Beloved ‘Dog Heaven’ in Colorado Springs Closed Over Water Concerns
By Seth Boster | The Gazette
One recent afternoon near his Colorado Springs home, Sean Paige was hiking with Nellie the golden retriever en route to a favorite spot in Stratton Open Space: South Suburban Reservoir.
“She’s still anxious to get there, because she thinks it’s gonna be full of water,” Paige said.
But Colorado Springs Utilities announced the draining of South Suburban Reservoir in April 2024 for repairs to the dam. Nellie has been among dogs splashing in the water over the years — the place Paige has called “dog heaven” under the gaze of Cheyenne Mountain — but not the past couple of summers during the closure.
And not for summers to come, following an announcement by Utilities.
“Now it’s off-limits,” Paige lamented. “Try explaining that t...


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