New GOG Sign Unveiled
Changes to the park to improve safety for residents and visitors include a new Garden of the Gods Park sign. As you recall, tourists would pull over to the side of the road, spill out of cars and snap pictures of the old sign. The resulting traffic jam has grown worse through the years. Now, with four million tourists/year, placing the sign away from the road along the trail provides tourists with a safer experience. Be sure to check it out during your next visit and check out progress made along 30th street south of the park.
PARK AND TRAIL News
Friends in Austin Bluffs
Austin Bluffs is the most unique open space in the region. You can stand in heart of the park and feel
like you are miles from civilization or you can be standing above hoodoos that look like they belong in Moab with a view that stretches nearly to the New Mexico state line. The uniqueness draws visitors to the park and it also inspires people to volunteer in the park. In other open spaces, passionate volunteers form friends groups to assist land managers with care of the park. Austin Bluffs is no different and will one day have a friends group. These Friends Groups take time to organize and require the right people to form the leadership core. After the initial meetings take place and the land manager is ready, regular workdays will be scheduled under the guidance of Colorado Springs Parks Rangers. These projects will help accomplish the Austin Bluffs Open Space Master Plan and help with maintenance in a park that will not be a secret hiding in plain sight much longer. Learn more about the current Austin Bluffs Open Space Master Plan and for workday opportunities email Aaron to be added to the list .
Sinton Trail – Close to Completing a Gap
Constructing a short trail of the Sinton Trail near 30th street is underway. Required utilities work has slowed the process but the trail/sidewalk should be completed by the end of the month. Cyclists and pedestrians will soon have a much better route between the Pikes Peak Greenway and Foothills Trail once the gap is closed.
Nature and Wellness
As the weather gets colder it’s easy to skip time outdoors. Yet with the stress of the holidays and
finishing end of year projects and budgets, it’s more important than ever to take a walk or bike ride for your physical and mental health.
Need more checkout these links:
Time in Nature – Improves mental health
Wellness benefits of the great outdoors.
The sunshine and exercise are the Rx we all need this time of year. Some of staff’s favorites on chilly
days? Blue Stem Prairie Open Space, Middle Shooks Run Trail, Pikes Peak Greenway through Monument Valley Park and any trail in Bear Creek Regional Park. See you on the trail!
C-470 and Highline Canal trail closures required at US 85 for bridge and roadway reconstruction
Starting November 7, C-470 and Highline Canal Trail will be closed at US 85 (Santa Fe Drive) with detours in place. Construction will continue until 2024, while new underpasses are built for pedestrians and bicyclists to pass under US 85 safely. Info and detour maps HERE.
TOSC
Ready. Set. Give!
Thanks to all of you who have helped us get off to a great Give start! Now we need to make sure we can match our Generous Matching Grants. Help us reach our goal of $26,000 and 400 individual donations by the end of December.
Like Beer? Music? Snacks? Join us November 16 the at the Black Forest Community Center for our FRIENDSgiveING event with partners Paws N Hooves, Tri-Lakes Cares and Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates. If you live in Northern El Paso County, join us and learn what these 4 non-profits are doing to improve the quality of life in this part of our region! Taste great beer from local breweries and enjoy music provided by Black Rose Acoustic Society. Free event. Give supporters are eligible for great door prizes!
Help TOSC move up the leaderboard with a donation today! Give here.
Glad You Asked – Gap between the Woodmen and Cottonwood Creek Trails
Recently we were contacted by a TOSC member and they asked who to talk to about having the ugly dirt gulley repaired between the Woodmen and Cottonwood Creek Trails. The gap between the two developed urban trail facilities near Austin Bluffs Parkway and East Woodmen Road spans across a 15.38 acre parcel of private property that has changed ownership status several times since 2020.. While the social trail corridor connecting the two trails has been in use by residents for a number of years, the City cannot create a permanent solution until a development plan is pursued by the owner of the parcel. At this time, we are unaware of any pending projects, but we’ll continue to advocate for the future connection just as soon as it is feasible for this high-value link. We appreciate our members asking these kinds of questions and we’ll provide the best information possible!
Community
SAVE THE DATE- Friends of Monument Valley
Tues. Nov 15, 5:00 to 7:00 pm
The Public House- 3104 N. Nevada Ave.
Join your fellow friends of Monument Valley Park to support our historic park. The evening will include complimentary light hors d’oeuvres, happy hour priced drinks, prize drawings and a preservation update you don’t want to miss! RSVP HERE by Nov. 4
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film
is back at Colorado College for the 35th annual Film Festival!
This year, we celebrate the driven, spirited and diverse filmmakers that have been the foundation of the festival for over three decades. Stop by the festival November 11-13 and enjoy these films that celebrate the great outdoors – Pasang, The Seeds of Vandana Shiva and Breaking Trail. A full schedule of the weekend’s films is available HERE!
2022 Canya Cañon Trail Race and Family Hike
Virtual: Sat. Nov 12 – Fri. Nov 25
The Friends of Cheyenne Cañon are hosting the virtual Canya Cañon Trail Race and Family Hike. This 11.5 mile route features a challenging grand tour of North Cheyenne Cañon Park’s trails that participants can complete on their own time. This is one of FoCC’s big annual fundraisers. Back in October, FoCC’s Halloween Costume Carnival fundraiser was canceled due to wildfire activity near the park. Participation in this event will help fund future projects in the park!
More Information Cheyenne Canon Race