Upcoming Meetings & Events
Public Meetings for the Parks Master Plan Update:
El Paso County Planning Commission First Hearing: May 21, 2013
El Paso County Board of Commissioners Work Session: May 28, 2013
After 26 years with El Paso County Parks, our very own Jerry Westling is retiring. Mr. Westling has served El Paso County Parks in many capacities which have ranged from Park Maintenance Worker to Parks Division Manager and his expertise, passion, and commitment have contributed significantly to the professional management of the County’s park system. He will be missed here at the parks department but he will no doubt enjoy his time off. Congratulations Jerry!
After 7 years of service, Jane Fredman is stepping down from the El Paso County Parks Advisory Board. Ms. Fredman has served as Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary on the Park Advisory Board and participated on a variety of committees including the Fox Run Regional Park and Pineries Open Space master planning committees, Fox Run Regional Park Capital Improvement Committee, and the Great Parks – Great Community Steering Committee. We thank Ms. Fredman for her service; she has been a great asset and we wish her the best.
The US Air Force Academy will be using the New Santa Fe Trail, south of Northgate Boulevard, for construction access to a stream restoration project on Middle Tributary from approximately October 17-November 16, 2012. The trail will remain open, but users should expect occasional truck and heavy equipment traffic. Please yield to all vehicles when there are opportunities to move off of the trail.
EL PASO COUNTY PARKS NOTIFICATIONS AND UPDATES
Ute Pass Regional Trail Phase I Development
Bear Creek Regional Park Conservation Easement
District #3 El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark is spearheading a community discussion regarding the potential placement of a conservation easement over areas in Bear Creek Regional Park (BCRP). The purpose of the conservation easement would provide assurance that a portion / the entire park will be preserved long-term, as the easement would require the area to remain as open space and / or park property in perpetuity.
The County has been in discussions with the Palmer Land Trust (PLT) regarding holding the conservation easement (the County cannot hold conservation easements on its own property). The conservation easement would be a binding legal agreement between the County and PLT that restricts development in order to protect the conservation values of BCRP. The conservation easement may have preservation zones that would allow designated areas of the park to continue to be used for a variety of recreational uses while other zones would primarily be designated as open space. The estimated expense to establish the conservation easement is $17,500 which provides funding for administrative and monitoring costs. The funds are proposed to be raised from grants and contributions.
Black Forest Regional Park Info and News
El Paso County Parks Master Plan Update
This project is an update to the El Paso County Parks Master Plan completed in 2005. The focus of this plan will be on sustainable allocation of resources over the next five years and future needs for facilities and services. This Master Plan helps guide development of parks and outdoor recreation opportunities, along with long-term protection of open space, wildlife habitat, and historic and cultural resources. The plan update process will include numerous public input opportunities to ensure that the Master Plan focuses on the facilities and services that citizens value.
UPCOMING MASTER PLAN MEETINGS:
Master Plan Update webpage
Rainbow Falls Info and News
Fox Run Regional Park Info and News
Pineries Open Space Info and News
Fountain Creek Nature Center Building Expansion Info and News
Willow Springs Ranch Project Info and News
Willow Springs Ranch is a 260 acre site that is located adjacent to the southern border of the Town of Monument, west of Old Denver Highway and north of Baptist Road. The site contains three residences, 117 acres of Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat, and 116 acres of open space.
The County’s Strategic Plan includes the promotion of collaborative efforts to expand public open space opportunities in El Paso County (Goal #3, Strategy D, Objective 10). County Parks included research on the potential purchase of a portion / all of Willow Springs Ranch for open space / public use purposes in its 2012 Action Plan. The County has led a stakeholders group regarding the potential purchase that has included a robust citizen input process.