More City Park Rangers in 2023
The city’s budget process is long and complex. Sometimes there are welcome surprises.
Recently the parks department was asked to identify something from its “wish list.” Staff requested 2 additional Park Rangers for Garden of the Gods and 4 new Rangers to patrol our Urban Trail System. This is a huge deal. Garden of the Gods Park is woefully understaffed. You might think the number of annual visitors (@ 4 million), importance to the local tourist industry and ranking as one of the most popular parks in the world would guarantee adequate staffing. This will help.
As for Rangers patrolling our trails and community parks, this should help active residents and guests feel safer and lessen some of the illegal activity. If you think these are needed changes, pass that along to the Mayor and members of City Council. You can count on us to do the same!
PARK AND TRAIL News
Leave No Trace Gold Standard Award
Last Thursday we joined staff from our City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department as they celebrated the distinction of obtaining the Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site designation for 16 of our local parks, trails, and open spaces. We ae the only city in the country with that honor! Leadership from the national Leave No Trace organization were in attendance and were joined by representatives from many of the organizations that worked alongside our Parks staff during this extensive process. We congratulate Regional Parks staff Gillian Rossi and Mark Tatro for the success of the program to date and look forward to continuing our support of their efforts along with our many partners. We’re excited to see how they will expand the program in the future, we’ve been told that they have even greater goals in mind!
To find out more about the seven Leave No Trace principles and additional information about the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, you can visit www.LNT.org
Acacia Park Playground Ribbon Cutting
Congratulations to the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department and our Downtown Partnership for the beautiful new playground renovation recently opened in Acacia Park. At the ribbon cutting and dedication this past Monday, it was the sound of the children enjoying this incredibly unique play structure, one of only 4 in existence, that underscored the importance of this project and the value that it brings to this destination park in the heart of our downtown. Funding for this renovation came from both the El Pomar Foundation and the 2019 voter-approved 2B ballot initiative and is a wonderful investment in the first park that General William Jackson Palmer donated to the City of Colorado Springs in 1871. From the very novel play structure to the many universally-accessible features, this is a space that is ready to provide recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities!
Dixon Trail Improvements
Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) crews spent 32 days working in Cheyenne Mountain State Park and completed work on five tough switchbacks on the upper section of Dixon Trail. Check out the amazing Before and After photos!
Thank you to CMSP Trail Dogs and all the other volunteers for making the Dixon Trail even more enjoyable.
Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument
Camp Hale was home to the 10th Mountain Division and is largely responsible for Colorado’s ski industry and many modern climbing techniques and gear. The newly designated protected landscape includes Camp Hale, portions of the Continental Divide Trail and the Tenmile Range. The mountains, trails, and traverses where the 10th Mountain Division trained are the birthplace of backcountry skiing – part of the history of outdoor recreation, and are still cherished by the outdoor community today.
TOSC
Trout N’ Trails
Thur. Nov 3, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
TOSC is gearing up for the Give! Campaign which starts November 1st! To kickoff this year’s campaign, TOSC is teaming up with the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance and the Rocky Mountain Field Institute to host Trout N’ Trails at Anglers Covey. The evening will be full of free brews, prize drawings, fly fishing demos and opportunities to chat with three of the premier outdoor nonprofits in the region! The first 40 guests will receive a commemorative pint glass with the Trout N’ Trails logo on it.
Celebrating Our Members!
Thanks to all of you who took the time to join us at the historic Harvey House for another great member celebration. Delicious food and desserts, fine wine and craft beer and best of all we got to recognize some of the TOSC heroes of 2022. Our Starlight Spectacular team of Rock Stars received a lovely Mike Rigney creation that captured the magic of the event. Friends of Ute Valley Park, Nancy Dixon of the Green Mountain Falls Trail Ambassador Program, Veda Salons and Animal ER all distinguished themselves as amazing volunteers or business partners.
Special Thanks to our treasurer Patrick Stephens for securing the great space for our party.
Thanks to Sovereignty Wine, Cerberus and Mash Mechanic for delicious adult beverages. And thanks to the Cliff House, Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub, Odyssey Gastropub, Garden of the Gods Gourmet, Adam’s Mountain Cafe, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and King Soopers for the marvelous desserts. Providing prizes for our awardees were our great partners Columbia Sportswear and Fjallraven.
Our member celebration is one way we like to thank you for your ongoing support for TOSC.
Thanks to the Calm Foundation for their support of our TOPS Story Map project. We hope to produce a couple more before the end of the year.
And thanks to the Richard Petritz Foundation for choosing to support TOSC initiatives that improve access and safety on our trails. Foundations are aptly named…..they provide critical support for organizations like TOSC.
Sharie’s Favorite Fall Hike – Palmer Park
Palmer Park is pretty much my go-to spot all year round. Willow and I love the off-leash area, Yucca Flats! It’s a great little 2-mile loop, and it’s easy to tack on an extra mile or two on the Templeton Trail which has really cool rock formations. I love Palmer Park in the fall because there are several places with killer views. It’s fun to look out over the city and see all the different colors of trees and scrub oak. You really get an appreciation for just how many trees our city has from Palmer Park’s vantage point. If you’re not up for a hike, but want an amazing view of Pikes Peak and the trees, pop over to the Grand View Overlook.
Community
Bats and Beers
Wed. Oct 19, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
This month’s Liquid Lecture features Colorado Parks and Wildlife volunteer Pat Grove! Attendees will get $1 off pints at Pikes Peak Brewing! Come learn a thing or two about bats.
Please RSVP to creekweeksoco@gmail.com
Ute Valley Park Workday
Sat. Oct 22, 9:00 – 12:00 PM
Join the Friends of Ute Valley on the final volunteer work session of 2022! Help out with trail closure and restoration tasks along Rattlesnake Ridge. Please wear pants and closed-toe shoes, bring work gloves, eye protection, sunscreen, water, and snacks.
Halloween Carnival
Sat. Oct 22, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Grab your costumes and join the Friends of Cheyenne Cañon after dark for the annual Halloween Festival at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center! This family friendly event includes games, a haunted hike, Tree Trunk or Treating, and more. Costumes are always encouraged. Entrance to the event is free, and some games and activities are free as well. Purchase game Punch Cards at the event for $1, $5, and $10. Proceeds benefit The Friends of Cheyenne Cañon. Non-Candy prizes available.
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Southeast Fall Festival
Sat. Oct 29, 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Come out and enjoy a family friendly event at the newly remodeled Panorama Park!!!
Petting zoo, pumpkin patch, live music, face paint, food trucks, farmers market, free books, vendors, trunk or treat and more. . . . Lots of candy!!!