Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation of Approximately 100 Acres of Land Known as the Pikeview Quarry
Presenter:
Kim King, Acting Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Lonna Thelen, Design and Development Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
David Deitemeyer, Senior Program Administrator, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Body
Summary:
This resolution request authorizes the donation of approximately 100 acres of property to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. This donation is the final piece of an approximately 443-acre property acquisition.
Background:
The Pikeview Quarry donation request is the final piece of a three-part approximately 415-acre property acquisition previously identified in the 2014 Park System Master Plan as candidate properties for the City of Colorado Springs. The properties were all originally owned by Castle Concrete Company. The property acquisitions include:
- Pikeview Quarry Frontage Property (now a part of Blodgett Open Space) - Approximately 150 acres of property between Blodgett Open Space and the Flying W Ranch.
- Black Canyon Quarry - Approximately 165-acre property just west of the Cedar Heights neighborhood and adjacent to Williams Canyon.
- Pikeview Quarry - Approximately 100-acre Pikeview Quarry donation to the City of Colorado Springs after physical site reclamation and reclamation approval by the State of Colorado, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS).
The previous property acquisition information includes:
- Black Canyon Quarry - A TOPS purchase of approximately 165 acres in September of 2020 after a City Council approval in June of 2020.
- Pikeview Quarry Frontage Property - A Phase I, Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) purchase of approximately 88 acres in September of 2020 after a City Council approval in June of 2020 and a Phase II, TOPS purchase of approximately 62 acres in April of 2021 after a City Council approval in April of 2021.
The current property acquisition includes:
- Pikeview Quarry - An approximately 100-acre donation to the City of Colorado Springs.
In April of 2019, Castle Concrete Company notified the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department (Parks) that it desired to sell the Pikeview Quarry Buffer and the Black Canyon Quarry to help fund the reclamation of the Pikeview Quarry. The City of Colorado Springs agreed to purchase the Pikeview Quarry Buffer and the Black Canyon Quarry with an agreement that the PIkeview Quarry would be offered as a donation to the City of Colorado Springs once the reclamation work was finalized and reviewed by the City of Colorado Springs.
Reclamation information:
The City of Colorado Springs entered into an agreement with Castle Concrete Company in September of 2020 allowing the City to accept the Pikeview Quarry site as a donation upon the site being in safe and stable condition and subject to all physical aspects of the site reclamation having been performed pursuant to the agreement. The agreement also required approval by DRMS of the Pikeview Quarry’s reclamation permit.
The Pikeview Quarry reclamation was designed and implemented under the oversight of licensed professional engineers and regulated through the State of Colorado’s Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS), including the formal reclamation permit (M-1977-211) dated August 29, 2019, for active construction monitoring. The State DRMS formally approved the full and final release of reclamation on October 7, 2025.
To further support the City’s evaluation prior to property acceptance, Granite Engineering Group was retained to conduct an independent geotechnical review of the reclamation, including the original design, construction activities, historical slope failures, and current site conditions. Their analysis determined that past instability was driven by a weak clay layer, groundwater conditions, and loss of toe support from mining, and that the completed reclamation, particularly the buttress and drainage system, has significantly improved overall slope stability. Granite concluded that the site is stable; however, continued groundwater monitoring and maintenance of drainage systems will be critical to managing long-term risk.
In summary, the three-part acquisition of the parcels noted above support the Park System Master Plan’s (PSMP) statement that “conservation of lands in this area offer potential to extend open space and trail connectivity, serve growing recreational demands of city residents, and provide additional connections to the Pike National Forest.” In addition, the PSMP highlights the wildlife habitat, including important habitat for Golden Eagles, and mentioned that it features known use areas for the Townsend’s Big-eared Bat which is a species of State Special Concern. The acquisition of these properties is located within the City’s western mountain backdrop which conserves a prominent feature of the City’s western skyline.
Previous Council Action:
City Council approved a supplemental appropriation for Phase I of the Pikeview Quarry Frontage Property and the Black Canyon Quarry acquisition on June 9, 2020. City Council approved a supplemental appropriation for Phase II of the Pikeview Quarry Frontage Property acquisition on April 13, 2021.
Financial Implications:
The City is under contract to receive the donation of the Pikeview Quarry. The City will be responsible for long-term maintenance of the property.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
Prior to the June 9, 2020 and April 13, 2021 City Council actions, the TOPS Working Committee and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board recommended approval of the acquisitions. Due to this action being a continuation of the previous actions, the TOPS Working Committee and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board did not provide formal recommendations but have been updated on the action before City Council.
Stakeholder Process:
Public meetings of the TOPS Working Committee and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board offer the opportunity for public comment on previous phases of this acquisition. The Regular Session meetings of City Council also offer this opportunity for the current phase.
Alternatives:
City Council may disapprove the proposed resolution, request additional information or suggest an alternative approach to the transaction.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
A motion to approve a resolution authorizing the donation of approximately 100 acres of land from Castle Concrete Company to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department.
Summary of Ordinance Language
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