El Paso County Parks and Trails Construction and Closures

Bear Creek Regional Park Tennis/Pickleball Court Construction Update

El Paso County Parks is preparing to enhance the tennis and pickleball facilities at Bear Creek Regional Park. Planned improvements include two new tennis courts, six new pickleball courts, a shaded plaza area, a renovated archery range, and an expanded paved parking lot.

Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and finish in spring 2027. This schedule was chosen intentionally to avoid the park’s high‑use summer season and to minimize disruption for visitors. For everyone’s safety, the project area will be closed to the public throughout construction due to heavy machinery, demolition work, and site grading. We kindly ask visitors to follow all posted closures and avoid the area until work is complete.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to improve this part of the park. These upgrades are intended to create a better experience for all park users beginning spring 2027.

For additional information, please visit parks.elpacoco.com

Construction Notice

New Santa Fe Regional Trail

Oct. 8, 2026

Construction associated with the new Old Denver Road will require closing a portion of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail for one week, beginning August 3, 2026.

Work will take place 1-mile north of Baptist Road, between Wagon Gap Trail and Buffalo Valley Path, where the new Old Denver Road alignment begins. Construction includes using heavy equipment to complete large-scale grading and road construction. Due to the nature of this work, no detour is available for trail users.

To ensure public safety, the affected segment of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail will be fully closed Oct. 8, 2026 with periodic updates until project completion. Trail users are encouraged to plan ahead, recreate responsibly, and avoid all closed and active construction areas for the duration of the project.

For updates and additional information, please visit www.elpasocountyparks.com

Rock Island Regional Trail Bridge Closure

April 7, 2026 – The bridge on the Rock Island Regional Trail located near Woodmen and Hwy 24 is currently closed until further notice due to severe damage from a grass fire. There is no detour at this time. Please do not cross barriers to access the bridge at this time until damage is assessed. We will update once we have more information.

Check back here for project updates. Questions or concerns can be directed to Parks@elpasoco.com

Sidewalk Construction along Ute Pass Regional Trail

February 9, 2026 – El Paso County will begin construction of new sidewalks and pedestrian improvements along Ute Pass Trail including, Chipita Park Road, Fountain Avenue, Spring Street, and through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Maintenance Yard, starting February 23, 2026. All work will take place within the existing public right-of-way.

The project is designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in the area. Planned work includes tree and vegetation removal, construction of concrete sidewalks, installation of curb and gutter, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, retaining walls, and drainage improvements.

The required tree removals are scheduled for February 23, 2026. Trees selected for removal are located within the public right-of-way and are necessary to accommodate the planned infrastructure improvements.

Construction activities will continue throughout the year, with the project expected to be completed by December 2026. Residents and travelers are encouraged to remain aware of construction activity and potential impacts in the area. Project updates and additional information will be posted as they become available.

Detailed Project Map

Check back here for project updates. Questions or concerns can be directed to Parks@elpasoco.com

New Santa Fe Regional Trail Closure

The Section of the trail that runs through the Air Force Academy remains closed at this time due to orders from USNORTHCOM. Updates to access and the Trusted Traveler Program can be found here: https://www.usafa.edu/visitors/getting-on-base/

Questions or concerns can be directed to Parks@elpasoco.com

For any questions or concerns please contact the El Paso County Parks office at (719)520-7529 or by email Parks@elpasoco.com