News January 5, 2018

Exciting improvements for Widefield Community Park
New signs on the Legacy Loop
CSFD says warming fires are legal
Old North End Transportation meeting Jan 18
Cheyenne Cañon Master Plan meeting Jan 25
Events in our Parks in January
Volunteer in Palmer Park Sat, Jan 6
A big THANK YOU for a successful Give! campaign
JANUARY 5, 2018

 

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Exciting changes coming for Widefield Park

El Paso County Parks will spend more than $360,000 to improve Widefield Community Park, located in Security-Widefield, southeast of Colorado Springs.

The El Paso County Parks Department recently announced that they have been awarded two grants–a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant and a $110,000 Colorado Springs Health Foundation grant–which will enable the addition of a new playground, benches, pickleball courts, and new trails. Many more improvements are on the way in the summer and fall of 2018.

 

New signs for the Legacy Loop trails
We just saw these signs on Thursday afternoon. Stay tuned for more information about how many there are and where they’re all located. We love them!
Please drop our Parks Director a line to say thank you: 
Karen Palus, kpalus@springsgov.com

 

CSFD: Controlled warming fires allowed

The Colorado Springs Fire Department wants the public to know that they are aware of the many warming fires currently being lit throughout the City of Colorado Springs, often by the homeless population. These fires are usually classified as “recreational.” It is important for citizens to be able to recognize the difference between a controlled recreational fire and a hostile fire. While recreational fires are allowed in the City of Colorado Springs, there are specific guidelines which must be followed to lower the risk of a recreational fire becoming hostile, requiring fire and police involvement.

Read more on our blog, including guidelines for regular outdoor burning, what’s the difference between a recreational fire and a hostile fire, rules for burn restrictions and burn bans.

 

Public Meetings

 

 
Old/Near North End Transportation Study 
Thurs, Jan. 18, 6-8 pm
City Auditorium, 
Residents are invited to participate in the third in a series of meetings to discuss how to address transportation and safety concerns in the Old/Near North End neighborhoods.
N Cheyenne Cañon Master Plan Workshops
Thursday, Jan 25, 6 pm
* Tuesday, March 6, 5 pm
Cheyenne Mtn HS 
Help create the Master Plan for North Cheyenne Cañon by attending these community workshops and weighing in on plans for the future of the park..
GOG Restroom Update
The Garden of the Gods Facility Improvement Plan was approved by Parks Board on Dec 14. The two new restroom areas: parking lot 7 (in the central garden) and south garden parking lot 10.

 

Upcoming outdoor events

 

Winter Wonders Walk at Fox Run
Saturday, January 13, 10:00 AM
Explore the trails at Fox Run Regional Park to discover winter happenings such as tracks and other wildlife signs. Who lives here in the winter and how do they survive? Prepaid registration required. $3 per member, $4 per nonmember. All ages welcome. Register here.
Active Adult Series: Full Moon Hike
January 31, 6:00 PM
Celebrate the full moon as we walk along the trails of Bear Creek Nature Center, enjoying the sights and sounds of moonlit trails. Be prepared for cold and possibly snowy or icy conditions. Preregistration required. $3/member, $4/guest. Adults only.

Register here.

 

Fountain Creek Winter Bird Count
January 13, 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Beginning to advanced birders are invited to observe and record the numbers of bird species and populations found in Fountain Creek Regional Park. $5 per person. Reservations required.

Register here.

 
Martin Luther King, Jr Service Day
January 20, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fountain Creek Regional Park
 
To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who asked, “What are you doing for others?” we invite 10-20 people to help staff remove invasive elm trees from the nature center trails, then join around a campfire for s’mores! Must be able to use a handsaw. Free. Preregistration required.

 

Volunteer in Palmer Park Jan 6
Palmer Park Cleanup
Sat, Jan 6, 9 am
Join Guardians of Palmer Park this coming Saturday morning to pick up trash and dog
waste in the park. (Trail maintenance will have to wait for until warmer weather.) Gather in the parking area near the Maizeland entrance of the park around 9 a.m. Please come prepared with work gloves and water.

 

A big THANK YOU!
Thank you for your support during the Give! campaign.
75 fine non-profits participated this year, and raised a total of $1.5 million for critical projects across our region.
TOSC came in #4 in donations and #3 in number of donors. We could not have done so well without you!

Those dollars will support our efforts in 2018 to improve trail connectivity, increase volunteerism in our parks and open spaces, and make our region more bicycle friendly for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Your belief in us keeps us energized and focused. Again, thank you!
(And don’t forget to use those rewards before the deadline!)
See you on the trails,
Trails and Open Space Coalition
719-633-6884 
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