Park Planning in the Community Services Department provides professional planning, landscape architecture, and project management services. The focus is on parks, trails and open space planning and support of the annual Capital Improvement Program. Staff also provides development review comments to ensure conformance with the El Paso County Parks Master Plan, and provides expertise in long-range planning for El Paso County and regional collaborative initiatives.
The El Paso County Parks Master Plan (Master Plan) is a guiding document that works with other County plans to strategize and provide outdoor recreation opportunities such as parks and trails, long term protection of open space, and historic and cultural resources interpretation. The Master Plan is an element of the County’s comprehensive plan (statutory master plan) used by the Community Services Department, Development Services (Planning) Department, Park Advisory Board, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners to ensure that new development proposals conform and contribute to a cohesive system of parks, trails, and open space.
The Master Plan update process was designed to comprehensively address the needs of parks, trails, open space, and recreation and cultural services throughout El Paso County in a strategic way. The Master Plan endeavors to provide a sustainable approach to allocation of resources for the next five to ten years. The process reaffirms essential goals and objectives of the previous Master Plan, while incorporating needed changes and new ideas based on input by stakeholders and analysis of data. The Master Plan will guide the County’s efforts to continue to provide a high quality of parks, recreation, and natural, historical, and cultural interpretation services that are valued by citizens.
Utilizing the 2013 plan, existing County planning documents, and the accomplishments to date as a starting point, the project team guided the development of a public input process which included online engagement opportunities and an online survey. It has been imperative, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, that meaningful community participation in the preparation of the Plan occur and that substantial opportunities for citizen participation in the planning process have been provided. The goal of each was validating elements that exist within the plan and making updates where appropriate. This planning effort includes a comparative analysis of four (4) comparable counties in Colorado to provide benchmarking comparisons. The comparative analysis includes data on acreage relative to population, cost relative to population, and funding mechanisms to acquire and care for these lands. In general, this update process resulted in similar conclusions to the 2013 process, determining that the criteria and much of the plan are still in line with community wants and needs.
Master Plan Maps
Jones Park Master Plan
In 2015, the City of Colorado Springs conveyed Jones Park to El Paso County. Jones Park is approximately 1,200 acres and is located within the Bear Creek Watershed and surrounded by United States Forest Service land. The remoteness along with beautiful stands of aspen trees, mature conifer forests, and mountainous terrain has made Jones Park popular for multiple outdoor recreation pursuits. Jones Park is also home to the federally threatened Greenback Cutthroat Trout.
This Master Plan will comprehensively outline existing conditions, community interests, and will recommend long term sustainability and conservation of the open space, wildlife habitat, historic and cultural resources, and recreational opportunities within Jones Park. The Master Plan process has included a community survey and multiple public meetings. The Master Plan will help ensure a successful roadmap for the future operation of Jones Park.
This Master Plan is being developed in accordance with the Bear Creek Watershed Restoration / Environmental Assessment, US Forest Service Bear Creek Watershed Project / Final Decision, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion, El Paso County Parks standards, and the Jones Park Conservation Easement (held by the Palmer Land Conservancy).
Developing and implementing the Jones Park Master Plan will reinforce the County’s commitment to providing a balanced approach when addressing community recreational needs while providing responsible land stewardship and asset management.
Please find below a link to the Jones Park Master Plan Final.
- El Paso County Parks Master Plan Update (2022)
- El Paso County Parks Asset Management Plan (2022)
- El Paso County Parks Master Plan (2013)
- Bear Creek Regional Park Master Plan
- Bear Creek Dog Park Master Plan
- Black Forest Regional Park Master Plan
- Black Forest Regional Park Master Plan Update
- Falcon Regional Park Master Plan
- Fox Run Regional Park Master Plan (UPDATE)
- Fountain Creek Regional Park Master Plan
- Homestead Ranch Regional Park Master Plan
- Kane Ranch Open Space Master Plan
- Paint Mines Interpretive Park Master Plan
- Pineries Open Space Master Plan
- Rainbow Falls Historic Site Master Plan
- Santa Fe Open Space Master Plan
- Stratmoor Valley Trailhead Park Master Plan
- Ute Pass Regional Trail Master Plan
- Widefield Community Park Master Plan