Coleman Community Park Master Plan Forum
This coming Saturday, May 21st we invite you to join us from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at the first Community Forum focused on the upcoming Coleman Community Park project. This exciting development will build a community-level park facility that will be on par with Memorial and John Venezia Parks. The project team is inviting the public to come out and learn more about the 3 major vision areas that include creating an active sports hub, integrating Sand Creek and nature, and other community park amenities.
This is an exciting project for this region of Colorado Springs as the east side of the city along the Powers corridor does not have access to a park or recreation facility of this size. This new park will allow for multiple different uses and the integration of Sand Creek and the wetland areas it provides in very unique and beautiful ways. Along with the standard large park amenities to allow for organized sports and individual enjoyment, the plan calls for additional trails and connections throughout the very expansive site, creating a destination location along the Sand Creek Trail and stellar recreational hub for this region.
Unlike many public forums, this event will feature guided and self-guided waterway tours where you will be able to walk the property and take in the natural area to truly appreciate the beauty and potential it holds. You’ll be able to talk to the project team at the tent to find out specifics and then take a stroll out onto the existing natural surface trails to fully appreciate the opportunity that the Coleman Community Park offers.
Find out more about the project and/or to sign up for updates!
PARK AND TRAIL News
Time to Get Wet!
Fountains and Spray grounds open soon in Colorado Springs. The Spray ground at Deerfield Hills Community Center opens June 1st 10 a.m. -5pm every other day and at Venezia Park open May 28th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Julie Penrose Fountain will operate from 11-5pm daily and Uncle Wilbur opens noon – 6pm daily. Both begin May 28th. The playground at Acacia Park is closed as a new play area is constructed Outdoor pools in Monument Valley and Wilson Ranch open May 28, weather permitting. For pool hours and costs https://ppymca.org/membership/pool-pass. Prospect Lake in Memorial park allows swimming at your own risk on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at no cost. Fountains and Spray grounds are also free of charge.
The Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area located 4.2 miles east of Woodland Park will open its boat ramp May 19th. There is an $8.00 day use fee.
Sand Creek Trail
The Sand Creek Trail from Stetson Hills Blvd to Dublin Blvd is open following the May 12th Akerman Fire. The fire burned through 25 acres of open space leaving blackened fields on both sides of the Sand Creek Trail near the duck pond. As the meadows and tree lined drainages around Sand Creek recover from the fire, it is important to stay on system trails to avoid damaging tender plants that will emerge from the ashes.
Fire Bans
The continuing drought conditions and elevated fire danger has prompted more local jurisdictions to implement more stringent fire restrictions and bans.
- El Paso County, Teller County & Woodland Park– Stage 2 Fire Ban – No campfires/warming fires, charcoal grills and wood stoves. No fireworks (use or sale). No outdoor smoking.
- City of Colorado Springs – Burn Ban – Outdoor cooking, smoking and grilling in all city parks is prohibited, recreational fires that are not contained in a portable or fixed fireplace, small engine equipment without functioning spark arrestor and fireworks.
- Pike National Forest – Stage 2 Fire Restrictions – Camp fires in non-developed and developed recreational sites prohibited, operating chainsaws without proper spark arrestor, using explosives, using motor vehicles off established roads, motorized trails or established parking lots.
What’s New in Our Local State Parks
Have you visited our local state parks recently? In Cheyenne Mountain State Park, the new cabins opened up this year and are open for reservation. There is also a new welcome plaza by the Visitor Center that is being used for programming. A hidden gem hiding in plain sight is the 9-hole disc golf course near the campground that opened in 2019.
In Mueller State Park, their new raptor monitoring program has been a success. The Friends of Mueller State Park helped repurpose old barn wood from the ranch in the park into eight raptor nesting boxes in hopes of increasing the number of raptors in the park. Mueller State Park remains a quiet place to visit despite the massive increase in park visitation along the Front Range. The park offers a wide selection of educational programming and guided hikes.
More information on Cheyenne Mountain State Park and Mueller State Park
TOSC
Starlight Spectacular Early Registration is Open!
Saturday, August 13
8:30pm Walk/Run; 10:30pm Bike Ride
Garden of the Gods
Early Bird Registration for the Starlight Spectacular is now open! Click HERE and enter the code “EarlyBird” to receive a $5 Early Bird Discount!
Starlight Spectacular is back! After a 2-year pause in 2020 and 2021, we are excited to re- launch this event in a new format. Join us as we run, walk, or bike through Garden of the Gods park…under the stars! Light up your bikes (and eBikes) and yourselves! Individuals, teams, and families welcome. Food, games, and festivities (including a costume contest!) are all in store. Come experience a Spectacular night at the Garden of the Gods!
Can’t participate, but want to be involved? We have many volunteer opportunities!
Nominate a Park for Scoop the Poop
The 2022 Spring Scoop the Poop Challenge, sponsored by Animal ER Care, is on Saturday, June 11th. TOSC needs your help finding the parks with the worst pet waste issues. Fill out the survey below and TOSC will use the results to pick parks that will serve as sites for the challenge.
Trail Ambassadors Wanted
TOSC is looking for volunteers who are interested in becoming TOSC Trail Ambassadors at the Paint Mines and the Pineries Open Space. Interested?
Email aaron@trailsandopenspaces.org for more information.
TOSC Member Spring Hikes
TOSC Members enjoy the benefit of member hikes. Members, please check your email for an invitation to join us on these upcoming Spring Hikes!
Garden of the Gods Geology Hike
Sunday, June 12 meeting at 9:00am
Rock Ledge Ranch Parking Lot
Are you a member and did not receive an email invitation? Contact beth@trailsandopenspaces.org and we will get an invitation to you! Become a Member of TOSC Today
Community
Liquid Lecture @ Local Relic
Wed. May 18, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Meet Jessica Miller, a Fountain Creek Nature Center Supervisor for a lively discussion about birds! Get info about birds and great places to see them in the Pikes Peak region. Learn about fun events like Birding and Native Festival and Birds and Brews bird walks through Aiken Audubon.
RSVP to creekweeksoco@gmail.com
**Attendees get $1 off pints**
El Paso County Parks Master Plan
An Open House will be held Thursday, May 19th from 6pm – 7:30pm at Bear Creek Nature Center. If you cannot attend, please send public comments to teresaj@greenplayllc.com by June 1st.
Read the draft Master Plan
Managing Rampart Deer Population
Colorado Parks and Wildlife(CPW) seeks public comment about managing the Rampart Range deer herd over the next 10 years. CPW balances deer population with carrying capacity. When out of balance, other species and habitat are threatened.
To develop the draft plan, CPW staff is conducting various deer population surveys, a landowner survey, a hunter survey and a survey of the general public. Comments will be used to identify a number of alternative proposals for herd management objectives. These will be used in drafting a new herd management plan and presented to the public at a later date for comment.
To comment, simply fill out the online survey by May 31.
Bike-A-Palooza
Thurs. May 26th, 4-6pm
Join Kids on Bikes Bike-A-Palooza on Thursday, May 26 at Meadows Park. Meadows Community Center and Kids on Bikes are teaming up to bring you a bike rodeo, food trucks, a group bike ride and more fun for the whole family! Be sure to bring your bike and helmet.