A Well-Deserved Honor
Many Colorado Springs residents don’t know Lyda Hill or the impact she has had on our community.
And she’s probably fine with that. She’s modest and down to earth.
Her generous support for the amazing Panorama Park, Pikes Peak Summit House, Monument/Fountain Creeks Visioning Project….did you know that thanks to Lyda, Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center invests all profits back into the Park??
Often she supports important causes anonymously and has done so for decades.
The Non-Profit Conservation Community appreciates Lyda for her generous support for our sector.
We couldn’t do what we do without her.
Last week Lyda Hill received a Spirit of the Springs Lifetime Achievement Award.
Celebrating her 80th birthday, Lyda has committed to investing all of her wealth in causes she cares about in this region and her other favorite city – Dallas.
If you see Lyda out on a trail ( she’s a great hiker and fearless cyclist!), do thank her.
PARK AND TRAIL News
Acacia Park Construction
Built in 1871, Acacia Park in Downtown Colorado Springs is the oldest park in the city. Thanks to funding from the El Pomar Foundation and funds from the 2B TABOR tax refund that was approved by voters in 2019, the City of Colorado Springs Parks Dept. was able to give the playground a $900,000 facelift. Construction started during the late spring months and is ongoing. Finishing touches are being made to the landscaping and irrigation system around the playground area. The project should wrap up sometime this fall.
A Thank You to Katherine Brady
Last week we attended the going-away celebration for Kate Brady, our Senior Bicycle Planner for the City of Colorado Springs. We would like to extend a very sincere thank you for the six and a half years of service that Kate has given to our community and for her many achievements including managing the Bike Master Plan process that has set the vision for a more bicycle-friendly community, incorporating new and innovative bicycle infrastructure throughout our nearly 200 square miles, implementing the Bicycle Wayfinding system, and for establishing a robust relationship with our City of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Department, most visible at the multiple enhanced trail crossings that can be found throughout Colorado Springs. We appreciate Kate’s efforts navigating an oftentimes challenging situation as she strived to incorporate safer, better-connected bicycle infrastructure throughout our sprawling community. We wish Kate well as she begins her next professional chapter and appreciate the work she has done for Colorado Springs. Cheers to pedaling on into the future!
Platte Bridge Ribbon Cutting
Wed. Sept 14, 10:00 AM
TOSC staff would like to congratulate the City of Colorado Springs Public Works Department on the successful Platte Avenue over Sand Creek Bridge Project, a project that was desperately needed for this aged connection. Along with the major upgrade for the roadway users, we’d like to highlight the incorporation of the underpass for the future Sand Creek Trail connection along with additional wide, grade-separated sidewalk segments that will allow for future trail connectivity throughout this corridor as Colorado Springs continues to grow eastward. The new underpass will connect to one of the newest portions of the Sand Creek Trail, constructed as part of the Patriot Park development and runs northward to Galley Road. We continue to advocate for the expansion of the Sand Creek Regional Trail in this vital corridor as it will provide eventual connectivity from the Pikes Peak Greenway at the El Pomar Youth Sports Park through Southeast Colorado Springs and will be a critical segment of the Ring the Springs Loop.
Pikes Peak Marathon + Ascent
- The Manitou Incline will be closed from 6 to 9 AM on September 17th and closed all day on September 18th.
- Click here to help out as a volunteer.
Park Improvements
Sports Courts are completed at Boulder and Thorndale parks. It took longer than expected but the courts are finally ready for use!
Neighbors – thanks for your patience.
Voters – thanks for supporting the 2019 TABOR refund initiative (2B) that allowed parks staff to improve these sports courts. Dozens of courts still need to be resurfaced throughout the community but this is a good start!
Coleman Park Community Forum
Thur. Sept 29, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Please join us at Sand Creek High School, 7005 Carefree Circle N. for the second of three public forums about Coleman Community Park. Hear project updates, survey highlights, the three initial park concepts, provide feedback on park amenities and help identify elements to be incorporated into the final master plan.
Coleman Community Park is a 70-acre mostly undeveloped community park site located on the east side of Colorado Springs, near the intersection of Tutt Boulevard and Barnes Road. The project involves three focus areas: Active sports, Sand Creek and nature, and community park amenities.
Check out the project website for more information, active surveys,
and to sign up for project updates! www.ColoradoSprings.gov/ColemanPark
TOSC
The Great Scavenger Hunt
Sat. Sept 17, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
This Weekend the second annual Get Out Get Healthy: Great Scavenger Hunt will take place at John Venezia Community Park! TOSC and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs are hosting this free family event where participants will be given a park map and clues that will lead them all over the western half of the park. Come meet local pro sports team mascots, visit with the Pikes Peak Library District, Butterfly Pavilion and chat with health experts from Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital Colorado. And you won’t want to miss the cool photo booth!
Check out Facebook Event
Allen’s Favorite Fall Color Ride
During the time when Covid was impacting our community in the most significant way, TOSC launched the Get Out Spread Out initiative. Allen Beauchamp, our Community Engagement Coordinator volunteered to travel to the southern region and document a number of the natural surface trails that make up the South District area of El Paso County. In his travels, he came across the beautiful trail system in and around Widefield and Fountain, including the Crews Gulch Regional Trail. Wonderfully gentle trails that connect multiple communities and provide for many #hiddeninplainsight pedaling adventures, especially during Fall. Last year, he and a couple of friends explored the trail system connecting Adams Open Space to John Metcalf Park and the Jimmy Camp Creek Trail and it was one of the most spectacular displays of Fall color that they’d ever seen in our region. Allen would highly recommend checking out one of the Get Out Spread Out routes that can be found HERE once the trees start a turnin’!
Save the Dates!
TOSC Members: Please join us for our popular Fall Colors Photography Hike with Hiking Bob Falcone. Sunday, October 2nd Space is limited. Watch for sign-up information in next week’s Trail Talk.
AND JOIN US for our annual Member Celebration where the TOSC Staff and Board CELEBRATE YOU OUR MEMBERS!
Tuesday October 11th 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Catalyst Campus. More information to follow.
Unsure of your membership status? Contact sharie@trailsandopenspaces.org
Community
Meet Stewart Green
Sat. Sept 17, 1:00 PM
Come meet Stewart Green at the East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd. He is an extraordinary Colorado Springs outdoorsman, writer and photographer, has written nearly 50 books on rock climbing, hiking and scenic byways all over the West, and particularly in Colorado, since 1977. His newest book is “Hiking Colorado’s Hidden Gems,” from Falcon Press.
His talk will include recommendations on the best fall color drives and discuss some of the landmarks and historic features along the way. After his talk, he will have copies of his books for sale and will autograph them. Admission is $5, free refreshments.
Please RSVP for this event, e-mail diehlbev@hotmail.com.
Pikes Peak Apex: 4 Day Mountain Bike Challenge
September 22nd-25th
Challenging 4 day course from Palmer Park to Canon City. Choose to race one day, two days, or all four days! The event features exhilarating, exceptionally crafted routes through dirt roads, jeep trails and the amazing alpine singletrack that is quintessential Pikes Peak. The terrain will be challenging, but not overly technical. This Rocky Mountain trail experience through the aspens in Colorado’s backcountry will draw not only professional riders, but also amateur cyclists looking for a bucket list endurance experience.
Pikes Peak Bigfoot benefit hike
Sat. Sept 24, 8:30 – 2:30 PM
Are you ready to find Bigfoot? This is a laidback hunt, and being on the trail at 8:30 will not guarantee you seeing him. Show up when you can and you’ll still have the same chance as everyone else. The hunt would take place along part of the Ring the Peak trail, more specifically Mt Esther/Crowe Gulch Trail. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Peak, a volunteer group that works to preserve the many miles of trails on Pikes Peak.
Fall Art Show at Mueller State Park
Sept 24 & 25, 10:00 – 4:00 PM
Come to the Visitor Center at Mueller State Park for work by local Artists. The artists participating in this show will be donating a portion of their sales to the Friends of Mueller State Park. Find the piece you have been looking for! The gallery will feature photography, paintings, glass, wood, drawings, jewelry and more.
Creek Week
September 24-October 2
Join thousands of volunteers from across the Fountain Creek Watershed as we come together for the Fountain Creek Watershed District’s 9th Annual Creek Week.
All of your favorite special events are back!
Sept 30, 8:30am-12pm: Sondermann Forest Health Restoration – register here to join City Parks in removing invasive plants from this gem of a park.
Oct 1, 1pm-4:30pm: Clean n Crawl – register here for an urban pub crawl / cleanup event. We’ll start at Steel Pan and make our way to Jack Quinn’s, Jose Muldoon’s, and Tony’s, cleaning as we go. At each bar you will receive one beer and the opportunity to compete for prizes. You’ll also receive a Clean n Crawl bucket hat! 21+ only, $30 cash only due the day of the event. Space is limited, so register soon.
Throughout Creek Week: Pikes Peak Litter Letter Project – This year’s word is PRICELESS. The public dedication will be on Sept 30, 4:30pm at America the Beautiful Park. For more information and to adopt a letter, visit: https://artsoctober.com/special-program/litter-letters/
Register at https://www.fountain-crk.org/register/.
Questions on any of these events can be directed to: creekweeksoco@gmail.com
The Cheyenne Mountain Run
Sat. Oct 8th, 8:30 – 2:30 PM
Save the date for this 25k (to the top of Cheyenne Mountain), 10k and 5k that benefits the trails and events in Cheyenne Mountain State Park. TOSC is a Dixon Level sponsor for this incredible event and we urge all trail lovers to participate! Participate in the Duo State Park Series, including the Dam Run at Castlewood Canyon State Park and the Cheyenne Mountain Run, to save money on race registration while supporting two great parks!