Trails group urges finish of Legacy Loop, previews web tool and volunteer programs

Members of the Trails and Open Space Coalition briefed Colorado Springs City Council on Nov. 24, saying the nonprofit has advocated for trails and parks since 1987 and played a major role in implementing the TOPS sales-tax program that the group says has created "over 8,000 acres of open space, 70 plus parks and 50 plus miles of trails." Glenn Carlson, TOSC, gave the presentation and introduced programs focused on advocacy, technical support and volunteer engagement.

Alan Beauchamp, TOSC community engagement coordinator, described the "One Bag Challenge," a micro-cleanup program that he said involved about 800 volunteers this year and recovered about 7,000 pounds of trash. "If our ultra users pick up a little bit every time they're out there, we would have far less need for some of the major cleanups," Beauchamp said. He also described crew-leader training partnerships and collaborations with Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful for city cleanups next year.

Beauchamp and Carlson highlighted the Legacy Loop trail project and said the loop is nearly continuous — roughly 9.2 of 10 miles — but a remaining quarter-mile gap near Royer Street requires complex rail crossing work. "We're down to what I call the most complex quarter mile," Beauchamp said, urging city staff and council to pursue engineering and right-of-way solutions with the railroads.

TOSC also previewed a user-focused asset-mapping web tool designed to inventory parks, trails and open spaces and to host event registration and partner notices. Carlson said the tool will display accessibility, trail difficulty and closures, and can be used by nonprofits and public agencies to coordinate events without creating new web pages for each activity.

Council members thanked TOSC and several said they would work with the organization on district tours and on public outreach about trail connections. No formal council action was taken; TOSC invited councilmembers to schedule walking or bike tours in their districts and offered to coordinate volunteer partners for asset maintenance and cleanup work.

The council placed the TOSC presentation on the public record and staff noted continued coordination on the Legacy Loop rail crossing work and asset mapping integration.