Advocacy is at the heart of what we do
Advocacy is essential to getting trails built, preserving open space,
and getting adequate parks funding.
Our work includes helping craft the future for our public spaces, with our partners in government, other nonprofits and community groups, and our members and partners. Our goal is to envision what can be, and work to make the vision a reality.
We joke about how “We go to all the boring meetings so you don’t have to,” but in fact TOSC is at every public meeting where policy, funding or planning for parks, trails and open spaces is discussed or decided—be it City Council, County Commission, Parks Advisory Boards, Master Plan work sessions, TOPS Working Committee, Trails Team, Colorado Springs Utilities, etc.—and is a respected voice for our public spaces. We weigh in on the issues, and report back to the public regularly.
We encourage you to connect with us at the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
We work to create a social and political climate in which local decisions to fund open space, parks and trails are approved and supported. We encourage organizations, businesses and individuals to get involved in the process. Government bodies do listen to their constituents. We help get the word out to the public about what the issues are, what decisions are being made, when public comment is requested, and how to make your voice heard. We listen to all our user groups—hikers, bikers, runners, equestrians—and work to get their concerns addressed.
Recent Advocacy News

News Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Mayoral Candidates Answer Questions and Scoop the Poop Success Ballots due 7pm May 16th We asked Wayne Williams and Yemi Mobalade to answer the following:

News Wednesday April 26, 2023
Mayoral Run-off and Rescheduled Volunteer Events Mayoral Run-off – Down to Two Candidates TOSC was delighted that the Pikes Peak United Way/KKTV debate between Wayne

News Wednesday April 19, 2023
Amazing Volunteers and A Lot of Outdoor Updates Volunteer and Volunteer Group of the Year We congratulate Bob Falcone (Hiking Bob) and the RISE|Southeast

News Wednesday April 12, 2023
Trail Updates and Opportunities to Get Involved. Spring is in Bloom Along the Sand Creek Trail Corridor We’d like to take a moment to

News Wednesday April 5, 2023
Our Trails, Parks, and Open Spaces Thank You! We Did It!!!! Thanks to your support, the TOPS 20-year extension was approved by 78% of

News Wednesday March 29, 2023
Tuesday is the day to vote! It’s Not About You! Because we know You have already voted for Issue 1 – the TOPS 20-year extension.

News Wednesday March 22, 2023
Leaving a trail of joy There are some things we cannot control when we are on the trails: the weather, natural disasters and the actions

News Wednesday March 15, 2023
What We Love About TOPS! TOPS paid for most of the Cottonwood Creek Trail. Because the land had to be purchased in phases to accommodate

News Wednesday March 1, 2023
First TOSC Member Hike of 2023 is a wrap! Thank you to the members who joined us Saturday for a walking tour of the future Coleman