Collaborators thinking big about future recreation and conservation across the Pikes Peak region are hosting another series of listening sessions this week.

The Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative last hosted open house-type meetings in January 2022, making several stops around El Paso, Teller and Fremont counties.

“We’re doing a repeat of that to some extent, although now it’s a little bit different,” said Becky Leinweber, executive director of the nonprofit that’s been leading the project, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA).

The previous meetings collected concerns and dreams that people had for the outdoor scene around them — building on discussions PPORA has had for years with local land managers, advocates and outdoor business people. Through those discussions, past planning documents and newly collected data, the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative seeks to craft a guiding document to protect the broad landscape while meeting rising recreation interests.

“Now we’ve got some recommendations, some action items,” Leinweber said. “So it’s time to go back to the community and say, ‘Did we get it right?'”

From Monday to Saturday, meetings are set for Colorado Springs, Monument, Woodland Park, Cripple Creek and Florence. Two virtual sessions are scheduled for June 27. Find the full schedule and more details at ppora.org/oppi

Meetings so far have focused on recreational expansions, education and equity, fire and water, and strained resources when it comes to land management and enforcement.

“We’re definitely diving into management,” Leinweber said. “Are there ways we can do this better? What are some alternatives to business as usual?”

One concept that’s been floated: placing Colorado Parks and Wildlife as the single manager for recreation across Pikes Peak’s multiple jurisdictions. The idea has drawn intrigue and opposition.

“It’s an idea that I think has a lot of potential,” Leinweber said, “and I also think it has a lot of work ahead of it to really engage the partnership with land managers that would need to take place.”

The Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative aims to have a vision plan finished in the fall.