The city of Colorado Springs is considering a land swap deal with The Broadmoor that could ease public access to beloved hiking spots on the city’s southwest side, and give nearly 200 acres to the hotel.

The deal would bring more than 371 acres to the city, including parts of Barr Trail, the Manitou Incline and access to the Mount Muscoco summit just outside North Cheyenne Canyon Park.

During a Monday work session of the City Council, Karen Palus, director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, touted the potential swap as achieving many of the parks department’s goals when it comes to improvements and access.

The swap means The Broadmoor would get 189.5 acres of southwest North Cheyenne Canyon Park, known as Strawberry Fields, which the hotel would develop into a picnic area and stables. While Palus assured the council that the property could only be zoned for park uses, its access could be changed by fees and private property restrictions.

Hundreds of area residents have signed a petition opposing the deal. Even for those who support the trade, many questions remain about how it work, said Susan Davies, executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition. The coalition has not taken a stance on the deal, but it has fielded concerns and excitement about the deal, she said.

“Our members are somewhat conflicted,” Davies said. “We are delighted that this is not a decision that is going to be made this week, probably not even next month.”

– TIMELINE: Looking back at the Broadmoor’s history.

Palus did not discuss Monday when and how the deal would be finalized, but nothing will happen before the public gets a chance to comment on it.

The city did not respond immediately Monday to requests for more information about the deal’s timeline.

The city will host an open house information session at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road.

While some residents might be concerned about the potential loss of Strawberry Fields, the coalition is thrilled the Chamberlain Trail would be expanded under the deal, Davies said.

Above all, the city’s deal would put it closer to completing the Cheyenne Mountain Heritage Trail, a system meant to ring Cheyenne Mountain. The deal grants the city trail easements along the Chamberlain Trail that will help bring the Heritage system to completion.

The city will get twice the acreage and twice the assessed value in the deal, Palus said. In addition to sheer acreage, the swap would secure access to several trails.

The ownership of Barr Trail, for instance, would become public, while in years past the trail had only been accessible due to an agreement with El Paso County and The Broadmoor. The deal will also expand Bear Creek Regional Park by 8 acres. Easements with The Broadmoor will secure public access to the Chamberlain Trail and to Hully Gully, a popular ice climbing spot.

The Broadmoor is owned by the Denver-based Anschutz Corp., whose Clarity Media Group owns The Gazette.