Manitou Springs Open Space Plan (PDF)
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MANITOU SPRINGS OPEN SPACE PLAN APRIL 1997 M ANITOU S PRINGS O PEN S PACE P LAN TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONTENTS Many individuals contributed to the creation of Preface ......................................................................1 the Open Space Plan. The City of Manitou Springs Introduction.............................................................3 would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Statement of Purpose .............................................3 many individuals who devoted considerable time The Planning Process .............................................3 and effort toward the development of this plan. Public Input in the Planning Process ...................3 The Planning Areas ................................................4 Open Space Advisory Committee Open Space Prioritization Process........................5 Marc Snyder, Chairperson Open Space Districts ..............................................6 Curtis Crawley, Vice Chairperson Open Space Action Areas ......................................9 Tobe Easton, Secretary Implementation Strategies.....................................9 Becky Elder Trails Plan ..............................................................13 Eldon Jourdan David Rudin Jim Vining TABLES Tammy Betanyou, Alternate Open Space Districts ..............................................8 Terry Conley, Alternate Open Space Action Areas Summary..................12 Art Pemberton, Alternate Bill Koerner, City Council Liaison Michael Merrifield, Alternate City Council Liaison MAPS Open Space Priorities ...........................................15 City of Manitou Springs Open Space Districts ............................................16 Larry Manning, Planning Director In-Town Action Sites............................................17 Michelle Anthony, Planning Technician In-Town Trails.......................................................18 Consultants MDG, Inc. 820 Santa Fe Drive Denver, Colorado 80204 Roy Fronczyk, AICP Mary Powell RRC Geographics 4940 Pearl East Circle, Suite 103 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Peter Remmen, AICP Preparation of the Manitou Springs Open Space Plan was partially funded by a grant from the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Fund. M ANITOU S PRINGS O PEN S PACE P LAN OPEN SPACE PLAN ITY OF ANITOU PRINGS C M S PREFACE It is a welcoming home and allows wildlife to closely Manitou Springs is an enchanting storybook town, co-habit with people. Indigenous plant species of the nestled into the foothills of Pikes Peak. In the fast foothills region, lying between the plains below and the descent of Rocky Mountains into high plains, it is a montane region of the higher slopes, are hardy. Natives rugged region of distinct rock formations, steep of hot, dry slopes, ponderosa, juniper, pinion, yucca and canyons, and very unique mineral springs. A scrubby oaks are met by spruce and Douglas fir in remarkably beautiful setting just southwest of the cooler, moister areas. Shrubs like mountain mahogany Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs has been visited choke cherry, wild rose, and red cedar give way in the and honored by aboriginal Native American tribes for town area to the cultivated planting of the modern many thousands of years. dwellers. Peach leaf Manitou is the Alogonquin willow and plains name for their Great Spirit cottonwood follow the who lived beneath the riparian areas as they mineral springs. As far always have. Berries back as history tells this has grow in hidden places. been a special place, a Various grasses, place of peace. These first wildflowers, cactus and people came for healing sages spread across the and revitalization, attracted hills. Each season by the mineral waters. In blooms with color, those past times, forage, moving from the early game and clear waters were greening of spring plentiful. This was land through the lushness of highly prized. European summer into a mosaic of autumn color, with even settlers played a major role in developing the initial winter showing red rocks and yellow grasses against a health spa orientation of the town. People were drawn backdrop of evergreen. to this mountain health resort seeking therapeutic mineral springs and the clean, dry air. Many of the Wildlife is still abundant. Resident birds including present day homes and older town buildings display the towhees, grossbeak, chickadees, nuthatch, pine siskens, characteristic Victorian architecture of those earlier and juncos to larger robins, jays, and woodpeckers to times. Today, Manitou is an interesting mixed bag of still larger magpies, crows, owls, various hawks, and merchants, and assorted independent commoners, a the majestic golden eagle live here year round. Wild town of widely diverse people who manage to remain turkeys and grouse live in less traveled areas. Water small town, friendly, and community-oriented. ouzel and belted kingfisher patrol the creeks, along with Manitou has become a haven for artists and occasional mallards. Migratory birds like the swallows, craftspeople over the years, along with the many western tanagers, perhaps especially broadtail and healing practitioners. Proud and appreciative of where rufous hummingbirds, return reliably with warm they live, Manitouans are the local resident folk of the weather. It is not uncommon for residents to have mineral springs. chance encounters with black bears. Elk have made rare appearances. Occasional mountain lion or small Within the Manitou landscape live a diverse array of bands of coyotes have been glimped from time to time. flora and fauna, supported by the available food, water Small mammals like fox and beaver live in riparian and undisturbed sheltered areas. drainages. Brown bats fly about on summer evenings. More well-known are the species that can live in closer proximity to people, like the mule deer, raccoons, various squirrels, and skunks. They all choose to live 1 M ANITOU S PRINGS O PEN S PACE P LAN here. They overwinter here, protected within the and canyons ought to be thoughtfully and carefully canyons’ slopes and foraging the hillsides. Each preserved. In these present times it is important to experience with these wilder denizens of the Manitou retain as much natural open space as possible. It is so Springs area, enhances and enriches our lives. important that Manitou Springs voted in the Open Space Initiative. We voted YES! to help raise money. Manitou is indeed an invigorating and inspiring place to We have expressed intent to save all the vital lands we live. Scenic beauty, wildlife, rushing creeks, trails can. The mountain and hills are beautiful because trees, and open spaces are all part of the whole of human presence isn’t there. Let us not forget that this is Manitou Springs. Living here in such splendor brings a special place for plant life and for wildlife. Manitou, deep heart ties to the land; Manitou is so scenic, we at the foot of Pikes Peak, is part of the mountain share it with the touring folks who vacation here. That scenery for Colorado Springs to the east and is the speaks to the great fortune we hold in Manitou’s natural mouth of Ute Pass, the doorway west. Manitou Springs beauty. We live in that beauty. We walk out our doors holds an environmental responsibility to safeguard and it’s all around us! We celebrate Manitou each time nature and the visual integrity of this unique place. In we taste the waters. Hiking Enlgemann Canyon, working to preserve open space for the future, we have Williams Canyon, Intemann Trail, striking up a chance to protect community character along with Sutherland Creek drainage, or simply strolling the precious natural areas. And, by extending ourselves streets admiring historic Victorians are pastimes we beyond our own lifetimes, we remember more faithfully must not take for granted. These areas of scenic all the people who will be here after us, the Manitouans commons, open space, and wilder sections of the hills of the future. The Open Space Advisory Committee 2 M ANITOU S PRINGS O PEN S PACE P LAN INTRODUCTION The Manitou Springs Open Space Plan was undertaken Digital land information was obtained from sources to fulfill the requirement associated with the passage of such as the United States Geological Survey, the two initiatives by voters authorizing the raising of funds Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Colorado Springs to acquire open space. The City Council of Manitou Planning Department, El Paso County, and from the Springs subsequently passed a resolution which Colorado Springs Utility Department’s FIMS database. established the powers and duties of an Open Space It also became necessary to augment the available GIS Advisory Committee (OSAC). One of the first of the database through digitizing and other map creation many duties of the committee was to develop a plan techniques. upon which to base actions of the open space program. This report describes the findings and recommendations The digital information that was obtained from other of the Open Space Plan. sources was formatted as needed to create a “seamless” GIS database for the overall planning area. The GIS database includes more than 25 layers of information. The entire GIS database is one of the products of the STATEMENT OF PURPOSE study and can be used by the City of Manitou Springs for on-going general planning purposes and for open The goal of the Manitou Springs Open Space Program space management operations. is to support the ethic of preserving land as a living resource for present and future generations. The objective