This view of the B.F. Rockefellow Ecology Park on the site of the county's old landfill is looking southwest. BLM public lands adjoin the Ecology Park to the west where the pinon-juniper trees are pictured.
The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office, Fremont County, and the Cañon City Recreation and Park District are hosting a public meeting to seek input on a proposal to develop non-motorized trails in the Ecology Park area that connects New York Avenue in Cañon City to the Section 13 trail system off of Temple Canyon Road as well as longer distance trail opportunities. The meeting will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 28th at the Recreation District offices at 575 Ash Street, in Cañon City.
The public lands in the Ecology Park area along Temple Canyon Road serve as an important recreation area for local residents who use a combination of designated trails, social trails and old roads for hiking, biking and riding horses. Fremont County developed the park on the site of the old county landfill. These lands provide a great ‘backyard’ recreation opportunity that informally connects with neighborhoods, other trail systems, and destinations. The recreation district, Fremont County, local user groups, and the BLM have begun planning efforts to formalize the trails in this area and enhance the trail based opportunities to better serve the community.
The proposed action includes establishing a formal non-motorized trail network in the area between New York Avenue in Cañon City and Ecology Park along with a small trailhead. It is also proposed to construct a trail that connects Ecology Park with the Section 13 trail system along with additional longer distance loop opportunities. There are a number of safety concerns in the area that the partners also seek to address.
Specific details about the project, including description of the proposed new trails and a map, are available on the Royal Gorge Field Office webpage at: http://blm.gov/84ld.
A public input period gives the public a chance to tell the BLM and the Recreation District what issues and concerns they think should be addressed and alternatives to consider. This input period will run from January 28th to February 28th, 2015. Comments concerning the proposed action, alternatives and identification of environmental issues are most helpful. For additional information or to submit a comment, please contact Kalem Lenard at 719-269-8538 or email comments to rgfo_comments@blm.gov.