Colorado Springs Parks & Recreation — Attraction in Colorado Springs

In April and May of 2017 CS Parks Department destroyed the 800 year old UTE INDIAN TRAIL along the edge of Red Rock Canyon Open Space known as "INTEMANN TRAIL." In its place, cutting across several steep drainages, they bulldozed a level BICYCLE SPEED-WAY.

That work lacked REQUIRED PERMITS from Army Corps of Engineers, Office of State Archaeologist, Regional Building Authority, and other required entities. It was built ILLEGALLY.

On July 23rd, 2018 their work was irreparably damaged by rain due to poor design and execution; it lasted BARELY A YEAR! It will not be repaired because construction permits cannot be issued; THE STEEP TERRAIN CANNOT SUPPORT A TRAIL CUTTING THROUGH IT!

US Army Corps of Engineers had already ordered that the tons of trees dumped over the side of the new trail be removed to prevent more damage downstream. The upland valleys the trail crosses have been permanently damaged and are now susceptible to severe flooding (they all feed down to Sand Canyon, through Red Rock Canyon Open Space, and into Fountain Creek.)

As a result of their incompetence, Parks Dept. no longer undertakes any independant trail building or repair IN ANY OPEN SPACES. Its maintenance/construction duties are being overseen by Rocky Mountain Field Institute, which will spend many years correcting and mitigating FIFTEEN YEARS OF NEGLECT AND MISMANAGEMENT.

C.S. Parks, City Council, Mayor Suthers, and Palmer Land Trust were notified even as the trenching was still occurring; THEY EACH JUSTIFIED THE WORK!

The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) ordered the city to cease work as soon as they were notified. (The "Master Plan" was to rip away many more miles more forest and landscape, including sections of historic Palmer Loop Trail.)

Who were the beneficiaries? The Bicycle Lobby! They are also behind the city's penchant for turning busy streets into bicycle paths for non-existent riders. Who-all is in their pockets?

Watch the YouTube Video entitled "Intemann Trail Archaeology." See for yourself the attitude Parks Dept has towards both our heritage and our Open Spaces. And...

Was at Prospect Park with my family and it was 10:23pm. Security came into the park doing donuts and blaring on their horn, went to see the commotion and the security guard was arguing with other visitors at the park and locked all of our cars inside the park. The hours posted on website says that they close at 11pm. We were packing up our stuff when we got locked inside. Had to have assistance getting my car down the curb without causing damage to the underbody. Security guard was beyond rude and uncaring and would not open the gate to let us out. She should written up and terminated talking that way in front of young kids. Disrespectful and unnecessary, all you had to do was speak kindly and ask...

Heres a novel idea, before your rangers go around threatening people with citations. Maybe they should know and follow the laws themselves! It is very disappointing to see these condensending, ignorant and arrogant young people in these position! Clearly they lack the knowledge and life experience for these positions!

And please don't feign ignorants of this behavior. It will only make...