Advocacy is at the heart of what we do
Advocacy is essential to getting trails built, preserving open space,
and getting adequate parks funding.
Our work includes helping craft the future for our public spaces, with our partners in government, other nonprofits and community groups, and our members and partners. Our goal is to envision what can be, and work to make the vision a reality.
We joke about how “We go to all the boring meetings so you don’t have to,” but in fact TOSC is at every public meeting where policy, funding or planning for parks, trails and open spaces is discussed or decided—be it City Council, County Commission, Parks Advisory Boards, Master Plan work sessions, TOPS Working Committee, Trails Team, Colorado Springs Utilities, etc.—and is a respected voice for our public spaces. We weigh in on the issues, and report back to the public regularly.
We encourage you to connect with us at the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
We work to create a social and political climate in which local decisions to fund open space, parks and trails are approved and supported. We encourage organizations, businesses and individuals to get involved in the process. Government bodies do listen to their constituents. We help get the word out to the public about what the issues are, what decisions are being made, when public comment is requested, and how to make your voice heard. We listen to all our user groups—hikers, bikers, runners, equestrians—and work to get their concerns addressed.
Recent Advocacy News

News Wednesday April 7, 2021
Get Out and Get Healthy – Dr. Autumn Orser, MD. (Pediatrics Specialist with Peak Vista Community Health Centers and a member of the TOSC Board

Get Out Get Healthy
Get out and Get Healthy By Dr. Autumn Orser, MD. (Pediatrics Specialist with Peak Vista Community Health Centers and a member of the TOSC Board

News Wednesday March 31, 2021
NEW Signs at Palmer Park The posts have been planted! Some 500 posts along trails and critical intersections in Palmer Park will soon have signs

News Wednesday March 24, 2021
El Paso County Master Plan Master Plans really do matter. If together we imagine a county where county trails seamlessly connect to city trails –

News Wednesday March 17, 2021
Barr Trail Celebrates 100 Years! By Eric Swab Well – at least some of the trail does. Some is older, some a lot older, and

City Council Candidates 2021
Who is running for City Council in Your District? The Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) has championed increased funding for Colorado Springs Parks Department

News Wednesday March 10, 2021
Hiking with Dogs Dogs are great hiking buddies! TOSC loves dogs and responsible owners that help keep wildlife safe and our outdoors pristine. As we

News Wednesday March 3, 2021
Panorama Park We are very excited to report that major renovation project in Panorama Park in the Southeast community of Colorado Springs is about to

News Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Sand Creek Trail Crossing at Hancock Expressway One of the very exciting parks projects taking place in Southeast Colorado Springs in 2021 is the creation