Sand Creek Control Pond, E-Bike Update and Prospect Lake Aeration

Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

What happens when a microscope crashes into a telescope? They kaleidoscope.

Explore Adams Open Space and Surrounding Trails with TOSC!

Free and open to everyone, TOSC is hosting a guided walk and bike ride this Saturday, November 9th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Adams Open Space in Fountain, CO. Click on the links below for more information and to signup!

TOSC Social Club:

Fall Fountain Trail Ramble Ride

Sat., November 9th,

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Registration/Information

Join TOSC Community Engagement Pedaler Allen Beauchamp as he leads a fun and very social ~8 mile ride touring several of the natural surface urban trail options in Fountain Colorado. The ride will visit the recently renovated and installed bridges in Adams Open Space (total #hiddeninplainsight gem!) and will highlight connectivity through several neighborhood parks. To find out more about the ride details, visit the TOSC event page HERE and to complete the required registration for this free event, visit HERE

TOSC Social Club Walk:

Adams Open Space

Sat., November 9th,

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Registration/Information

Let's go on an adventure! TOSC Program Coordinator, Aaron Rogers, is leading a 3-ish mile hike in Adams Open Space.

This walk marks the one year anniversary of the first TOSC Social Club walk! These walks are normally only open to TOSC Members but this walk is open to everyone!

Social Club walks are more about conversations than setting personal speed records on the trails. So come along with us, see a wonderful part of Fountain and meet new friends! Register HERE.

TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE COALITION NEWS

TOSC's Susan Davies - Community Champion of the Year

We are so honored to have been nominated by our COS Parks Staff for this award. Susan Davies accepted the award at the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association annual conference in Keystone. Parks Director Britt Haley noted the many ways TOSC has supported her department over the years and publicly thanked Susan for her passion and dedication.

Britt - it's been a privilege to partner with you and your staff!

TOSC Supports E-Bikes on Trails

The TOSC Board of Directors unanimously approved Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on urban trails and Class 1 e-bikes on soft-surface trails. We support the city’s implementation plan. The plan aligns with neighboring counties and many other CO municipalities. But not all our partners agree...

The Friends of Red Rock Open Space believe the decision to allow e-bikes on TOPS properties should be made by voters in a city election. Read their statement HERE.

E-Bikes on Today’s TOPS WC Agenda

The TOPS Working Committee will be asked to approve staff’s recommendation

allowing Class 1 e-bikes on all city trails where conventional bikes are allowed including

soft-surface trails. The Parks Advisory Board will take up the matter at its next meeting,

Thursday November 14th . If approved, it will go before COS City Council for final

approval. Parks Staff has committed to developing a policy that includes provisions for

user education and enforcement.

The public is welcome at both meetings. They begin at 7:30 a.m. at 1401 Recreation

Way.

TOPS Working Committee Agenda

Parks Advisory Board Agenda

Guess the Park:

One Star Reviews

Can you guess which local park received this one star review on Google?

"I came here hoping to drive up through it and see the mountains. I stopped at the visitor center and they told me it's not a park that has roads for cars to drive. Its only about a mile up the mountains and it is built for campers, hunters, hikers only. No roads for cars to drive on. What a disappointment."

This park has a tremendous 4.7 overall rating with over 2,000 reviews.

Click here for the answer!

TOSC's 2024 Give! Campaign is off to a HOT Start!

Thank YOU! We are thankful for everyone who has supported TOSC in the Give! Campaign so far.

The 2024 Give! Campaign started at midnight on November 1st. The first donation came in just 6 hours later. Meet our first 2024 donor, C.B.!

1) What inspired you to make a donation to TOSC? I've supported TOSC for a long time. I believe open spaces and the outdoors are just as important to the health and wellbeing of a community as basic human needs. People need to be able to recharge and breathe, and be given the opportunity to disconnect.

2) What do you care most about when it comes to the outdoors, nature or outdoor recreation? Accessibility for everyone regardless if you live in an urban or rural area - everyone should be able to step outside and see green space, sunshine, and wildlife even if it is just a squirrel or robin. It reminds us that we are part of a larger creation.

3) What is your favorite park? I have two - Fountain Creek Nature Center and Regional Park (for great birding) and Palmer Park (because it was just outside my door and I didn't have to drive anywhere "to get away from it all."

It is donors, like C.B. who fuel TOSC to tackle the major issues that face our trails and open spaces in the Pikes Peak region!

Support TOSC with a Donation through the Give! Campaign

PARK & TRAIL NEWS

Barnes Water Quality & Sand Creek Flood Control Pond Update

We recently shared information about the project being managed by our Stormwater Enterprise, the renovation, and upgrades along Sand Creek near the site of the future Coleman Community Park. We’re happy to report that during a recent Quarterly Trails Team meeting the Stormwater group reported that the work is going well. Major upgrades are nearly complete for the main man-made drainage into the facility that had become badly damaged over the years. This fix will dramatically improve the flows into the area from the surrounding developments and will provide a far more sustainable future for this wetlands area.

The most exciting part is that they anticipate this project being completed by Spring of 2025! The work will require the contractors to fundamentally reshape the interior “bowl” of the pond structure, providing a clean slate so to speak. With this major renovation, riparian habitat will be constructed that will include the creation of new wetlands structures, public access to the water in several ways, and a new natural surface trail around the entire site. This trail will also provide access to the retail complex just west of the pond and the upcoming extension of the Sand Creek Trail north of N. Carefree Circle. This is a fantastic project and one to watch over the winter as it takes shape!

To find out more about this project and to contact the project team with any questions or concerns you may have, visit the project website HERE

Dog Toy Graveyard

(From Colorado Springs Utilities)

"An astounding 400+ balls and other dog toys were recovered from the basin of South Suburban Reservoir in Stratton Open Space. Springs Utilities staff organized the clean-out while repairs are being made to its dam. This reservoir helps us move water from the South Slope of Pikes Peak to our Tollefson treatment plant. We need everyone’s cooperation to prevent future Dog Toy Graveyards in our drinking water."

Learn more about the South Suburban Reservoir Project

*Photo Credit: Colorado Springs Utilities

Incline Friends: Volunteer Work Day Recap

15 volunteers, on November 3rd, moved 3 tons of rock to help with erosion control. Two rock channels were made at stairs 300 and 350. Rocks were also carried to steps 500 and 800 to help reinforce existing drainage features. The next scheduled volunteer work day is Sunday, December 7th.

Prospect Lake Aeration System Project

COS Parks and Rec is installing a new aeration system to tackle blue-green algae, keeping Prospect Lake healthier and more vibrant. This powerful system will turn over the lake’s water every two days, boosting oxygen and reducing excess nutrients to prevent algae blooms and fish kills. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and shaped by the community's feedback, this project is all about keeping Prospect Lake a beautiful, safe space for everyone to enjoy.

More Information

Guardians of Palmer Park:

Work Day Recap

The Guardians of Palmer park wrapped up their 2024 work season on November 2nd. 11 volunteers came out to pick up litter, dog waste and do trail maintenance on the Kinnickinnick Trail.

Learn more about the Guardians of Palmer Park

2C Wins!

Residents agreed, 2C is an important investment in our city roads. Extended for 10

more years, the sales tax will not only improve critical street projects, but it will be used

for roads and parking lots that serve our parks and open spaces, improving safety.

Thank you!

New Mesa Road Underpass

Be sure to check out the new Pikes Peak Greenway/Mesa Rd. underpass. Located on the east side of the bridge, the new ramp and underpass mean cyclists and pedestrians can avoid Mesa Rd traffic. Protecting critical infrastructure along this stretch of

Monument Creek has been on CSU’s “to do” list for the past 5 years. Colorado Springs

Utilities shared project costs with COS Parks. Had parks been forced to shoulder the

project alone, it would have cost 5 times what they paid! Parks Director Britt Haley says

this trail project reflects park’s vision of connectivity, sustainability and community

health.

CPW: 2024 Bear Conflict Data

Colorado Parks and Wildlife report an above average number of bear conflicts and sightings in 2024 on a statewide level. CPW received 4,644 bear reports from January 1st to November 1st (an increase over last year's total and the 6-year average). The main source of conflict in 2024 was from black bears trying to access human food sources.

Here is what Tim Kroening, CPW Wildlife Manager for Area 14, had to say about the Colorado Springs area:

“In the Colorado Springs area, we had a relatively mild bear conflict year. We started out with several conflicts due to drought but fortunately we received a lot of rain in mid-June which improved the availability of natural food sources. The city trash ordinance on the west side of town has helped reduce conflicts over the last few years. We continue encouraging people to keep their garage doors closed and secure all food and scent attractants."

More Information from CPW on 2024 Bear Conflict Data

Photo Info: Painting by William Holbrook Beard

Quick Bits

Southeast Strong Community Plan – Last Chance to be Heard

Residents took the time to read the plan draft and make comments October 23rd. If you couldn’t attend, check out this video: https://vimeo.com/1024063148/59ffd124aa

And there still is time to read the draft and take the survey. Deadline is November 10th.

Link to the Plan and survey webpage: https://coloradosprings.gov/SEcommunityplan

Avoid Collisions with Wildlife on Roadways

Back on November 3rd, clocks rolled back an hour. The annual time change puts more people out on roadways during dusk hours when wildlife are out migrating to winter habitats. Read HERE.

Llama Drama in the San Juans

The Colorado Sun covers the anticlimactic, yet joyous, end to the search for a missing llama in remote Colorado Wilderness. Read HERE.

Hiking Bob: Hike this Loop in Green Mountain Falls

Hiking Bob writes about one of the local favorite loops in Green Mountain Falls. Read HERE.

Hiking Bob Interviews the Mayor

On the newest edition of Hiking Bob's podcast, he interviews Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. Listen HERE. (Bob needs your help! Can you take a few minutes to take his survey and help him learn more about his podcast's audience? Take the survey HERE.)

The Gazette - Happy Trails: Scenic Tour Expands with new Colorado Springs Trail

Seth Boster writes about the new upgrades to trails in Bear Creek Cañon. Read HERE.

"Unacceptable"

The Summit Daily News covers Colorado's federal lawmakers response to the U.S. Forest Service hiring freeze and budget cuts. Read HERE.