Pikes Peak Greenway opens north of University Village
The Pikes Peak Greenway/Santa Fe Trail along Monument Creek north of University Village is OPEN at last! It’s been closed since October for Colorado Springs Utilities work in the area. Read more.
Cottonwood Trail Update–Be safe, stay out of work zones!
The Cottonwood Trail and bridge project is progressing well. Crews are demolishing the east side of the existing Academy bridge, and will start to build the new bridge soon.
Construction crews say that trail users are entering the construction zone from Cottonwood Creek Trail to the east. PLEASE, respect closure signs and work zones!Let people do their jobs without having to worry about dodging stray pedestrians, so they can finish the job and open the trail!
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.
This pilot event will eliminate motor vehicle access within the park from 5-10 am. During the Motorless Morning, visitors will be encouraged to park their vehicles at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center or Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site.
Join Buffalo Lodge on Earth Day for a car-free, carefree bike ride in the Garden of the Gods. Meet at the Lodge and ride the Garden as many loops as you like and then meet up for waffles, coffee, mimosas and bloody Mary’s at the lodge after with suggested donation of $10 benefiting World Bicycle Relief. Park and Ride from the Lodge.
Venezia Community Park Bike Colorado Springs is sponsoring the first-ever Briargate Neighborhood Bike Ride. Working alongside representatives from NE COS Bikes!, we’ll be co-hosting a family-friendly bike ride on the trail system surrounding the newly opened John Venezia Community Park. This will be a ride that is friendly for the little pedalers in the family and a way for families to come out, and enjoy bicycle-themed fun.
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.
Crew Leader Training is hosted by the Trails and Open Space Coalition, RMFI, Friends of the Peak and the City of Colorado Springs.
VOLUNTEER PROJECTS–Get outside and make a difference!
(Be sure to check with organizers for cancellation info).
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.
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.
* 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
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
Monument Valley Park
Palmer Park
Pikeview Reservoir
Rock Island Trail/Falcon
Rosco’s Coffee House
Shooks Run
Stratmoor Valley
Cheyenne Cañon Cleanup April 21
In conjunction with Earth Day and the Great American Clean Up, Cheyenne Cañon is having a Clean-up. April 21, 8:15 am at the Starsmore Center.
This event is great for the whole family.
Be prepared to spend a few hours outdoors! Be sure to wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking on trails as well as a pair of gloves for picking up trash. Water will be provided, however we prefer if volunteers bring their own in reusable bottles.
Lunch will be provided immediately following the clean-up day!
Be sure to sign up in advance so you get any notifications, delays or cancellations.
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 AND PARTNER NEWS
Stratton Open Space Info Meeting April 23
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.
Bear Creek Garden–plots available for this year.
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.
El Paso County Spring Events
Free Youth Fishing Derby
Willow Springs Ponds, Ftn Creek Regional Park
Sat, May 19
9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Get outside and learn to fish at Willow Springs Ponds! This is a free fishing derby for children ages 5 to 15. Bring your own rod, reel, tackle, and bait.
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.
