By Brennen Kauffman | Denver Gazette
Colorado Springs wants residents to play a role in creating the master plan for the next decade of maintaining and expanding the city’s park system.
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department announced the rollout of the 2026 Park System Master Plan on Friday morning at America the Beautiful Park. The planning process, with a tagline of “Building Community, Preserving Our Legacy,” will create big picture goals for the park network.
Parks and recreation leaders called for residents to get involved in the process by sharing how they use outdoor spaces and how the city should prioritize changes.
“Together, we can ensure that our city remains a vibrant place for recreation, relaxation and community connection,” said Glenn Carlson, director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
The existing park master plan was last updated in 2014. The plan was developed around the time of the Black Forest Fire, so fire mitigation was a priority. Other focuses of the plan were stabilizing funding options for the park system and expanding mountain protections and city parks.