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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Governor Polis announced Thursday in his State of the State enhanced stewardship and opportunities for new public lands on Pikes Peak. Following the Governor’s announcement, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced that they have received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from key partners in the Colorado Springs area announcing they want to pursue an expansion of the state recreation system with new CPW-managed recreation opportunities on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain.
The LOI was signed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the City of Manitou Springs, the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services office, Pikes Peak America’s Mountain municipal enterprise, Colorado Springs Utilities, El Paso County, Teller County and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, Pike-San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
“This is an exciting partnership that will result in higher quality outdoor recreation opportunities that will allow for more people to enjoy the thriving Pikes Peak region, while better conserving America’s Peak for future generations,” said Governor Polis. “This is just the first step in a multi-year plan to improve and expand world class recreation opportunities like camping, fishing, hiking and more on the majestic mountain in a way that benefits the landscape, our way of life and local economy. Anyone who visits our state parks knows exactly what CPW is capable of delivering.”
Observers could compare the possible CPW presence on Pikes Peak to the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area where CPW partners with federal agencies to run campgrounds and manage hiking and other activities.
The first priority of the partnership is to draft a long-term agreement with CPW to allow the state’s premier recreation management agency to assume management and development of the Ring the Peak Trail corridor.
The proposed partnership is what the administration envisioned when, in 2020, Gov. Polis signed an Executive Order creating the Regional Partnerships Initiative (RPI) to develop a statewide vision of world-class outdoor recreation while preserving Colorado’s wildlife, habitat and quality of life.
The administration commends the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) for being the driving force that began working in 2021 to bring together the federal, state and municipal partners that ultimately signed the LOI.
The PPORA collaborated with outdoor businesses, nonprofits, government entities and individuals who recognize the value of our region’s natural and recreation assets to our community both as an economic driver and for our health and well-being. They identified America’s Mountain as their primary focus and hammered out the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative.
CPW does not expect to manage the Pikes Peak Highway or the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. In partnership, with CPW taking the lead in managing and expanding recreation on Pikes Peak, will result in many expanded outdoor recreation opportunities.