Palmer Land Conservancy, which has partnered with Woodland Park on the Avenger open Space, approached the City Council at the March 19 meeting with another project. PLC is seeking a letter of support from the city in order to complete a grant request to Great Outdoors Colorado which, along with a loan from GOCO, will fund the acquisition of the property.

City Council put the item on the April 2 agenda for discussion.

Pinestone Ranch is a 685-acre parcel located behind Walmart, just south of Woodland Park. The property borders US Forest Service land, which connects to public properties like the North Slope Recreation Area. It’s also near thousands of privately conserved properties.

“This project fits into an existing tapestry of trails and recreation,” Palmer Land Conservancy Project Associate Ally O’Neill said. “We believe this project would be aligned with your community’s vision and values.”

PLC envisions the property as an area recreational asset that provides the opportunity to expand local and regional trail connectivity. The scenic open space will also protect habitat.

Palmer Land Conservancy was founded in 1977 “with a mission to protect land and water for the well-being of nature and people.”

“Since our founding, we have worked with private and public landowners to protect over 150,000 acres across southern Colorado, including 13,000 acres protected here in Teller County, which is actually more than any other (county) that we work in,” O’Neill said. “The way we protect properties typically through tools like conservation easements, deed restrictions and, in some cases, fee acquisition.”

Appointments

The wives of two current councilmembers were appointed to committees.

Lynn Jones, who co-owns Zebz OutFooter and Colorado GearLab with current councilmember George Jones, was named to the Woodland Park Main Street Board. She served on the previous iteration of the Main Street board.

“I have a thorough understanding of the importance of having a well-functioning, integrated Main Street program and what it can bring to the downtown community,” she said on her application. “As an owner and co-founder of two retail businesses on Main Street, I have a vested interest in serving our community well and bringing to the forefront what’s happening in our downtown through interactions with both our
customers and other businesses.”

George Jones will become mayor of Woodland Park after the April election. He is running unopposed for the position.

Kelli Bryant, a recent graduate of the Citizens Academy, was appointed to the Keep Woodland Park Beautiful Committee. Bryant, who has volunteered in numerous other capacities around the area, is the wife of current councilmember Seth Bryant.

“I want to serve the community and believe I can help with the organization and planning of events,” Bryant said in her application. “I am excited to join and work with this committee.”

Road projects

Two contracts were approved for road projects.

The first will mill and overlay S. Fairview Street between CO 24 to the city limit boundary, a length over just over half a mile.

The other project would remove brick pavers on Thunder Ridge Drive between Skyline Drive and Regal Way plus a couple of other small sections in the same area.

In other news

Woodland Park School Board President Keegan Barkley and new Superintendent Ginger Slocum gave a presentation outlining the activities of the board. Barkley said the visit to council was part of their pledge to operate with utmost transparency. Slocum followed with news about the schools and students of the district.