Trails and Open Space Coalition, Colorado Springs

Amazing what nearly a century of wanton, unregulated dumping can create!

This area just to the north of the future Corral Bluffs Open Space is littered with just about anything you can imagine. The usual tires, lumber and rusty, household appliances can be found here but so also was an seat from an old theater. According to Phyllis Cahill, debris cleaned out of the area indicates the dumping goes back as far as 90 years.

Phyllis and her husband Jeff are a big part of the motivating force that has greatly improved the look of this area already. They lead volunteers every Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. in the clean up effort.  Volunteers meet at the corner of Hoofbeat & Davis Road.  Please wear old clothes, work gloves, sunscreen and tough-soled shoes and  bring drinking water. Inclement weather cancels. For volunteer  information:http: //www.savecorralbluffs.com

Money for a Master Plan means plans to open the Mt. Manitou Incline can go forward. Great Outdoors Colorado is providing a $70,500 grant along with a $25,000 donation from a local philanthropic family for planning. Trails and Open Space Advocacy Director Bill Koerner is a member of the Task Force that will use the next six to nine months and come up with a plan for the "opening" process.The land is owned by Colorado Springs Utilities, the U.S. Forest Service and the Cog Railway. The Incline is not open to the public, although as many as 70,000 use it each year. The grants will be used for planning purposes. Opening the trail will likely require more money. The task force will work with Colorado Springs Trails,Open Space and Parks as well as Manitou Springs officials. A series of public meetings will be held.

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How tasty was that bagel, beer, or hamburger? Have you used the bike-kit yet, scheduled the haircut, or enjoyed the "parafin hand treatment?" If you donated to the Trails and Open Space Coalition during the Indygive campaign, you've probably received those great incentives. If you didn't donate - there's always next year.

Thanks to generous donors TOSC received a total of $8,765.22 and $1000 worth of publicity in the Colorado Springs Independent. What does that mean? It means our staff and board of directors  will have more time to spend on what we're  passionate about - advocating for open space, parks, trails, bikeways and greenways!

The inaugural Indygive campaign raised a total of $198,698.59  with 2,577 unique donors for 29 local non-profits. To put that in perspective, when Portland, Oregon launched its first Give! campaign they raised $22,000 their first year- 2004.  This year  they raised an amazing $918,094.20 with 3098 donors. You can see the potential for growth! Thanks again to those of you who supported TOSC in this fun, fruitful and rewarding campaign. And we thank John Weiss, Publisher of the  Colorado Springs Independent along with a plethora of partners who made it possible. (Picture Courtesy Cayton Photography)