can see the City’s draft Master plan at this link.
You can give feedback on the Bike Master Plan through December 10th. Go to the Master Plan page at this link.
The City will be hosting several public meetings where the Bike Plan will be discussed before final presentation to City Council for approval in early 2018.
The City of Colorado Springs and RTA Architects are seeking input from the public on the Master Plan for Garden of the Gods Restroom Improvements. Citizens and interested parties are invited to attend the final public meeting to provide feedback. You can also take an online survey (link below).
The Garden of the Gods Park was recently listed as the top ranked park in the country and second ranked park in the world by TripAdvisor. Nearly four million people are expected to visit the park in 2017.
Try out a fat bike or bring your own. Preview a stormwater project that will incorporate multi-use trails! To request a bike demo, email jcordova@springsgov.com. **You must bring your own helmet in order to ride.
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.
