Changes to the Reservation System
Adjustments have been made to the Incline reservation system. Users can now make reservations up to 8 weeks in advance. This should clear up one of the more confusing aspects of the system. TOSC and Incline Friends both regularly received phone calls or messages from confused applicants who thought there were no openings available because the system previously only allowed people to make reservations no more than seven days in advance.The “no-show” rate continues to run high, topping 40% in each of the first two weeks of August.
Colorado Springs Parks staff is doing an admirable job of taking these high rates into consideration and making room for last minute reservations and “walk-up” users.
Incline Friends applauds staff efforts in welcoming, accommodating, and offering information and advice to Incliners, especially first-timers but as an organization, IF remains opposed to any reservation system.
This being summertime, as you would expect, there have been a lot of out-of-state visitors. They made up 40% of Incline reservations during August and 40% of those were from Texas, leading all states.
Learn more and register for free at coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/manitou-incline
PARK AND TRAIL News
El Paso County Parks is celebrating 50 years with an eye on the next 5 to 10 years.
Please take a few minutes to fill out a survey and help shape the 2021 El Paso County Parks Master Plan.
EPCountyParkPlan.com will be used to update the current master plan and provide a road map for
future investments. Do our county regional parks need more bathrooms? Updated Playgrounds? Pickle
ball Courts? Miles of trail? Share your priorities! What about maintenance? What needs do you see in
our county parks? Here is your chance to be heard. Thanks!
Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s New ManagerNext time you stop at the visitor center, say hello to CMSP’s new manager – Jason Hagan.
If Jason looks familiar, it’s because he was Senior Ranger for two years with the park before his promotion. He was also instrumental in the completion of the Dixon Trail.
Here’s something you may not know about Jason: in 2017 he single-handedly ended a nationwide search for a New Hampshire man suspected of kidnapping his four children in a custody dispute.
Jason was putting fuel in his patrol vehicle at a service station on the south side of Colorado Springs when he spotted a white Chevy with New Hampshire plates pulling a pop-up camper trailer. The vehicle was being driven by a man and had four children inside.
He recognized the vehicle from an alert distributed to all law enforcement personnel and he immediately called in the vehicle and suspect information. Then he took the agitated suspect into custody and held him until backup arrived.
In his free time, Jason enjoys hunting, fishing, kayaking and spending time with his wife and two daughters. He takes the place of Mitch Martin who was promoted to Deputy Regional Manager for CPW.
Sand Creek Project UpdateThe Platte Avenue over Sand Creek project will be installing new girders as part of the bridge replacement Sept. 9 and 10, 8:00 pm – 5:00 am, weather and resource dependent.
Eastbound traffic on Platte Avenue (including bicyclists and pedestrians) will be closed and detoured both nights at Wooten Road, north to Galley Road and east to the Powers Interchange. Westbound traffic on Platte Avenue will be reduced to one-lane overnight Thursday, Sept. 9 only. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes when possible and bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded of the restricted access around the site during construction. Construction will also accommodate the future Sand Creek Regional Trail under the Platte Avenue bridge.
For more information about this project, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/PSCBridge.
Daniel’s Pass Trails UpdateThe current trails in North Cheyenne Canon Park will close beginning Sept 7th to allow for construction of 6.5 miles of new trail scheduled to open in October.
The existing, unsustainable trails in Daniels Pass will be decommissioned by RMFI. The Broadmoor land exchange resulted in an expansion of North Cheyenne Canon Park and allowed for construction of the new Daniels Pass Trail, Sweetwater Canyon Trail and a 1/3 of a mile hiking-only connector trail to Mt. Muscoco. Funding was provided by a State Trails Grant, TOPS Trails dollars, Friends of North Cheyenne Canon and support from the PPORA Stewardship fund. We will provide photos of the new trails and an opening date when available.
Ute Valley ParkOne of the great success stories of TOPS funding being used to protect land in Colorado Springs can be found in Ute Valley Park. The original 345 acres of the park was given to the City of Colorado Springs in 1969. In 2013, the 200 acres that make up the open space on the eastern end of Ute Valley Park was purchased with a combination of funding from TOPS, GOCO and private donors. This quiet section of open space is where the Black and Blue trails can be found as well as trails that connect into the Ute Valley Park Regional Trail. This magnificent landscape of sandstone rock formations and a dense ponderosa forest has a strong Friends Group serves the park. The Friends of Ute Valley Park, who advocate for their beloved park and lead workdays in the park throughout the year, have recently won a volunteer of the year award and an award from the Colorado Springs Fire Department for their wildfire mitigation work.
Learn more about the impact TOPS is making in our community trailsandopenspaces.org/tops
TOSC
Two Shoes Trek ChallengeSat. Sept 11, 7:00 – 12:00 PM
Calling all RUNNERS, join us for the Two Shoes Trek Challenge this Saturday! Take on a 5k/10k/30k through towering ponderosa pines in the amazing Fox Run Regional Park. Be a part of the greenest race in the Pikes Peak region following Leave No Trace Principles and aiming for zero waste. All proceeds benefit Pikes Peak Road Runners and the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
Help support the trails and community you love Signup TODAY!
Registration closes September 10th
Get Out Get Healthy Scavenger HuntSat. Sept 11, 9:00 – 12:00 PM
The Trails and Open Space Coalition and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs are looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend for the Community Scavenger Hunt at John Venezia Park! This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
There are still some spaces left, so we encourage you to signup by Wednesday September 8th, registration closes at the end of the day.
There are 3 different scavenger hunt walking routes available from .4 miles to 1.1 miles.
After the scavenger hunt, visit the Bunkhouse Pavilion, where we will be joined by several of our community partners, including: Miles the Broncos Mascot, Ziggy the Switchbacks Mascot, experts from the Butterfly Pavilion, Pikes Peak Library District staff and live music from the Melange Duo.
All registered participants will receive a small goody-bag, walk-up participants will receive one while supplies last.
TOSC ApparelThe Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) advocates for the creation and conservation of an interconnected network of trails, parks and open spaces across the Pikes Peak region. If you support TOSC, please consider purchasing some apparel to help our organization! Items available for a limited time only, so don’t wait, order NOW.
Community
Work Day at Palmer ParkSat. Sept 11, 8:00 – 12:30 PM
The Guardians of Palmer Park are joining forces with a local veterans group, The Mission Continues, to honor the 20th anniversary of September 11 with a day of Service in Palmer Park. There will be food, music & multiple trail projects, pick one out & register!
Trail Work, there will be at least three teams doing trail reconstruction & maintenance – https://cerv.is/m?0132gKDOaVs
Trail Closure, one team closing down rogue trails – https://cerv.is/m?0132gW0Gmxe
Fire Mitigation, one team reducing wildland fire risk – https://cerv.is/m?0132goa5OgJ
Cleanup, multiple teams doing the ever necessary trash pickup on the trails – https://cerv.is/m?0132g5C89qD
Bike Your Park DaySat. Sept 25, 2021
What’s the best place to go on Bike Your Park Day on September 25? The answer is right in your backyard! A bike adventure is what you make it. Epic National Park trips are great, but sometimes a ride through your city park or a day on an urban trail is the best way to spark the love of adventure with your community. Register to Ride and receive a Bike Your Park Day sticker!
8th Annual Creek Week Cleanup
September 25th – October 3rd 2021
Celebrate water, nature and community by being a part of the 8th annual Creek Week Cleanup, Colorado’s largest waterway cleanup event! In 2020, over 10 tons of trash was kept from compromising drains and waterways. In 2021, the tradition of caring for our Fountain Creek Watershed continues with the goal of getting more people out for this education/outreach/action program of the Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control and Greenway District.
Our Watershed needs you! Even more helping hands are needed to remove trash from our public and private lands to prevent pollutants from harming fragile habitats, negatively impacting water quality and becoming a safety hazard for our communities. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in this event either individually in a public event or form a Creek Week Crew. This is a great event for businesses, sports teams, churches and any organization to make an impact in our community.
To find more information and to register, please visit: fountain-crk.org/register
Have questions? Please email creekweeksoco@gmail.com