The new year comes with good news for El Paso County outdoor lovers.
"I think by the end of 2021, we're gonna have a couple of new open spaces," said Ross Williams, the county parks officer who has been overseeing plans for Kane Ranch and Santa Fe open spaces.
Kane Ranch, he said, could open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians in the spring. The 440 acres of prairie east of Fountain beside Squirrel Creek Road has been in the public trust since 2003, when the land was willed to the county by the former owner.
A 4-mile loop trail has been under construction in recent weeks, Williams said. It's being called the Lariat Trail, a nod to the property's ranching legacy.