A “once-in-a-lifetime” deal is done for an open space west of Colorado Springs.
“Once in a lifetime” is how the city of Woodland Park recently described its closing on 120 acres of rolling aspen and pine called Avenger Open Space. The announcement officially completes a vision that came into view over the spring, when a Great Outdoors Colorado grant provided $523,000 for the private property that would become the city’s largest-ever open space.
While Avenger Open Space is officially public land — more than doubling the open space previously in Woodland Park’s portfolio, including the adjacent Paradise Open Space — “the city isn’t actively promoting going to it just yet,” said Chris Gonzales, who championed the acquisition on the city’s parks board.
The city was still “getting some ducks in a row,” he said. “There’s a shocking amount of ducks to be done for a project like this.”
First: finalizing a conservation easement held by Palmer Land Conservancy.
Also representing the upstart Teller Trail Team, advocating for more developed recreation around the county, Gonzales said “we’ve submitted some recommendations to the city for their conversations with Palmer.” He said the hope is a “balance” struck by the conservation easement.