Title
Ordinance No. 22-77 amending Ordinance No. 21-112 (2022 Budget Appropriation Ordinance) for a supplemental appropriation to the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) fund in the amount of $275,000 for the master and management plan and implementation at the Blodgett Open Space
Presenter:
Britt Haley, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, Director Nominee
David Deitemeyer, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, Senior Landscape Architect
Chris Fiandaca, City Budget Manager
Body
Summary:
The attached ordinance is a supplemental appropriation to increase the 2022 TOPS budget and appropriate funds in the amount of $275,000 for the purpose of a master and management plan for the Blodgett and Pikeview Buffer Open Space properties (hereinafter referred to as "Blodgett Open Space"). The source of funds is the current TOPS available fund balance which is estimated to be $5,772,815. Of the $275,000 requested, approximately $200,000 is anticipated for the planning process and the remainder of the funds would be expended on implementation of initial master and management plan recommendations.
Background:
The TOPS Program acquired the initial 167 acres of Blodgett Open Space, on the northwest side of Colorado Springs, in the Spring of 2001. In 2003, a new master plan was developed for the purpose of providing public access, resource inventory, wildlife habitat, trail development, and resource conservation.
In 2018, the TOPS Programs acquired 64 acres on the southern boundary of the existing Blodgett Open Space. In the following year, staff conducted an interim master plan for sustainable public access, public use, wildlife conservation and land management of the 64 acres. The Blodgett Open Space Interim Master Plan provided the addition of a 15-vehicle space trailhead, known as the South Blodgett Trailhead, the construction of approximately 800 linear feet of new trail for improved trail connections to the original open space, and the adoption of the...
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