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 El Paso County has temporarily closed the Rainbow Falls Historic Site for major renovations to the parking areas and trails, and significant upgrades adjacent to the falls.
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Rainbow Falls
El Paso County Parks tells us that the park will reopen in July of 2018. For your safety, please respect the closure and stay out of the construction site.
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Banning Lewis Ranch Town Hall April 11
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Banning Lewis Town Hall
with Public Comment
Wed, April 11, 6-7:30 pm
The Trails and Open Space Coalition has asked the city to ensure the conservation of up to 5,000 acres called out in the Parks Master Plan before they agree to a revised annexation agreement..
We also believe that any agreement should include a provision requiring developers to maintain parks in those neighborhoods.
The updated Banning Lewis proposal is available to view here.
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Bike Master Plan draft goes to Council
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The Bike Master Plan envisions a a well-connected and well-maintained network of urban trails, singletrack, and on-street infrastructure that’s safe, convenient, and fun for getting around, getting in shape, or getting away. City Council will review the draft Bike Master Plan at their meeting on April 10.
View the draft master plan here.
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Open House for Platte Ave bridge project–April 10
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Platte Avenue Bridge Project
Open House Tues, April 10, 5:30 p.m.
Eastside Calvary Chapel, 5070 Edison Av
Learn about and comment on the proposed design for the bridges that span Platte Ave over Sand Creek, between Wooten Road and Powers Blvd.
- Safety as a result of aging structure
- Wider bridge for sidewalks
- Signalized intersection
- Future Sand Creek Trail
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North Cheyenne Cañon Master Plan–the facts.
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North Cheyenne Cañon Master Plan.
Get the facts.
There’s been some mis-information about the proposed Cheyenne Cañon Master Plan.
Issues surrounding traffic were particularly controversial at public meetings, and the recommendations were changed based on public input. The resulting plan attempts to balance the needs of the park and conserving the natural assets with the community’s desire for easy access.
Road closures, shuttles, traffic limitations, fees and park passes are NOT part of the current plan. If you read the plan, all of those options are described as possible future needs to secure the health of the park. There is also language calling for a continued public process if ANY of those options were to be re-considered.
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- See the City’s website for the Master Plan, including public meeting notes and materials, at this link.
The Plan will be discussed at the next Parks Advisory Board meeting,Thurs, April 12, beginning at 7:30 am at Parks Headquarters, 1401 Recreation Way.
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Second Annual Sustain-A-Fest April 14
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You’re invited to Sustain-a-Fest 2018 at the Colorado Springs Center for Sustainability (“The Sustainacenter”). This 2nd Annual event is a community celebration of “Earth Day Every Day” with sustainability exhibits & activities, along with local food trucks, live music, demonstrations, and family friendly activities.
Facebook event.
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Saturday, April 21, 9:30 am – 3 pm
Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
Free family fun!
* Free admission to Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site and their celebration events.
* Air Force Academy Falconer’s (Live Falcons)
* Chemical Magic Show
* American Indian Dancers
* Live animals and presentations
* Nature and environmental education, touch tables, arts and crafts, demonstrations.
* Star Party! Come back to enjoy the stars! Later in the day (8:30 – 10:00 pm) there will be a Star Party at the same location to view our night sky!
* Parking at Rock Ledge ranch with free shuttle service and free admission to Rock Ledge.
*Volunteer park cleanup–registration begins 8:30 am.
Sunday, April 22, “Motorless Monday” in Garden of the Gods. The park will be closed to all motor vehicles from 5 am to 10 am.
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Crew Leader Training Registration now open.
Sessions run May 4 – 6, 2018.
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2018 Crew Leader Training
May 4 – 6, 2018
Bear Creek Nature Center
Cost: $25, includes food.
We need more help on the trails!
If you want to work on trails and lead projects this may be the training for you. Space is limited so apply early. Applicants must have trails work experience, agree to a background check (no cost) and participate in two post-training work days.
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Crew Leader Training is hosted by the Trails and Open Space Coalition, RMFI, Friends of the Peak and the City of Colorado Springs.
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VOLUNTEER PROJECTS–Get outside and make a difference!
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Palmer Park cleanup
Sat, April 7, 8 am
The Guardians of Palmer Park invite you to join us this coming Saturday morning to pick up trash and dog waste in the park. If enough volunteers show up, we will do some trail maintenance as well.
We will start gathering in the parking area near the Maizeland entrance of the park around 8 a.m.
Please come prepared with work gloves and water.
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Spring Cleanup of Shooks Run Creek
Sat, April 21, 9am to 12pm
Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up our neighborhood creek. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves. We will clean the creek from Uintah Street south to Pikes Peak Avenue. Register and pick up trash bags at one of these locations:
North Shooks Run Park on Franklin Street just north of Willamette.
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Saturday, April 21, 9 am
Over 20 sites–listed below.
Join hundreds of people from COS, Monument, Fountain and Manitou Springs to clean up trails and parks!
Sign up at the Great American Cleanup Pikes Peak Partners website. Pro tip: sign up EARLY to choose the site you most want to visit, as numbers are limited and some sites tend to fill up. Signups at this link.
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* 3rd St Trailhead, Monument
* America the Beautiful Park
* Baptist Road, Monument
* Bear Creek Park and Dog Park
* Downtown COS
* Eastridge Dog Park
* Fountain Creek Regional Park
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Cleanup sites:
* Goose Gossage Park
* Greenway Trail
* Homestead Ranch
* Las Vegas St
* Legacy Loop Plaza/ Monument Valley Park
* Manitou Springs Memorial Park
* North Cheyenne Cañon Park
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- Monument Valley Park
- Palmer Park
- Pikeview Reservoir
- Rock Island Trail/Falcon
- Rosco’s Coffee House
- Shooks Run
- Stratmoor Valley
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Save the Dates–large-scale citizen cleanups of our waterways
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Fri May 4, 10am-2pm
- Greenway Trail /Fountain Creek.
- Bear Creek bridge to Tejon St along Fountain Creek.
- Trash Mob costume cleanup; theme will be Star Wars-May the 4th Be With You.
- Adopt-A-Waterway Group: US Green Building Council
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Sat June 23, 10am – 2pm
- Midland Trail/Fountain Creek
- America the Beautiful Park to Ridge Rd. near Manitou Springs
- Adopt-A-Waterway Groups: Bal Seal Engineering and Pedals-N-Pints
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Friends of Red Rock Canyon Karma Night April 17
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Join the Friends of Red Rock Canyon at the Bristol Brewery Karma Hour on Tues, April 17th, from 6 – 8 pm. $1 of each pint sold will go to Friends of Red Rock Canyon. Bristol is in Ivywild School at 1604 S. Cascade Ave.
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Bear Creek Garden–plots available for this year.
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Plots are available for the Charmaine Nymann Community Garden at Bear Creek Gardens. Opening day for the 2018 growing season is Saturday, April 21st. Anyone interested in obtaining a plot should call John Poyzer (719) 576-2664 or Karen Stith (719) 634-4433 as soon as possible.
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El Paso County Spring Events
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Friends of Homestead Ranch Regional Park Social Hour
Thurs, April 19, 6 pm
JAKs Brewery
For more info:
dananordstrom@
elpasoco.com |
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Earth Day Family Stroll at Bear Creek
Saturday, April 21,
Noon-2:00 p.m.
Join us for a family-friendly hike to enjoy earth’s beauty at Bear Creek. Create a take-home craft using recycled materials. No fee but preregistration is required. Space is limited.
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Registration is open for nature camps at Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers!
Click here to:
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Stratton Open Space Info Meeting April 23
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Friends of Stratton Open Space
Information meeting
Mon, April 23, 7-8 pm
Cheyenne Mtn Library, 1785 S 8th
- Help organize and set the direction of service projects and activities in the Open Space
- Represent the interests and point of view of Stratton Open Space in city policy and planning meetings.
- Help protect and preserve Stratton Open Space
Stratton Open Space comprises 318 acres of public land adjacent to Cheyenne Mountain High and Ridgeway Ave.
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Volunteers needed for Pikes Peak Races this summer
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Please consider being a volunteer for one of the Pikes Peak races. The Pikes Peak Racing organization is a supporter of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.Volunteers are critical to their success.
The Pikes Peak races include:
- Garden of the Gods Race – 10 Mile and 10K – June 10
- Summer Roundup Trail Run – Cheyenne Mountain State Park – 10K/Half Marathon July 8
- Barr Trail Mtn Race – July 15
- Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon – August 18 and 19.
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