Blodgett Open Space Master Planning
Wagon Wheel trail in Blodgett Open Space in Colorado Springs, Colorado
May 2023
COSMBA board member, Joe Malenfant, and member, Gregg Koch, are representing our members for master planning currently happening for Blodgett Open Space. Joe and Gregg will attend six steering committee meetings throughout 2023. COSMBA will reach out to members on opportunities to provide public input on the plan. There are currently TWO ways we want you to participate in this process.
#1 COSMBA Member Survey - Complete this COSMBA survey created by local COS rider, Eric May, to provide us insight on how to represent YOU in these meetings.
#2 City Survey – There is also a quick survey requested by the city of Colorado Springs. Although basic in content, it is critical in gathering a baseline of user groups and how they use Blodgett. Massive turnout by mountain bikers provides the leverage needed to increase focus on planning efforts towards our user group. Complete that survey here.
UPDATE MARCH 2024 Blodgett Open Space: In case you missed it, city staff hosted a “neighbor’s meeting” to address concerns from HOAs about increase park usage and conservation of wildlife habitat. Parks demonstrated the great care that went into balancing ecosystem needs with recreational needs. In stakeholder advisory meetings, COSMBA supported a give and take approach to balancing ecological and recreational needs. In exchange for providing wildlife corridors, our representatives, Joe Malenfant and Gregg Koch pushed for greater concentration of bike-only trails in the southern half of the open space near Pike View Quarry. The result will be a bike friendly grouping of trails ranging from blue to double black trails that start and end with “hubs” to encourage group riding for all levels of skill. We are itching to do work in Blodgett, however, right now our assessment is that Blodget will be a main drive in 2025 with limited work beginning in 2025.
UPDATED JUNE 2024: BLODGETT OPEN SPACE PLAN PASSES! The meetings lasted over a year. The outreach, time, resources, and effort spent to complete this plan was tremendous. After votes from two decision-making bodies in May and a marathon meeting with city council in June, we are happy to report that the plan was approved. We believe the plan strikes a great balance between recreation, resource management, and habitat preservation. The plan allows for the shutting down of some favorite trails but allows for the creation of other trails that will earn a coveted “bike only” designation. We hope this was a compromise worth making. If everything comes together as planned, COSMBA plans to focus its trail work on Blodgett Open Space in the Spring of 2025.
