Palmer Land Conservancy notches big wins
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An aerial view of the Pinestone Ranch property. Photo: Courtesy of the Palmer Land Conservancy
The Pikes Peak region's identity is rooted in its natural landscape, and the Palmer Land Conservancy is making major moves to preserve it.
Why it matters: The region's rapid growth is bringing development into open spaces, threatening farms, wildlife and water sources.
Driving the news: The conservancy recently preserved 674 acres on the flank of Pikes Peak with the purchase of Pinestone Ranch and secured the 1,018-acre Wild Horse Ranch, on the east side of Colorado Springs, through a conservation easement.
- In addition, the conservancy played a key role in protecting as much as 100,000 acres from sprawl threatening the area's military bases.
What they're saying: "They all have a through line — they're contributing to our quality of life, our community, our economy," Rebecca Jewett, president and CEO of Palmer Land Conservancy, told us in an interview.
The big picture: The Pinestone Ranch acquisition for an undisclosed sum is part of a broader push to make Pikes Peak the centerpiece of a thriving outdoor recreation hub.
- Gov. Jared Polis' administration and the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance are working together to complete the Ring the Peak Trail as part of a new land management partnership that balances recreation and conservation.
- The multiyear plan will "improve and expand world-class recreation opportunities like camping, fishing, hiking, and more on the majestic mountain in a way that benefits the landscape, our way of life, and local economy," Polis said in a statement.
Zoom in: The Palmer Land Conservancy plans to convert Pinestone Ranch — one of the biggest undeveloped tracts on the Front Range — into Woodland Park's largest public outdoor recreation destination and promote its proximity to Pikes Peak.
- "We bought it with the intention … [to] work with the greater community to come up with a long-term public access vision for it," Jewett said, noting its proximity to the Highway 24 corridor.
Teller Trail Team leader Chris Gonzales toured the property and marveled at its granite outcrops framed by pine and aspen trees. "You can easily scramble up for amazing views of Pikes Peak,” he told the Gazette.
- It's “an amazing collection of different types of topography all wrapped up into one because of the sheer size of it,” he added.
An outdoor recreation plan is also envisioned for Wild Horse Ranch, on the city's east side, where publicly accessible open space is rare.
- The city bought the property for $7.5 million with help from the state's Great Outdoors Colorado, and the conservancy made sure it was protected in perpetuity.
- What makes it so attractive is its proximity to Corral Bluffs and Jimmy Camp Creek Open Spaces, creating a 2,000+ acre wildlife corridor on land once mined for coal.
The bottom line: "What we're hearing from the community is that conservation access to the outdoors is incredibly important," Jewett said.