Press Release from The City of Colorado Springs
By Julie Smith
Members of the Manitou Incline Task Force and the Cities of Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs are hosting a public open house on Thursday, January 20, to provide information about and get response to the Draft Site Development and Management Plan for the Manitou Incline. People are encouraged to drop by and view the plan anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. at Manitou City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave. No formal meeting presentation is planned.

The process for developing a plan to open the Incline for public use began in early 2010 and has been spearheaded by the Cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. An appointed task force made up of representatives from the landowners of the Incline property, including the Cog Railway, the U.S. Forest Service, and Colorado Springs Utilities, as well as other local groups and organizations interested in the Incline was formed to oversee the public process and to make recommendations.

The recommended plan will also be presented at the public meetings of various appointed and elected bodies of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs over the coming two months: 

• TOPS Working Committee: February 2, 7:30 a.m. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, 1401 Recreation Way
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: February 10, 7:30 a.m. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, 1401 Recreation Way
• Colorado Springs City Council: February 22, 1 p.m. Colorado Springs City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Avenue
• Manitou Springs Planning Commission: March 9, 7 p.m. Manitou Springs City Hall, 606 Manitou Avenue
•  Manitou Springs City Council - TBA. 

Hiking the Manitou Incline remains illegal. The purpose of the management plan is to provide recommendations for addressing key issues at the Incline and to inform future decision-making regarding recreational use.

The planning process is funded by Great Outdoors Colorado and the Hill Family Foundation.  

For information about the open house or the planning process, contact Sarah Bryarly, 385-6522.