RAMPART RANGE ROAD Maintained by Other Platted, Prescriptive Or Other Grant App No: Incorporated City Deed Vicinity Map Location Easement Date: 5/20/2019

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Legend Rampart Range Rd ROW County Maintained Unknown RAMPART RANGE ROAD Maintained by Other Platted, Prescriptive or Other Grant App No: Incorporated City Deed Vicinity Map Location Easement Date: 5/20/2019

19 May 2019

Dear El Paso County Public Works,

We are writing this letter in support the Federal Lands Access Program Grant concerning Rampart Range Road. We live immediately on Rampart Range Road in El Paso County, and have seen the traffic increase greatly over the years. Rampart Range Road is the main county road leading Rampart Reservoir's National Forest campgrounds and many trails. This forest access is one of the closest to Colorado Springs and surrounding communities and the traffic increase over just the last 5 years has been considerable. Living next to this road, we are keenly aware of the dust, potholes, and problems of this dirt road. Now, we have a large number of bicyclists and runners trying to enjoy the national forest, but are forced to deal with the fugitive dust issues as well.

Upper Rampart Range Road was built in the 1930's by the CCC when the population of Colorado Springs was around 33,000, and has not really been improved upon since. Yet, it has now become a main forest access for recreation to the second largest city in the state of Colorado, with the metro area now reaching nearly 675,000 people. Colorado Springs is projected to surpass Denver in the near future, so it makes good sense for FLAP to invest in this area now.

I am please that the county is applying for the FLAP for Rampart Range Road, and I support the improvement. Fixing this road is long overdue. If you have any questions or would like to speak to me, please call us at 719-687-2215 or email us at: [email protected].

Sincerely,

James C. Higgins Mary M. Higgins

12005 Front Range Rd Woodland Park, CO 80863

May 19th, 2019

Dear El Paso County Public Works,

This letter is written in regard to support of obtaining the Federal Lands Access Program Grant in order to improve the condition of Rampart Range Road. My family and I have lived on Rampart Range Road since 1998. Over the past twenty-one years the traffic has exponentially increased. This is a result of an increase in traffic going to commerial and recreational areas such as Eagle lake camp and Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area. The local population of both Teller County and El Paso County have increased substantially within the last ten years. However, as the population and traffic has increased over the years, there has not been any substantial improvements to Rampart Range Road.

Upper Rampart Range Road is a dirt road that provides the only access to a significant portion of Pike National Forest, and the previously mentioned commercial and recreational facilities. Washboards, potholes and road dust have become a year round problem. A myriad of peer reviewed studies have discovered an association between road dust exposure and poor health outcomes especially within the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. I am concerned that the fugitive dust caused by the traffic is becoming a health hazard for my family and neighbors alike. Quality of life has decreased for me and my family due to the immense amount of traffic and associated factors.

I am thrilled to hear that El Paso County is applying for the FLAP grant in order to address the previously mentioned issues with Rampart Range Road. I strongly support the improvement of Rampart Range Road. Improving the condition of this road has been overlooked for many years. This road is in desperate of repairs. I can be reached at 719-338-1662 and I would be happy to answer any questions or provide additional information.

Sincerely,

Scott Kerschner and the Kerschner Family

Dear El Paso County Public Works,

We are writing this letter in support the Federal Lands Access Program Grant for Rampart Range Road. We live on Rampart Range Road in El Paso County, and have seen the traffic increase greatly over the past 17 years. As the only county road accessing Rampart Reservoir, the reservoir’s campground and the surrounding Pike National Forest campgrounds and trails, traffic from Colorado Springs and surrounding communities passes by our home. Living next to this road, we are keenly aware of the dust, potholes, and washboarding of this gravel road. Additionally, we have bicyclists and runners dealing with the fugitive dust issues as well.

Upper Rampart Range Road was built in the 1930's by the CCC when the population of Colorado Springs was around 33,000 and has not been improved upon since. It has now become a main forest access for recreation to the second largest city in the state of Colorado, with a population of nearly 675,000 people.

I am pleased that the county is applying for the FLAP for Rampart Range Road, and I support the improvement. Bringing this road up to standards and in compliance with EPA dust mitigation is overdue and in the long run may save the county money otherwise spent on grading and mag chloride treatment. If you have any questions or would like to speak to us, please call 719-687- 3896.

Sincerely,

Jeff and Anne Bodin 11690 Rampart Range Rd Woodland Park, CO 80863 (El Paso County)

From: Philomena [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, May 20, 2019 6:33 AM To: Jana Nemeckova Subject: Re: Federal Lands Access Program Grant Rampart Range Road

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the El Paso County technology network. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please call IT Customer Support at 520-6355 if you are unsure of the integrity of this message.

Dear El Paso County Public Works,

We are writing this letter in support the Federal Lands Access Program Grant concerning Rampart Range Road. We live off of Rampart Range Road in El Paso County, and have seen the traffic increase greatly over the years. As one of the main county roads leading Rampart Reservoir's National Forest campgrounds and many trails, Colorado Springs and surrounding communities the increasing traffic is considerable. Living near this road, we are keenly aware of the dust, potholes, and problems of this dirt road. Now, we have a large number of bicyclists and runners dealing with the fugitive dust issues as well.

Sincerely,

Robert and Philomena Chillino

From: Lorie Schleicher [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2019 12:11 PM To: Jana Nemeckova Cc: 'Mary' ; Robert Schleicher Subject: FLAP Grant for Rampart Range Road

To Whom It May Concern,

We live on Rampart Range Road, we are the first big black wrought iron gate that you see on your right once you turn right off of Loy Creek Road onto Rampart Range Road. My husband and I are in support of the County applying for the Federal Land Access Grant for Rampart Range Road, or as we call it “The Super Highway”. We are very blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the State, but living on a road that leads you to such sought after recreational activities has become an extreme nuisance, i.e., dust, heavy traffic, speeding, drivers that do not know how to stay on their side of the road, or just people in general that do not know how to drive in the mountains, and those that have no common sense in this dry arid climate as you will see cigarette butts on the road, bicyclist and even the US Olympic Runners park at the top of our driveway so they can train up here! We truly appreciate your consideration of this grant which will help all of us tremendously with the dust issue, but it has become an extreme safety issue up here as well. I have attached below an article that was run in the Pikes Peak Courier, 2019 Teller County Guide Edition which they printed 22,000 copies of the Teller County Guide Edition; 15,560 went directly into the Courier then the rest are given to All realtors to put in their new comer packets and then the Woodland Park Chamber has them as well. This article only ignites outdoor enthusiast to head up to Rampart Range Road “Super Highway” and all visitors. Your consideration is truly appreciated with this Grant. Sincerely, Bob and Lorie Schleicher 11750 Woodland Rd

Rampart Range Road, starting at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs and ending at Colorado Highway 67 between Sedalia and Deckers, is known for its scenic views of the Pikes Peak Region and rough road conditions. The road attracts travelers seeking a variety of outdoor activities and is sometimes described as dangerous, as it is narrow, primarily unpaved, includes numerous twists and turns, and has few exits.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service website, Rampart Range Road is in close proximity to popular campsites and recreation areas like Indian Creek Campground, Devil’s Head Campground, and Dutch Fred, and about 100 miles of trails that attract “motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts.” The road is typically closed for the winter, from Dec. 1 to April 1 each year, but in summer the 52.6-mile drive from Garden of the Gods to Highway 67 should take just over two hours to complete.

Everard Spencer Keithley, superintendent of the Pike National Forest from 1925 to 1946, was well-known in the area and is credited with overseeing the building of Rampart Range Road. But the actual construction of the road was done by young men enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps, a workforce created in the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help alleviate some of the mass unemployment. Mitchell Dillman of Colorado Rock-N-Logs has lived in the area most of his life and has always been closely tied to the native landscapes through recreation, working for the USDA, building homes in the area as a contractor, or by turning damaged local trees into custom furniture and art.

As a teen working with the Youth Conservation Corps, later with the Young Adult Conservation Corps, Dillman participated in conservation efforts in local parks and open spaces, including Rampart Reservoir and trails along Rampart Range Road. He also frequented the area with his friends and family. To Dillman, the road is an iconic local feature.

“I spent a lot of years driving up and down the Rampart Range Road and watching it change,” Dillman said, adding that anybody around Teller and El Paso counties knows of the road. “It’s not just a dirt road, you know? There’s history behind it.” Everard Spencer Keithley, superintendent of the Pike National Forest from 1925 to 1946, was well- known in the area and is credited with overseeing the building of Rampart Range Road. But the actual construction of the road was done by young men enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps, a workforce created in the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help alleviate some of the mass unemployment. Young men, typically between the ages of 17 and 23 who were from impoverished families, worked on conservation and development projects around the nation, earning about $30 a month, and gained a sense of self-respect and community, according to a history of the CCC in Colorado and Wyoming, found at the Colorado State Archives website.

Men enrolled in the CCC were divided into “companies” and tasked with projects like planting trees, constructing and maintaining roads and canals, constructing dams, installing telephone lines, and reducing fire hazards in national forests. Officials overseeing the work at the time claimed the CCC advanced the development of the nation’s recreation areas by 10 to 20 years.

Company 1819 was formed in June 1933 and was originally located in Saylor Park, Colo., north of Teller County and west of the Tri-Lakes area in northern El Paso County. The men in the camp were exposed to the elements and relocated to Manitou Springs for the winter. Company 1819 eventually relocated to Camp F-64-C in Woodland Park.

Company 1819 was tasked with constructing Rampart Range Road and completing other projects including flood control, rodent control, and fence and trail construction.

Construction of the road began in 1933 and continued until at least 1937, and was sometimes delayed by harsh winter conditions. Men in Company 1819 enjoyed sports and were involved in various athletic competitions while they worked and lived in the Pikes Peak area, according to a history of the CCC in Colorado and Wyoming, found at the Colorado State Archives website.

For more information about Rampart Range Road’s management and recreational resources, visit fs.usda.gov. For more information on the road’s history, visit colorado.gov.