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• Budget cuts increased fire risk in parks and open space

  January 16, 2013 10:52 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - At roughly 14,000 total acres, the City of Colorado Springs parks and opens spaces are big part of the community's identity. But without the right stewardship, they can also be dangerous, especially to homeowners who live at the boundaries. City forester Paul Smith explains when the... more »

• Council tightens fire code; tables TOPS Play Video

  January 9, 2013 12:41 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - On a 6-2 vote Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council passed stricter fire codes for any new homes built in the foothills of Colorado Springs. Smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and fire resistant Class A roofing materials are now required. Wooded siding and shake shingles are prohibited... more »

• Manitou sales drop after Waldo Canyon fire Play Video

  September 12, 2012 8:35 PM

  New numbers from the city of Manitou Springs show summer sales tax revenue is way down, and experts in the 'biz' blame the Waldo Canyon fire. Business owners felt the burn of the Waldo Canyon fire long after the flames died down. "It really impacted the business, the customers... more »

• Is Colorado "prettier" than others?

  June 17, 2012 6:44 PM

  Is it possible that Colorado is "prettier" than other states? Many of you who live here definitely say yes. A Headwaters Economics study done recently says the outdoor quality of life in Colorado leads people to move here, find jobs here, and stay here. Its attractive advantage over other states... more »

• Undercover Sting: clerks stealing winning lottery tickets Play Video

  April 27, 2012 12:42 AM

  Imagine winning the lottery ,but never knowing because the store clerk pocketed the ticket for themselves. In a News 5 exclusive investigation, Colorado lottery investigators took us along on one of their compliance check stings to catch the clerks in the act. For three days from store to... more »

• Free admission at National Parks

  April 20, 2012 6:55 PM

  Nearly four hundred National Parks will offer free admission from April 21 through April 29. That includes Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta. "All 397 national parks are great places to get some exercise while taking in spectacular scenery or learning something new," said... more »

• Future of Section 16 temporarily on hold Play Video

  November 9, 2011 7:05 PM

  The city took ownership of Section 16 earlier this year. It connects Red Rock Canyon and White Acres. Although the master planning process is currently on hold, parks will resume planning in 2012. While the master plan process is delayed, the P arks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department will... more »

• Keeping parks clean and accessible in a tough economy Play Video

  October 5, 2011 7:49 PM

  Palmer Park holds a special place in Tom Howes heart. Two years ago, when the city cut parks funding, he was among the first to step forward to help. "We started with 15 people in my living room saying there's something up here worth protecting," he recalls. That... more »

• Don't be a victim of a car break-in

  July 27, 2011 8:30 PM

  Folks enjoying our local parks and trails are being targeted by thieves and some are forgetting to keep valuables out of sight in their cars. On Monday night three cars were broken into while they parked in a lot in monument valley park. CSPD says they have no leads... more »

• Parks group drops tax effort for now

  June 21, 2011 4:53 PM

  Voters will not get to decide whether to raise taxes for parks this fall. The group Great Parks Great Communities officially pulled their request for a ballot initiative at Tuesday's county commissioners meeting. They had wanted to ask voters for a dedicated sales tax increase of 15 cents on... more »

• Fremont County issues fire ban

  June 10, 2011 12:37 AM

  If you plan on camping in Fremont County this weekend, be careful where and how you start a campfire. Sheriff James Beicker and the county commissioners have implemented stage one fire restrictions countywide. The restrictions mean that campfires may only be started in developed recreation sites and must be... more »

• Restrooms, trash cans back in city parks

  June 1, 2011 11:27 PM

  Last year was a tough one for the Colorado Springs Parks Division. In 2008 their budget sat at $19,000,000. Fast forward to 2010 and that number plummeted to only $3,000,000. One look at the grass at many parks and the neglect shows. The city has contracted out mowing and... more »

• COS bicycle advisory meeting Tuesday

  May 23, 2011 2:20 PM

  The Bicycle Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Board, will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow, May 24, at the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services administration building at 1401 Recreation Way. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public. The DRAFT guidelines for Shared... more »

• Group pushes for tax initiative for parks

  May 3, 2011 8:09 PM

  Would you vote for a tax increase if the money was dedicated specifically to parks? That's the question that a group calling themselves Great Parks Great Communities wants to put before voters this fall. They announced plans Tuesday to ask El Paso County Commissioners to put a measure on... more »

• Parks group to seek ballot initiative

  May 3, 2011 12:33 PM

  A group calling themselves Great Parks - Great Communities plans to ask the El Paso County Commissioners to approve a ballot initiative seeking a 0.015 percent sales tax increase to fund operations and basic maintenance of parks, trails and open spaces in the county. The Sustainable Parks Initiative is... more »

• National Park free admission next week

  April 14, 2011 2:34 PM

  ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) - Nature enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the great outdoors next week with free admission to over 300 National Park Service sites, including Rocky Mountain National Park. National Park Week runs from April 16-24. It's the longest of the no-fee periods announced earlier this... more »

• Hickenlooper works to combine two agencies

  March 10, 2011 7:32 PM

  Gov. John Hickenlooper continus his efforts to combine the state Parks Department with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. He met today with the parks board and the Wildlife Commission outlining how the agencies have many shared missions. "The Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks are well... more »

• Colorado may close state parks, lease for drilling

  January 1, 2011 5:38 PM

  DENVER (AP) - State parks in Colorado may be closed, while others could be opened up for oil and gas drilling to raise money for the cash-strapped parks system. Deep budget cuts to the parks system have prompted a five-year plan to close several parks to save money. The... more »

• City money situation better in 2011, some services to be restored

  December 27, 2010 6:33 PM

  Streetlights will be turned back on in 2011. Saturday bus service is also coming back and parks and medians will once again receive trash cans and TLC. But Uncle Wilber and Julie Penrose fountains will likely remain dry. Thus is the budget reality for Colorado Springs in the New Year.... more »

• Wildlife commissioners to answer questions

  November 30, 2010 3:18 PM

  Colorado Wildlife Commissioners John Singletary and Tim Glenn will hold a question-and-answer session in Pueblo on December 8 at Lake Pueblo State Park. People will have a chance to meet their wildlife commissioners, allow the commissioners to hear concerns and suggestions from the public and answer questions about Colorado's... more »

• 2011 city budget looking brighter

  November 16, 2010 10:16 PM

  In December, Colorado Springs city councilmembers have a chance to put some happiness back into the Christmas stockings of city residents. Last Christmas, their job was to take stuff out of the stockings. The 2011 city budget has an unexpected increase of $10.3 million (mostly from increased sales tax... more »

• Colorado Springs proposes tight 2011 budget

  October 12, 2010 8:21 AM

  Some Colorado Springs recreation and cultural centers kept open this year with private funding could close next year under a city budget proposal. Interim City Manager Steve Cox says there's been "a positive trend" in sales and use tax revenue the past 10 months, but the economy is still... more »

• Group pitches in "One Hour" to clean city parks

  September 27, 2010 4:39 PM

  With the City of Colorado Springs unable to clean up many of the parks around town, a group of friends are pledging one hour to clean up their communities. "I just got sick and tired of being sick and tired and figured I'd do something about it." explains Mark DeZuba,... more »

• Parks volunteer opportunities this Saturday

  September 22, 2010 11:18 AM

  If you're looking for an opportunity to teach your children good stewardship of the earth--Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers are encouraging families to volunteer this Saturday to clean-up and enhance the parks. The projects will include tree planting, creek cleaning, weed removal and trail renovations. The El... more »

• State parks board considers higher fees

  September 16, 2010 10:28 AM

  The Colorado State Parks Board is considering raising fees for entrance passes, some campgrounds and other facilities to make up for declining state funding. The board is meeting Thursday in Basalt. Members are looking at raising the daily entrance fee by $1 and camping fees at a dozen... more »

• Four Corners gets new visitor plaza

  September 15, 2010 10:21 AM

  The monument that marks the spot where Colorado, Arizona, News Mexico and Utah meet has been spruced-up. It has a new plaza and interpretive panels for visitors. A dedication of the new plaza is scheduled for Friday. Randy Bloom of the National Society of Professional Surveyors will speak about... more »

• Weekend plans at Cheyenne Mountain State Park

  September 2, 2010 11:03 AM

  The long Labor Day Weekend is almost upon us. If you're trying to find something to do without draining your gas tank, Cheyenne Mountain State Park has some programs to entertain the whole family. Camping sites for the park are already booked for the weekend. Saturday: Junior Ranger... more »

• Colorado camp sites available for Labor Day Weekend

  August 31, 2010 10:45 AM

  Many of Colorado's state parks still have camp sites available for the Labor Day weekend. Arkansas Headwaters, Yampa River, Crawford, Eleven Mile and Mancos state parks are among the sites that still have spaces open all three days. But others are already full for the three-day weekend. They... more »

• Final grizzly bear in deadly attack caught

  July 30, 2010 9:53 AM

  Montana wildlife officials say they have captured the fourth and final grizzly bear believed involved in the fatal mauling of a Michigan man at a campground near Yellowstone National Park. A sow and two of her three cubs had been trapped by Thursday. The final year-old cub was found... more »

• Local festival raised $25,000 for charity

  July 28, 2010 11:03 AM

  If you hoisted a few pints last weekend, you contributed to a successful event that raised $25,000 for charity. The 2010 Springs Beer Fest in Antlers Park drew 1,800 attendees. The $25,000 raised is being donated to Friends of Cheyenne Canon, a non-profit organization and conservation group that... more »

• Website offers ways to help out at parks

  July 7, 2010 6:42 PM

  There's a new way to pitch in a Colorado Springs area parks and open space areas. A new website offers multiple ways you can help. It allows you to pick your favorite open space area, and you can even go to a calendar and choose a day when you... more »

• My 719 Moms Top 5 parks in Colorado Springs

  June 27, 2010 7:56 PM

  Colorado Springs has more than 100 parks. Even though city budget cuts have turned much of our open space into weeds and dry grass, the parks still have plenty of free entertainment to offer. My719Moms.com founder Janay Oliver spent several weeks surveying Colorado Springs parks to find the best... more »

• National Trails event happens Saturday with free admission

  June 3, 2010 2:05 PM

  The American Hiking Society has declared this Saturday National Trails Day. It's a time to get outside and celebrate the nation's trails. 1,500 events are planned across the country. National Trails Day is sponsored by Nature Valley, Backpacker magazine, Columbia Sportswear, Fetzer®, Intermap, Merrell and The North Face, and... more »

• Ugly exit in Pueblo has been neglected for years

  May 24, 2010 7:01 PM

  Downtown Pueblo attracts a lot of tourists each year, but some visitors may be getting a bad first impression. If you stop by the riverwalk, convention center or arts center you'll likely take the First St. exit. However, this gateway to Pueblo is nothing to brag about. "It's pitiful. Nothing... more »

• Cinco de Mayo celebration in Pueblo

  May 5, 2010 2:35 PM

  Pueblo has a special connection to Cinco de Mayo. The holiday commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in Pueblo's sister city in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo in the Parks will be celebrated at Bessemer Park in Pueblo until 7pm this evening. The free event will include folklorico dancers, speakers... more »

• "Paws for Trails" hike planned

  April 15, 2010 7:21 PM

  Join Wag N' Wash and the Trails and Open Space Coalition for a doggie hike on Saturday, April 24th. All participants receive a special dog "goodie bag" along with a mini-session on dog trail etiquette. Here's a chance for both you and your dog to have a great hike... more »

• Park maintenance a grass-roots effort

  March 9, 2010 2:54 PM

  A growing number of people in Colorado Springs are volunteering to clean up their neighborhood parks in response to the city's removal of trash cans from them. Of the 125 neighborhood parks where the waste bins were pulled, some 22 have been adopted. Steve Immel lives across the... more »

• Springs city council passes utility rate increase, amends budget

  December 8, 2009 7:19 PM

  With a 5 to 3 vote and several amendments, Colorado Springs City Council passed the 2010 budget. They voted to give a 90-day extension to the Aquatic Center and several parks programs while they try to find funding. Because they made amendments, they will have to vote on the... more »

• Parks district explored

  November 11, 2009 5:44 PM

  It won't be a walk in the park. "With the struggles that we've seen in parks and general and the budgets of both the city and the county I think that it only makes sense on a more regional basis," said El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark. County... more »

• Some cuts spared, most cuts remain in Springs

  November 10, 2009 7:12 PM

  Colorado Springs' 2010 budget is closer to being set in stone. The city has to cut $29.4 million from next year's budget to be balanced. That means, every department will feel the impact. Some of the proposed cuts include: - 125 layoffs citywide - 10-day furlough for civilian employees... more »

• Colorado state workers take second furlough day

  October 9, 2009 10:00 AM

  Many state offices are closed again for another furlough day to help save money. Driver's license offices will be closed Friday as well as state history museums. State parks will be open but their visitor centers won't be. State troopers as well as workers who process unemployment benefits will still... more »

• More than a third of Pueblo tennis courts closed

  October 7, 2009 7:21 PM

  After years of neglect, some public tennis courts throughout the city of Pueblo have become deserted wastelands. The City Parks Department has closed six of its nine locations, despite recommendations to add more courts. More than a third of the city's tennis courts have been declared closed because the concrete... more »

• Judge to hear arguments in drilling auction case

  September 25, 2009 12:12 PM

  A federal judge will hear arguments Friday to decide whether a college student charged with disrupting a federal auction for oil and gas drilling leases in Utah can claim he was acting in the interest of the greater good. Tim DeChristopher says he wanted to protect wild lands near Utah's... more »

• Paying for Parks

  September 22, 2009 8:02 PM

  The City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department may cut 75 percent of of its budget next year, leaving little room financially to do more than simply water and mow. Parks director Paul Butcher says the $3.1 million reduction would mean the Pioneers Museum, Rockledge Ranch, most... more »

• Great Sand Dunes park to be featured on quarter

  September 9, 2009 1:45 PM

  Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado will be featured on a quarter to be minted in 2014. The U.S. Mint said Wednesday the park will represent Colorado in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, which includes a site from each state, the District of Columbia and five territories. There's... more »