Author: By Susan Davies Special to The Gazette
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Trail Talk: Horsetooth Reservoir in Larimer County a fun way to break out of a rut
When I slip on my worn hiking boots, it’s like wrapping up in a favorite afghan — comfortable and familiar. Trails are like that too, and I have my favorites — just as you likely do also. Paths so familiar that I know where to find the pasque flowers in May and the columbines in…
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Trail Talk: 2024 saw plenty of progress in outdoors initiatives
Not all gifts come in a box or fit under the tree. New and improved trails, new playgrounds, future parks plus plans for new trails are just a few examples. Oak Meadows neighborhood park in southwest Colorado Springs has a sweet new playground with accessible play equipment and an ADA-compliant parking lot. On the city’s…
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Trail Talk: Combining forces, dollars can produce impressive results with Colorado land preservation
A recent announcement involving the preservation of open space in Colorado was rather startling. Denver Mountain Parks (DMP) and Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) split the cost of a critical piece of property. As a result, they have created 4,000-plus acres of contiguous public land. The achievement is remarkable. Never before had these groups purchased…
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Trail Talk: El Paso County residents should consider land preservation during next election
You woke up Wednesday either ecstatic, devastated or somewhere in between. Imagine coming together and unifying for a common purpose. I would argue that focusing on our rapidly developing county is fertile ground where this can happen. Consider Douglas County to our north. Generally conservative, 30 years ago residents came together and passed a .18%…
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Trail Talk: Love on Colorado Springs’ nearly 300 parks by using them
If you were asked this question — “Which are your five favorite city parks?” — how would you answer? With close to 300 from which to choose in Colorado Springs, it might not be an easy task to narrow your list to just five. For me, parks go in and out of favor. I’ve added…
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Trail Talk: Helping those with disabilities enjoy the outdoors
Sometimes I use this gift of space to highlight new parks and trails in our region or bring to your attention a parks-related problem worth considering and correcting. Sometimes I like to shine a spotlight on the quiet heroes improving our parks or creating opportunities for others. Most of us would agree that our trails…
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Trail Talk: Love for the outdoors should translate to better parks for kids in Colorado Springs
What are your earliest memories? First grade teacher? First best friend? How about first park and playground? My first park was Erb Park in Appleton, Wis. I practically lived there growing up. I recall falling off the slide and somehow surviving. Playgrounds built today offer so much more to kids of all ages. Some 50…
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Trail Talk: Take time to enjoy nature’s gifts on a regular basis
I recall the first Earth Day 54 years ago. My school celebrated with its first school-wide cleanup. Today, if you wanted to attend a cleanup in this area, you’d find dozens of organized events during Earth Month and that’s great. Less great is the fact that today’s omnipresent mobile devices are robbing us of “awe…
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Trail Talk: Pikes Peak region needs a refresher course on good manners
Like so many of you, I enjoy hearing of yet another “first” heaped on the Pikes Peak region’s collective shoulders. Over the years, the area has been celebrated for “best place to live,” “top location for millennials,” “best place for dog walking” and dozens more. What I’d like the region to be known for though…
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Trail Talk: Consider being a Friend to Colorado Springs area trails, parks and open spaces
Over the years, I’ve shared stories about many of the region’s amazing Friends groups. These volunteers help maintain parks, trails and open spaces in and around Colorado Springs. They cheerfully repair and close trails, remove invasive weeds, pick up trash (including dog waste) and paint picnic tables. According to the Independent Sector, volunteer help is…