The push to increase the footprint of Cheyenne Mountain State Park has taken a stride forward with the Colorado General Assembly Capital Development Committee's thumbs-up on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's land acquisition plan. This nod gives the green light for Colorado Parks and Wildlife to buy about 357.2 acres at the park's doorstep, a slice of land known as the Denman property, setting them back some $8.93 million. The Trust for Public Land is playing the middleman here by first getting the land from the current owner before handing it over to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, as reported.
Besides the state's plot, Colorado Springs' city officials have stamped their approval on buying an adjacent 125.8-acre parcel, to be rolled into the state park's territory, post an update to an existing agreement between parties. These acquisitions stack up approximately 483 acres to the park, puffing up its size to around 3,184 acres. "This project has been more than two decades in the making," Frank McGee, the Southeast Region manager of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, expressed his pride in seeing the plan take shape. "Cheyenne Mountain State Park represents the protection of one of the most important open spaces along the southern Front Range, and this expansion reflects a long-standing partnership with the City of Colorado Springs, and other partners working together to protect this landscape," McGee told Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Opened in 2006, Cheyenne Mountain State Park spans a current 2,701 acres, with the City of Colorado Springs owning about 60 percent of it, leaving management duties to Colorado Parks and Wildlife under their partnership. Lonna Thelen, manager for the City of Colorado Springs' Parks, Trails, Open Space and Parks programs, chimed in, "Each partner brings unique strengths to this effort, allowing us to acquire land and expand access to Cheyenne Mountain State Park so residents and visitors can enjoy this landscape for generations to come," as per Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The ambitious dream of the 26-mile Chamberlain Trail, which aspires to connect Blodgett Peak to Cheyenne Mountain State Park, gets a leg up with these land deals, though more groundwork lies ahead before any new trail chunks get the go-ahead. Securing these parcels means Colorado Parks and Wildlife can settle down to shield habitats while also plotting out paths for public recreation, such as hiking and mountain biking. Moreover, it gives them the opportunity to whip up more visible signage at the park's primary entry point off Colorado Highway 115. "Bringing this land into public ownership allows us to protect the park’s entrance and preserve this landscape for the long term," said Jason Hagan, who manages Cheyenne Mountain State Park, as obtained by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. He also highlighted the backing from Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and Fort Carson, pointing out how it helps stave off future developments potentially impinging on military turf while keeping the scene around the park easy on the eyes.
