Title
Ordinance No. 22-18 Amending Ordinance No. 21-112 (2022 Appropriation Ordinance) for a Supplemental Appropriation to the Trails, Open Space and Parks Fund in the Amount of $2,819,000 to Complete the Phase II Acquisition of up to 85 Acres of Property for the Purpose of Public Open Space and Trails
Presenter:
Britt Haley, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department, Trails, Open Space and Parks Program Manager
David Deitemeyer, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department, Senior Landscape Architect
Body
Summary:
In late October of 2021, City Council unanimously approved a two phase acquisition of over 340 acres of candidate open space property previously identified in the 2014 Park System Master Plan for the City of Colorado Springs open space system. City Council also approved a supplemental appropriation to purchase approximately 258 acres of the property. This agenda item is a request for a supplemental appropriation, from 2022 Trails, Open Space and Parks ("TOPS") funds, to support the phase II acquisition of the remaining 84.629 acres.
Background:
The Trails, and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) submitted an application to the TOPS Program to acquire this property after becoming aware that the owner was interested in a sale. After review, TOPS staff determined the property is located within the Park System Master Plan's Cheyenne Canon/Cheyenne Mountain Candidate Open Space Area and it offers a great opportunity for connectivity along the City's western mountain backdrop. This property is characterized by its beautiful forest landscape. The TOPS Working Committee assigned two members to review the property with the TOPS Program Manager Britt Haley and David Deitemeyer, Senior Landscape Architect for the Department. The initial review indicated that the TOPS Program ought to pursue acquisition of this property.
Due to more acquisition opportunities than available funding at the time, Parks staff again teamed up with The Conservation F...
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