Years ago the Trails and Open Space Coalition board and staff declared one of our organizational goals to be: “Transform the Pikes Peak region into a world-class outdoor recreation destination.”

Some will read that and recoil in horror. They imagine crowds, adventure-seeking tourists, more people on our trails.

Others will see economic value in investing in our strengths and capitalizing on our natural assets. When local economist Tatiana Bailey calculated the value of completing the Ring the Peak Trail, the potential dollars were estimated to be in the millions! People already come to enjoy what we all enjoy regularly. Why not develop our recreation potential wisely, balancing opportunity and conservation?

The current Blodgett Peak Open Space planning process is big on balance. When asked, participants have been as passionate about protecting corridors for wildlife as they are expanding trails and trailheads.

Preliminary plans would add 16-17 miles of new trail. Some would be mountain-bike only and a few hiking-only. There are plans for bathroom facilities at the trailheads. (Lack of bathrooms in parks and open spaces is a top complaint.) There are plans to extend the Chamberlain Trail and a Park to Peak Trail that would connect Blodgett to Palmer Park.

The process is queuing up future conversations with the Forest Service to create a sustainable, system trail between Blodgett Open Space and the top of Blodgett Peak, part of Pike National Forest. Blodgett users regularly scale the peak. Ironically, Forest Service policy permits bushwhacking to the top of Blodgett Peak, but there is no support to build a sustainable trail that would be safer for users and better for the resource.

When faced with such ironies, two phrases regarding trails come to mind. The first: “trails are primarily for the land, not the people.” In other words, keeping people on trails is an act of kindness for the land. The other saying: “if you don’t manage it (by providing a trail), it will manage you (by allowing users to do what they want where they want.)

In 2024, Fishers Canyon open space planning process will begin. Another opportunity for the public to discover a 343-acre natural gem that will carefully and thoughtfully be planned and crafted into an heirloom for generations to come. Just like Red Rock, Ute Valley, Austin Bluffs — it’s an impressive list.

Blodgett will get us a stop closer to that “world-class” goal. As will new mobility devices in our county, state and city parks. Much like the new track-chairs and terrain-hoppers, we can choose to go forward or backward. Remaining motionless is not an option.

Susan Davies is executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.

A hiker strolls the Blodgett Trail at Blodgett Open Space, the namesake peak looming in the near distance.

Seth Boster, The Gazette