The evergreen forest on display in rugged surroundings of Austin Bluffs Open Space.
The vision for an open space in the center of Colorado Springs came closer to complete this summer.
That's the 584 acres of meadows and woods surrounding Pulpit Rock that collectively came to be called Austin Bluffs Open Space in a 2020 master plan. The plan envisioned building new trails and closing others that had been undesignated by the parks department for many years — 'social trails' frequented by residents in surrounding neighborhoods.
The years have seen a professionally-built trail wrap up to Pulpit Rock, the formation seen from Interstate 25 and long ascended by steep, erosive paths now closed. The multi-use trail has been joined by singletrack sought by downhill mountain bikers: Black Sheep Trail. Among more recent work, signs now mark other parts of a formalized trail system that previously ran like a confusing maze.
Trail Development and Future Plans
'We've been able to take an open space that was socially used and turned that into a designated 19 miles' worth of open space trail, improve wildlife habitat with some of the closures of the undesignated trail, and improved and enhanced public access,' said David Deitemeyer, senior administrator for the city's Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program.
Key trails from the master plan will have to wait until next summer — if grant funding comes through, Deitemeyer said.
One of those is the Spine Trail. Deitemeyer said two sections remain to be built in the trail spanning the length of the open space and connecting to urban paths running on to Palmer Park in one direction, Ute Valley Park in the other.
Another focus of pending funds would be the hiking-only Enlightenment Trail. A blueprint calls for dirt tread and stone steps rising up the north and northwest faces of Pulpit Rock.
Creating an Extensive Trail System
'It's purpose is to be more direct than the existing, multi-use, multi-direction trail,' Deitemeyer said. 'It allows for visitors to park at the trailhead and really get access to that hillside in a more direct fashion on a trail that will be more sustainable than what's currently (closed) there.'
He said Spine and Enlightenment trails would 'effectively create a complete trail system' from the master plan, with 22-plus miles of new and adopted, pre-existing trail.
Before then, more regrading and improvements are expected at the two small, dirt parking lots along Nevada Avenue. Those are the open space's trailheads for visitors away from the surrounding neighborhoods.
Community Feedback and Future Sustainability
Deitemeyer said he has heard positive feedback from those neighbors regarding the open space's recent developments. 'But they are concerned about the increased use over time,' Deitemeyer recognized.
'We're strategically planning and designing so that the open space remains sustainable,' he said. 'So that it remains a benefit to the community and a benefit to the wildlife, and those resources are protected through smart design and appropriate access.'