On the surface, as stated in The Gazette editorial on Sunday, Jan. 31, the Strawberry Fields land swap makes a lot of sense. City Parks gets more land at a higher appraised dollar value than it’s giving up. Parks is getting several important parcels and easements that the public already uses and has wanted for years. In return, The Broadmoor is getting an unknown and underused 189 acres of Cheyenne Canon for a private picnic area and possible commercial horse riding operation. No building besides typical park and horse facilities will be allowed. And yes, the public can still have some access to the upper parts of Strawberry Fields through the completion of the Chamberlain Trail.

This seems like a good deal for the city and the public until you dig a little deeper.

First of all, The Broadmoor is giving up easements and land it can’t use and doesn’t want. The city is getting mostly land and easements the public already uses or could enjoy in the future. As a side note, until now, The Broadmoor has been reluctant to negotiate with the city to purchase land or sell easements for these “trade” areas. But the worst part of this deal is the public will lose access to an incredible chunk of lower Cheyenne Canon that is debatably one the prettiest spots with one the most spectacular views in the region.

The two biggest problems with this proposal are: most of the public and decision makers have never seen or been to Strawberry Fields and the timing of this “swap” happens to be in the winter when the public can’t appreciate Strawberry Fields’ real value.

Now that city parks has spent tens of thousands of dollars doing fire mitigation in Strawberry Fields and created one the healthiest forests in the area, the meadow (that earned the nickname Strawberry Fields) that The Broadmoor wants for their “private” picnic area can only be described as a combination of Ireland for it’s tall grasses, wildflowers and wild asparagus and Switzerland for its incredible views of North and South Cheyenne Canons and Mount Cutler to the West, Cheyenne Mountain and Will Rogers Shrine to the South and Stratton Open Space and the High Drive of Gold Camp Road to the North. No wonder The Broadmoor is willing to give up so much to control and restrict this “private” picnic area.

So here’s my challenge to the decision makers (the TOPS Working Committee, The Parks Advisory Board and City Council). Wait six months to make your decision. Take a short walk there this summer to see why The Broadmoor wants this land so badly. Then decide if it would be better to negotiate and pay fair market value for the parcels and easements The Broadmoor has offered to trade but doesn’t really want or need. And keep Strawberry Fields, (the desire of our city leaders who purchased it in the late 1800s), for the public to enjoy forever.

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Richard Skorman, is co-owner of Poor Richards/Little Richards/Ricos.

Richard Skorman and Peg Bacon shared the history of Citizens Project with guests at the Creating Community Breakfast. 060415 Photo by Linda Navarro

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