El Paso County Parks will install new railings at the Paint Interpretive Mines Park early next year to preserve the popular natural attraction.
The county will install post and dowel railing near the overlook parking lot and other locations, said Natalie Sosa, public information officer for the county.
Visitors have created social trails on steep slopes in the park and the railings will reduce the number of these trails while increasing visitor safety.
The railing will be about 4 feet tall, Sosa said.
She said the railings will be installed, at the earliest, in February, depending on if the material is available.
In addition to these future improvements, the county is also resurfacing some trails, decommissioning social trails, installing new culverts to prevent erosion and expanding the main parking area.
The Paint Interpretive Mines Park is best known for its colorful clay formations. It holds evidence of humans living in the area as far back as 9,000 years ago. The park includes about four miles of trails.
