Colorado Springs facing backlog of yet-to-be-developed park land
With new developments sprouting up so quickly, the cityâs resources are having a hard time catching up
Spencer Humphrey/KOAA
With the number of people and the amount of public land in Colorado Springs on the rise, new parks arenât coming as quickly as parks officials would hope.
and last updated 2021-02-20 22:17:38-05
COLORADO SPRINGS â With the number of people and the amount of public land in Colorado Springs on the rise, new parks arenât coming as quickly as parks officials would hope.
âWe do have a backlog of some great lands and great parks still to be developed,â said Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services director Karen Palus.
Maintain city’s parkland
This week, Colorado Springs City Council members will consider updates to the city’s parkland dedication ordinance. The PLDO, as it’s known, requires developers to dedicate land for parks or pay fees in lieu of land to ensure that our city’s future residents have access to parks as our community grows.
As a former member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, I understand the complexities of the park system and believe that the PLDO is important to building a vibrant city. Our parkland is distributed consistently throughout the community, providing access to neighborhoods and income levels. That was the purpose of PLDO, and I believe the revisions council is considering this week ensure that goal into the future.
LETTERS: Let s better maintain Colorado Springs parkland; thanks to local police gazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Jake Soberal
Downtown Partnershipâs City Center Series returns Jan. 20 for its sixth year, featuring national thought leaders in urbanism, innovation, equity and design.Â
For the first time, the series is free to attend, will be presented virtually and will include local experts responding to each speaker.Â
Sponsored by Colorado Springs Health Foundation, the 2021 series emphasizes how resiliency, equity and creative placemaking build a better city for all.
âThese speakers will inform and inspire the way we talk about the changing face of Colorado Springs,â said Claire Swinford, director of urban engagement at Downtown Partnership.
âOur goal has always been to give local leaders and advocates a set of shared ideals and vocabulary to address the issues that matter most to our city. In this time of rapid growth, itâs even more important to emphasize how our whole city thrives when we build a Downtown that is accessible, equitable and welcoming to