MANITOU SPRINGS — Manitou Springs City Council meets Thursday evening to consider a COVID-safe plan for re-opening The Incline. It is a process in collaboration with Colorado Springs and U.S. Forest Service leaders. Hikers access The Incline through Manitou Springs, but the property is actually owned by Colorado Springs and the Forest Service.
Manitou’s city council voted to block access in March, because of COVID-19 safety concerns. A compromise interim operating plan could get The Incline re-opened.
Leaders from Colorado Springs Parks are presenting a plan that includes a free reservation system to prevent crowds. "That'll allow people coming up to be able to spread apart and allow us to check them in. We'll give them these little wrist bands and then up they go their favorite trails," said Parks Director, Karen Palus. It allows 45 people onto the incline every 30 minutes. Reservations would be made on-line.
Manitou is also looking at more restrictions to parking.
An official vote on the proposal is set for Tuesday June 16, 2020. If okayed, the incline could open within a day or two of that vote. It is an interim proposal that would be in place, only for the duration of higher level COVID precautions.
