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 July 27, 2022
We know You know trails! You know the trails, and the gaps in our trail system. The ultimate goal of a well-connected system is for
News Wednesday July 20, 2022
2023 TOPS Projects – Trails The TOPS (trails, open space and parks) tax ordinance allows up to 20% of the budget to be used for trail projects.
News Wednesday July 13, 2022
Tragedy at Bluestem A tragedy took place recently in Bluestem Prairie Open Space where a 6-year old child was bitten and killed by a rattlesnake. Our thoughts
News Wednesday July 6, 2022
UPDATE: Black Forest Section 16 What’s next? Many of you have asked what you can do to help secure Section 16. Some of you have
News Wednesday June 29, 2022
Illegal Trail Building Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, El Paso County Parks and the US Forest Service Pikes Peak Ranger District released a
News Wednesday June 22, 2022
Austin Bluffs Open Space – Trail Work Underway COS Parks staff report their trail contractor, Timberline Trailcraft, is starting trail work in Austin Bluffs
News Wednesday June 15, 2022
Black Forest Section 16 For the past 25 years El Paso County has been leasing 90 acres of Black Forest Section 16 for $452/year. A
News Wednesday June 8, 2022
Recommit to Get Out Get Healthy School is out. Warm weather is upon us. The smell of barbeque, lilacs, and rain waft through the air. All of
News Wednesday June 1, 2022
June is Bike Month! June is Bike Month in the state of Colorado and once again, the City of Colorado Springs and a host of