Is the proposed land trade with The Broadmoor a stroke of great luck for Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services? Or is the plan lopsided?

I’ve heard both opinions, and it’s something the hiking/cycling/equestrian community needs to consider.

The proposed trade would give the city public access and ownership of Barr Trail, the Manitou Incline and a future access trail off the Incline to the north. It also would secure 9 acres (property that The Broadmoor purchased with the intent of building a horse stable) adjacent to Bear Creek Regional Park. And it would give the city the ability to extend the Chamberlain Trail along a challenging stretch. (Completing the Chamberlain Trail was singled out as a high-priority project in the last parks master plan.)

Finally, the trade would add 208 acres to North Cheyenne Cañon Park along the park’s southwest boundary, allowing hikers to use the Mt. Muscoco and Daniels Pass trails to access Gold Camp Road.

In return, The Broadmoor would receive a half-acre of city property to be used for employee parking at The Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cog Railway plus 189 acres of North Cheyenne Cañon Park in the park’s far southeast corner. The Broadmoor plans to use 7 acres for a horse stable and group picnic area.

In this region of the park, known as the Strawberry Hill area, social trails connect the neighborhood to a meadow, but it features no “system trails” and most regular users of North Cheyenne Cañon Park probably never have hiked it. The trade would allow the Chamberlain Trail to cross the property.

As residents of the Pikes Peak region, we need to ask ourselves if this land trade serves the needs and vision of our community? Or does it trade away a potential jewel?

As trail users, I ask you to ponder these questions. A public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Bear Creek Nature Center will give you the chance to learn more, ask questions and weigh in.

We need to get this right.

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Davies is the executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition. Read her columns on the fourth Thursday of each month in Out There.