Colorado Springs has a reputation as a place that favors small government and limited public spending, but 75 years ago the city was a hub for projects funded by the government s New Deal.Without those projects, Rampart Range Road wouldn t snake into the mountains, Garden of the Gods wouldn t be studded with juniper trees, Monument Creek might still flood its banks and some of the city s most visible public art wouldn t exist.This year marks the 75th anniversary of the New Deal, a series of programs that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt pushed through as his stimulus package to help the country weather the Great Depression. The government job-creation program began in 1933, employing more than 4 million Americans at its peak, in skills as varied as painting and bridge-building. It fizzled out by 1942, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor thrust the nation into World War II.Whether one views the New Deal as a boon or a boondoggle, it was a remarkable period in the nation s history.
Day One
Start your day by picking up a fresh donut or a savory biscuits and gravy dish to-go at the Donut Mill, found on the town s main strip. With breakfast in hand, head over to Memorial Park to catch the sunrise as the dayâs first light hits the towering 14,115-foot Pikes Peak.
After sunrise, set your sights toward a mid-morning hike. Drive Rampart Range Road to Rainbow Gulch Trail, which can be used to access the breathtaking Rampart Reservoir in Pike National Forest. The trail is about 3 miles roundtrip and rated as easy difficulty.
5. Woodland Park, Colorado (cont.)