Panorama Park Groundbreaking
We are excited to announce the groundbreaking for the redevelopment of Panorama Park will take place on May 8th! The City of Colorado Springs invites you to take part in this groundbreaking celebration virtually by tuning in to the Facebook live streaming that will start at 12:30pm on that day. Construction is expected to last through early summer of 2022, and the City appreciates the patience and understanding of neighbors and parks users during this time. This is the largest neighborhood park renovation in our city’s history, and has been an incredibly successful collaborative effort driven by the City Parks Department, the RISE Coalition, and Trust for Public Land. TOSC along with many other project partners have been involved in the master planning process and it is a truly inspiring list of amenities that this re-imagined space will provide. The 13.5 acre park will include many of the standard field and court facilities found in large neighborhood parks around Colorado Springs and new walking paths and trees to complete the environment. Additionally, the park will also include a universally accessible playground, a community-built tile art installment, a custom-built climbing boulder provided by a grant from The North Face, and separate walking and biking trails that will meet the recreational needs for people and families of all ages and abilities. The transformation of this park is the realization of a vision crafted with a high level of community input and involvement and will create a unique destination not just for this neighborhood, but for citizens throughout Colorado Springs.
For more project information, please visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/panoramapark
PARK AND TRAIL News
Closure at North Cheyenne Cañon ParkMon. May 3 – May 28, 2021
City Park Services will be working on improving and expanding the large gravel parking lot at the west end of North Cheyenne Cañon Park (N. Cheyenne Cañon Road, High Drive, and Gold Camp Road; just uphill from Helen Hunt Falls). The gravel lot and Gold Camp Road will be closed to vehicles. Recreational users can still access 7 Bridges, St. Mary’s Buckhorn, Captain Jacks, Gold Camp (the closed sections) and High Drive, but parking will be limited. Trail users are encouraged to park around the Starsmore center to hike or bike into the park, and are also encouraged to visit other parks during this time. The City will be actively patrolling for illegally parked cars as well during this time, which may be ticketed or towed at the owners expenses.
Gold Camp Rd Closure
A portion of Gold Camp Road (north of the Chutes and Ladders trailhead) is closed to vehicles because a large, SUV size boulder fell into the road on Sunday, April 24th. The road closure is from the northern boundary of North Cheyenne Cañon Park to the gravel parking lot uphill from Helen Hunt Falls. The US Forest Service spent Monday looking at options for removal, and determined it will require hiring a specialized team to break up the boulder into smaller pieces that can then be relocated. Workers will also be surveying the hillside to determine if the area is at risk of additional falling rocks. This stretch of road will remain closed until the boulder is removed and the road deemed safe for travel.
Park visitors are asked to avoid the area to minimize traffic issues.
Trail Ambassadors
Spend your summer outdoors as a Volunteer Trail Ambassador at Rainbow Falls and the Paint Mines! Join TOSC and El Paso County Parks Staff on May 5th at 6:00pm on Zoom to learn more about the program and what to expect as a Trail Ambassador.
To register for this event, please click here.
Target Shooting in Pike National Forest
We reached out to the Forest Service to find out the status of the project and at this time the Interdisciplinary Team is working to complete the NEPA study and revise the proposed actions that will be considered. They anticipate having the environmental assessment completed and details released by this Fall. If no major issues are encountered, they are hoping to have a final decision by the end of 2021, or early into 2022 and a plan for moving forward at that time. Given that this is a very complex issue and impacts the use of 1.1 million acres of public land, we at TOSC will keep engaged with the process and bring you additional details as they become available.
For more information on this project, visit: Integrated Management of Target Shooting on the Pike National Forest. To subscribe to the project mailing list directly, click HERE.
Pikes Peak Greenway Trail CleanupTOSC and business partner Northrop Grumman joined forces to pull 75 bags of litter from the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail and Monument Creek near Rockrimmon and Mark Dabbling Blvd. This cleanup on April 24th was a huge success due to the passion from over 35 volunteers from Northrop Grumman’s local office and their families. Over the course of several hours, this energetic group of volunteers found everything from single-use plastics in the grass along the trail to an old boat anchor caught in trees in the middle of the creek. TOSC is thankful for the support of Northrop Grumman and other business partners who are eager to get their hands dirty to help our trails and open spaces.
TOSC
Scoop the Poop ChallengeSat. May 8th, 9:00 – 12:00 pm
We all hate to see it on the trails and in our parks. We know it is hazardous to the environment and can be harmful to humans and other animals. So, TOSC and Subaru have partnered up to clean up six popular open spaces. We will have volunteers at trailheads and will be asking trail users to grab a TOSC-supplied dog waste bag to fill up while on their morning hike. All users that return a full bag will be entered into a contest to win 1 of 40 $50 gift cards to local businesses!
Check out our Facebook Event for more info!
Virtual Trail Mixer: E-BIKES ON TRAILSTues. May 11, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Guest speakers to include:
– Colorado Springs City Staff will discuss their pilot program to introduce e-bikes to our trail network
– Platinum level bike-friendly city advocates will share how e-bikes are viewed in their community
– Long time e-bike user will discuss how certain populations benefit from access to e-bikes
Registration is LIMITED to 100 people.
Member Spotlight: Ann SeymourFun fact about you: I retired almost four years ago from Colorado Springs Utilities where I had the honor to manage the water conservation programs for the community including our beautiful Xeriscape Demonstration gardens, rebates and several cycles of drought response.
What do our local parks and trails mean to you? Our trails and proximity to the mountains are the reason I stay in Colorado Springs, I am moving my body virtually everyday on one of the community trails and they have been my lifeline though Covid.
Why is it important to support TOSC? TOSC is the advocacy group that represents MY VOICE to protect and grow our greatest community assets — connecting trails, protecting open space and ensuring funding for maintenance of existing parks and development of new parks.
What is your favorite trail/park? This is the toughest question yet as I use so many, but I can narrow it down to three: Front Range Trail, though Monument Valley Park (I can walk from home); Garden of the Gods (hiking, great hills and views); and Cottonwood Creek Trail (24 mile round trip bike ride from home with only one major street crossing. SPECTACULAR!)
How long have you lived in the Pikes Peak Region? I moved to CS in 1982, so almost 40 years.
If you are not a member yet, you can still join!
Community
FUN RIDE to KICK OFF Midland MaySaturday, May 1, 8 a.m.
Meet at Pike Ride Station at the US Olympic Museum at 7:45 with your bike and helmet (or download the Pike Ride app so you can ride a super slick and easy e-bike) and join us for a quick spin up and back the Midland Trail. Stay with us – stop and grab breakfast – join us at any point. This ride is just for fun and to familiarize yourself with the Midland Trail. Longtime Midland Trail fan Karole Campbell will guide and point out fun on-and-off stops to explore restaurants, retail, downtown, Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. Once you’re familiar with the route- the Midland is ALL YOURS to explore!
Get Outside – Expert SeriesThu. May 6, 2021 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Kinship Landing is hosting a casual, open air, safely masked shindig filled with outdoor loving people! Get the inside scoop on how to make the most of getting outside this Spring in the Pikes Peak Region. Local experts will share stories and insight; enjoy giveaways and discounted libations!
Bicycle-Friendly DriversWed. May 12, 6:00 PM via Zoom
FREE Bicycle-Friendly Drivers online training, hosted by Bicycle Colorado! Learn about laws and safe practices for both road users, how to navigate on-street bicycle infrastructure and how to avoid common crashes between drivers and bicyclists. After the webinar, participants will complete an exam and those who pass will be emailed a certificate to demonstrate their new knowledge. Through evaluations, all ages and levels of drivers (and bicyclists!) have shared that they benefited from the course and that content should be mandatory for everyone on our roads.
Motorless Morning – Early Bird Hike and BikesThe City Parks Department along with a large cadre of volunteers put on the first 2021 Motorless Morning event in Garden of the Gods. Initial indications are that this was one of the largest non-motorized events produced to date and it was inspiring to see the many modes of travel used to access this incredibly unique and beautiful amenity in Colorado Springs. People of all ages and abilities were able to take in the peaceful experience of walking, running, strolling, and riding through the Garden and the presence of two large groups of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep made it all the more special. Additional opportunities to enjoy this iconic park in a quiet, automobile-free fashion, provided by Park’s staff will take place from 5:00 – 8:00 am on the last Wednesday of each month, May – September, in the form of Early Bird Hike and Bike events. More info.
Garden Plots Available!!
CHARMAINE NYMANN COMMUNITY GARDEN, ORGANIC GARDEN PLOTS
Located on two acres in Bear Creek Park, the garden consists of 104 full size plots. The garden is surrounded by a five-foot high fence with seven gates. The plot fees are $120 for a full-size plot (20 feet x 40 feet) and $75 for a half-size plot ( 20 feet x 20 feet). This fee includes the tilling of the garden by the El Paso County Parks Department in the early spring, the cost of water for the gardening season, and all other repair and maintenance expenses.
Interested? Call Karen (719) 634-4433 or Mary (719) 375-5224.
DUCKWOOD GARDENS, FOUNTAIN CREEK REGIONAL PARK
· 40 4×8 raised wooden beds
· 4 10×12 plots
· Fenced with 4 gates
· Close parking
· On-site water from 4 taps
$20 single 4’x8’ bed / $35 two 4’x8’ beds / $30 10’x12’ plot
Sign up for a plot:elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/duckwood-community-gardens
SPRINGS IN BLOOM
Springs in Bloom is a free City program where individuals, families, clubs and businesses can adopt one of the approximately 100 flower beds located throughout Colorado Springs. It’s a way to enhance this great City we live in. Flowers are provided by City Greenhouse in Monument Valley Park, volunteers plant and maintain the plot May – October. Applications due May 1st! Only a handful of plots left.
For more info, contact Donna: 578-6649 or Donna.Sanchez@coloradosprings.gov or Learn more online.
