Blodgett Open Space – Master plan public process on now.
Link to the city’s master plan info page.
Link to MedWheel input at the beginning of the process and after the 8/22 public meeting with 2 Alternative maps: here.
Here are the Alternative maps that were shared by the planning team at the Aug 22, 2023 public meeting.
Next chance for public input
Date: October 17, 2023 Time: 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm Location: Flying W. Ranch, 3330 Chuckwagon Rd Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Here are links to the master plan survey and visual impacts survey.
Here is schedule for the master plan. This planning process will involved substantial coordination with the USFS, public input through surveys, onsite visits, and community meetings.
You can download the kickoff presentation from the April 5th 2023 TOPS working committee meeting:
History and Overview
Adapted from the city’s website: Blodgett Open Space is 388 acres of open space, trails, and wildlife habitat neighboring the Pikes National Forest. The original Blodgett Open Space land was purchased through the City of Colorado Springs Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program and funding in March 2001. A second acquisition to the southeast, the Slatterly property, was incorporated in 2018, bringing in a second parking lot and trail access location. Most recently in 2021, additional land was acquired to extend the land further south, with boundaries along the Pikeview Quarry and Allegheny Road. Located in the foothills of the Front Range, the property has outstanding views of Colorado Springs to the east and Blodgett Peak to the northwest. The property is bordered on three sides by the Pike National Forest, which provides an excellent natural buffer and habitat continuity for wildlife.
The original master plan for Blodgett can be found here. In 2019 following the second acquisition, an interim use plan was created for the combined space. Here’s the city’s current trail map. Additional plans that are relevant for Blodgett include the 2003 Forest Health and Management Plan and the 2014 Parks System Master Plan.
Blodgett map courtesy of MedWheel volunteer and former board member Mike Rigney.
Unique considerations around Blodgett OS
A key characteristic of Blodgett is its elevation change due to its location at on the western edge of the city in the foothills abutting the Pike National Forest. The elevation on the property lends itself to long climbs and long descents.
The planning area for this process includes the Pikeview quarry frontage property – shown in yellow and purchased with TOPS funds in 2020 and 2021 – as well as the area to the north with the existing trail network. The actual Pikeview quarry property will not be part of this process, but will have a planning process after reclamation is finished and the land is transferred to the city of Colorado Springs. Much of the land surrounding Blodgett is US Forest Service property and also won’t have trails planned part of this city process. At a future unspecified date the USFS will discuss trails in that space but for now we must consider what future connections on the National Forest look like.
Master plan pre-process community input
MedWheel began colleting user suggestions in preparation for the master plan process in early 2023. This has helped to form our recommendations as an invited stakeholder in the process.
If you have suggestions or questions please email us info@medwheel.org. To learn about MedWheel projects, check here.
