Title
A Resolution adopting the 2026 Park System Master Plan
Presenter:
Skyler Rorabaugh, Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Lonna Thelen, Design and Development Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Nick Kuhn and Jeremy Powell, Consultant with Kimley-Horn
Michael Svets, Consultant with PROS Consulting
Body
Summary:
For more than 150 years, Colorado Springs has built a remarkable system of parks, recreation, open spaces, trails, and cultural services that are fundamental to our community’s identity and quality of life. The Park System Master Plan provides a 10-15 year framework for protecting that legacy while preparing for what comes next. Grounded in community engagement and technical analysis, it establishes the vision, guiding principles, goals, actions, and investments that will shape the system for generations to come. This is not a detailed blueprint. It is a portrait of who we’re becoming, shaping every future decision. Parks Recreation and Cultural Services (PRCS) staff requests adoption of the Park System Master Plan by resolution.
Background:
The City of Colorado Springs Parks System is an essential part of our community infrastructure. The Economic Benefits of Parks and Recreation in Colorado Springs study that was completed in 2025 and published by the Trust For Public Land concluded that $1.1 Billion dollars in property value was added to homes nearby parks which equates to $3.75 million in annual property tax. In addition, $268.8 million in visitor spending is generated by park visitors which corresponds to $10.1 million in local sales tax. The Park System Master Plan (PSMP) concludes with one central challenge – protect and reinvest in what Colorado Springs already has while preparing responsibly for what comes next.
Why this plan is needed:
The 2026 PSMP does not start over, it builds upon the legacy and progress that has already been achieved and carries forward community c...
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