After years of roadblocks, legal issues, indecision and other obstacles, the Colorado Springs City Council is nearing a decision about the purchase of Section 16.
It's looking good for those who wish to preserve open space - especially our lush foothills lands. Section 16 has been leased for public recreation since 1972. Colorado Springs has wanted to buy the land for years, but the asking price has always been unreasonably high. But that price has been lowered thanks to a new law that allows the state to sell property while avoiding a lengthy and problematic public bidding process - which always favors rich developers.
Section 16 is the core parcel that ties together a huge chunk of open space. It contains the popular Section 16 trail, with access to the Intemann and Palmer Trails.
PikesPeakSports.us received this note from Friends of Red Rock Canyon today:  This coming Tuesday, September 28, the Colorado Springs City Council will be considering the TOPS acquisition of Manitou Section 16. Besides adjoining Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Section 16 also adjoins White Acres, Bear Creek Canyon Park, and Pike National Forest.

The Council meeting will be in the Colorado Springs City Hall at 107 N. Nevada Avenue beginning at 1:00 P.M. When the agenda for this meeting is available, it will be posted at:
http://www.springsgov.com/Agendas.aspx

Contacting all of the Councilmembers before the meeting is a sure way to let them know your views on Section 16.
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Lionel Rivera, Mayor
 lrivera@springsgov.com

Larry Small, Vice Mayor
 LSmall@springsgov.com

Scott Hente, Councilmember District 1
 SHente@springsgov.com

Darryl Glenn, Councilmember District 2
 DGlenn@springsgov.com

Sean Paige, Councilmember District 3
 SPaige@springsgov.com

Bernie Herpin Jr., Councilmember District 4
 BHerpin@springsgov.com

Tom Gallagher, Councilmember At-Large
 TGallagher@springsgov.com

Randy Purvis, Councilmember At-Large
 RPurvis@springsgov.com

Jan Martin, Councilmember At-Large
 JMartin@springsgov.com