A New Mayor, Storm Damage, the New Parks Budget
Storm Damage Updates
Friends Groups across the region have been busy working to cleanup and repair after the recent historic rainstorm. The Friends of the Peak created a temporary path around a boulder that is sitting in the middle of Barr Trail, about a mile up from the trailhead in Manitou. The Friends of Ute Valley Park helped install drains and check dams between the Rocky Top Loop and the new Regional Trail to help with water management and to prevent further erosion. The Guardians of Palmer Park were also busy this past weekend with a trail work day giving attention to impacted trails in their park.
We are still receiving reports of trail damage, mainly centered on northwestern El Paso County and northeastern Teller County. The Falcon Trail on Air Force Academy property has major erosion damage.
Rainbow Gulch Trail, near Rampart Reservoir, has heavy erosion damage. Fallen trees and issues with high water table erosion are present on trails and Forest Service Roads coming off of Rampart Range Road. With more storms forecasted this week, further damage can be expected along with sudden rises in stream flow.
Stay current on local trail conditions by following COS Trail Conditions on Instagram
Picture Credit: Friends of the Peak
PARK AND TRAIL News
You’re invited to help shape the Fountain Creek Watershed’s future!
The Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control and Greenway District was established in 2009 to mitigate flooding, erosion and sedimentation, address water quality issues, improve drainage, protect open spaces, and develop public recreational opportunities along our waterways.
As the District considers its future and its role in supporting its member governments from Palmer Lake to Pueblo, it is asking the public for feedback on how we should continue supporting and improving the health and recreational opportunities of our home watershed. What are your ideas about how to maintain and improve Fountain Creek?
THURSDAY, May 25, 2023
Fountain City Hall, 116 S Main St Fountain, CO 80817
6:15-7:30pm
Light refreshments will be provided. Free parking
Click the link to RSVP:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/copy-of-fountain-creek-watershed-public-forum-tickets-634249496317
Can’t make the meeting in person? We still want and value your input! Please follow this link to complete an online survey: https://form.jotform.com/231296866974070
Friends of the Peak: Opening Season Mixer
Sun., May 28th , 3:00-6:00 PM
Location: Trainwreck Colorado, 812 S. Sierra Madre St.
Come talk dirt with familiar and new friends who love the outdoors and Pikes Peak. Share stories, report trail problems you see on our trails. Get details about the 2023 project days.
Learn about our newest fundraiser: The Bigfoot Benefit. Meet our new board members, ask about how you can join the board. Play a game of volleyball and enjoy food and drinks. Also at the mixer, the Friends of the Peak will be releasing a newly designed logo and webpage. Be the first to grab some sweet new swag with the new logo!
Glad You Asked:
“Rainbow Falls in Manitou usually opens this time of year. We noticed the gates were still locked. Is there any update on when the Falls will open?” – JW on Facebook
Rainbow Falls is a favorite tourist and local attraction in Manitou Springs. It closed last summer when a rock slide shut down the small parking lot. Staff has tried to secure alternative parking and looked at shuttle service in order to reopen Rainbow Falls. Limited park dollars are one of the challenges and for now it remains closed. Staff hopes to reopen it sometime this summer.
Rock Island Trail extension – Legacy Loop connector
Crews are working in earnest continuing the paving of the Rock Island Trail extension, heading west from Templeton Gap Road. We visited the site earlier this week and watched as the next forms were put into place, prepping for the next batch of cement to arrive. It reminded us of the progress of the railroads as they were constructed across the country, mile by mile. It is unique to be witnessing this stretch of trail being built along a historic rail corridor that will provide connectivity along this very important urban trail route.
Please note that significant work is also taking place along the corridor from the top of Shooks Run west towards Van Buren St. Construction crews are doing the needed slope work to ready that section for the “bench” that the continued paved stretch of trail will follow. This section of trail will take longer to construct, we’ll continue to monitor the progress and will bring updates as they are available.
Blodgett Open Space
The first public planning open house for Blodgett Open Space was Saturday and attracted a variety of open space users.
Attendees were asked what amenities they could support…bathrooms? Hiking only trails? A chairlift? Responses will be used to help inform the plan.
Passionate about Parks, Trails an Open Space?
El Paso County Parks Advisory Board and COS Parks Advisory Board have openings.
City Council is seeking to fill two upcoming voting member positions on the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Advisory Board. This Board reviews matters pertaining to the planning, development, improvement, beautification, equipping and maintenance of the public parks, playgrounds, programs, urban forest, recreation facilities, and resources including golf courses and cemeteries. The Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:30 a.m.
Applicants must reside within the City of Colorado Springs and be interested in the development of the park, trail, open space, recreation, resources, and facilities of the community.
The application web form can be found and submitted ColoradoSprings.gov/boards. Please submit your application by 5pm on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Applications and resumes can also be emailed Michelle Briggs at Michelle.Briggs@coloradosprings.gov or mailed to City Council, Attention: Michelle Briggs, P.O. Box 1575, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.
For more information on Boards, Commissions, and Committees visit http://www.coloradosprings.gov/boards
For the El Paso County Parks Advisory Board:
The volunteer application is located at www.elpasoco.com and can be accessed at:
https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer Send completed applications to:
Board of El Paso County Commissioners
Attn: Ingrid Mobley
200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208
or email to: Volunteer@elpasoco.com
TOSC
Illegal Camping in COS
Over the past few weeks we’ve been discussing illegal camping along our creeks and trails. We’ve shared comments from readers and information on what other communities are doing to tackle this challenge.
COS Parks Staff is hiring special rangers to help enforce no camping laws along city trails. Post-training, they will monitor segments of the Pikes Peak Greenway and Midland Trail coordinating efforts with the COS Hot Team. Adding rangers is a small step in addressing a much bigger and complicated problem.
TOSC is looking for a few great people to join our Board of Directors!
If you are interested in leveraging your connections, talents and resources to help TOSC achieve its mission of connecting trails and preserving open space; and if you have a love for outdoor spaces and one of the following:
- Financial acumen
- Political connections
- Marketing Skills
- Familiarity with City Utilities
- Experience in the legal field
We’re looking for a diverse group of individuals to join our Board of Directors and help TOSC meet the needs of our growing, active community. If this sounds good to you, send us an email and let us know!
Show your TOSC love
We just launched our new merchandise store! Pop over to the shop and get your TOSC merchandise. We will be adding more periodically, so check back to start your collection of awesome TOSC apparel!
Did you know you can link your King Sooper’s shopper card to their Community Rewards program and support to TOSC every time you shop? Get more information here on how to do it. There is no additional cost to you and is a fabulous way to support all we do.
The TOSC Annual Report
Our 2022 Annual Report is complete and available for downloading or reading on our website.
It’s a fantastic way to get an overview of some of the projects the incredible TOSC staff, volunteers, and board tackled in 2022.
(We’d also like to extend a big thank you to Dave Meyers for our beautiful cover image and the report design.)
Community Events
Friends of Peregrine Parks & Open Spaces
Volunteer Work Days
Calling all outdoor enthusiasts! The Friends of Peregrine Parks & Open Spaces are seeking volunteers to help maintain Blodgett Open Space—and they need YOU! Join this dedicated group on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month from 8-11 am for restoration projects, grass seeding, noxious weed clearing, fencing installation, and more
Click here to sign up today: https://cerv.is/0132c89
Cheyenne Mountain SP: Kids to Parks!
Sat. May 27th, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Looking for a fun activity for the whole family? Come check out our Kids to Parks event. No registration needed.
Don’t miss out on Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s Kids to Parks Day event on May 27, 2023! From 10 am to 1 pm in Lime Kiln parking lot, children can enjoy a variety of fun activities including, archery, a mystery hike, cornhole, steer roping, trivia wheel, nature journals, disc golf, backyard bass fishing from a boat, an educational display on animal skins and skulls, Pikes Peak Mobile Library and much more. This event is completely free, but please note that a valid park pass is required for each vehicle.
June Wildflower Walk
Led by Carey Harrington
Colorado Native Plant Master
Saturday, June 3rd, 2023
Walk begins at 10:00 am and will last 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Meet at the W. Fontanero St. parking lot of Monument Valley Park
(Intersection of W. Fontanero Street and Culebra Avenue)
RSVPs are REQUIRED
Please RSVP at info@fmvp.net
We are limiting participation to 20 individuals.
Bring: Water, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, pen & paper, and camera, if you like.
NO PETS please!
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado:
Pride Month Project-Restoration @ Austin Bluffs
Sat., June 10th, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
It is time for VOC’s annual Pride Project! VOC wants to take this opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQIA community with an awesome stewardship event followed by a happy hour celebration. This project offers a variety of stewardship opportunities. There is a mix of ecological restoration, closing unsanctioned social trails, and constructing some new trail. Austin Bluffs is a beautiful site located near the heart of Colorado Springs. No matter your skill level or experience, this is an awesome opportunity to build community around the shared values of Pride and environmental stewardship.
Pikes Peak Trail CATS
Work Day
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Mustang Way – Manitou Springs
Help build a brand new trail from the High School to the Intemann Trail. This is an all volunteer project building a multi-use , sustainable trail (1130 feet, ave 8% grade, and 100 feet rock work.*)