Community members interested in recreation and conservation are invited to a collaborative listening session hosted by the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Pathfinder Park Event Center. Local group Fremont Adventure Recreation will help facilitate the program, which aims to hear priorities, opportunities and concerns from community members.
While cities and counties may have boundaries, landscape as a whole really doesn’t. Wildlife traverses open spaces to access corridors for foraging and breeding, rivers cross city and county lines, wildfires affect communities across large swaths of land, recreationists use trails and open spaces within and without their own hometowns. Across legislative and land manager boundaries, we share common interests, concerns and priorities for our shared Colorado landscapes.
It is for that reason that it is important for regional communities, like the greater Pikes Peak region, to get together and discuss large-scale priorities. From conservation and preservation to recreational interests, shaping the future of Southern Colorado’s land is one that community members should take part in. Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative is a collaborative group of local organizations and businesses that have vested interests in trail advocacy, land management, agriculture, hunting and fishing, commercial guiding, and recreational events.
“Sometimes we tend to think that we live, work and play in silos,” FAR coordinator Ashlee Sack said, “but we really don’t when it comes to our land and water resources. This is a great way to bring different stakeholders to the table to share their experiences and views.”
Community members – including recreation users of all modalities, landowners, agricultural representatives, municipal employees and other interested individuals – are invited and welcomed to attend. Sessions also are being held in additional communities in Colorado Springs, Cripple, Creek and Woodland Park.
Participants are asked to please register for the session (for planning purposes) by visiting https://ppora.org/oppi. The session will consist of a welcome speaker, followed by roundtable discussions and interactive opportunities to offer input.
More information can be found at https://ppora.org/oppi. A virtual option is available from 7 to 8 p.m.
