By Jason Blevins | The Colorado Sun
As federal land managers navigate shrinking budgets, Colorado Parks and Wildlife could assume a larger role in managing recreation on public lands around Pikes Peak.
A consortium — the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, El Paso and Teller counties, the cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities — is asking CPW to help manage increasing recreation around America’s Mountain, starting with management of the Ring the Peak Trail.
“This can allow the Forest Service to focus on areas where they can do the most good with their wildfire crisis strategy. The same can be said for Colorado Springs Utilities focusing on water supplies and the health of our watersheds,” said Becky Leinweber, cofounder of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, which has worked to gather diverse public and private interests around the massif to plan for the next chapter of growth. “CPW has capabilities and expertise that can truly balance both the conservation needs and the recreation needs. This is a unique moment for us.”