Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

More public input moves Incline plan forward

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Created on Friday, 16 July 2010 20:59

Written by Nathan

By EVAN THOMAS, OutThereColorado.com

For an aging stack of railroad ties, the Manitou Incline sure is more complicated than it appears.

Manitou Springs Planning Director Dan Folke and Manitou Springs City Councilor Aimee Cox led the last of three focus sessions at Manitou Springs City Hall on July 15. Parking, traffic, trails and trailheads were addressed earlier this week; Thursday's meeting presented the possibilities for operations and management for the Manitou Incline, some of the hottest issues from the June 24 public workshop.

About 30 attendees listened as the meeting opened with an overview of the critical issues, those operating points the Incline Task Force says the plan must solve if it is to be seriously considered for implementation. Chris Dropinski discussed the potential solutions to each problem, a list the Incline consulting team distilled from public input from previous meetings.

The goal is to create "something that, collectively, everyone can get behind," said Dropinski. Owners, managers, users, and those who fund the Incline all have to cooperate to make the plan work.

Not every fix is just a fix, though. Many of the solutions discussed at the meeting come with their own set of requirements or potential problems.

The trail will require funding, whether through municipal taxes, private donation or an honor-system fee box at the base of the trail. Short-term solutions can ease immediate operating costs, but what about the long term? Contracting out maintenance or paying a regular cleanup staff will be expensive.

Manitou Springs could heavily promote the incline as a fitness destination. There could be races and sponsorship, or permit-based independent events to generate revenue. But there could potentially be too much interest. The Incline already sees anywhere from 77,000 to 100,000 users annually, and that unregulated, unpromoted activity is causing serious environmental degradation.

One of the existing landowners could step in to manage the trail, or the job could be contracted out. There's a lot of liability involved -- maybe a skatepark-like "use at your own risk" disclaimer is needed. There could be limited-commission officers tasked with monitoring the Incline and enforcing the rules.

Shutting down and enforcing the "no trespassing" signs for a time before the Incline is opened to the public could build legitimacy. But that would require close monitoring. The Incline is wildly popular and used at all times of the day. Keeping an eye on things may be a full-time job.

And just as it was on June 24, everyone involved considers sustainability to be the single most important issue. Education is needed to promote a "leave no trace" ethic. Rest areas need to be clearly marked. Social trails need to be reclaimed.

But for all the intricacy and remaining obstaces, Aimee Cox is confident of progress. She has seen an overall positive response from the public and from Incline users to the entire planning process.

"There are clearly a lot of issues folks are divided on, but we can deal with those," she said. "There's been a lot of concensus on the best alternatives. It's been very civil."

Just as importantly, she says there has been positive response from the landowners and potential management entities. Representatives from Pikes Peak Utilites, the Cog Railway and the U.S. Forest Service are on the Incline Task Force, and have attended all the meetings. They've actively participated in the discussions and analysis in preparation for an August meeting, where Cox says the Task Force will summarize all the collected information and present it to the landowners for consideration. Assuming there are no deal-breakers in the proposed options, the planning process will move forward into the draft phase.

A second public workshop to review alternatives is scheduled for October 21, 7p.m. at Manitou Springs City Hall. A public open house to present the drafted plan is slated for January of 2011, and public and city council hearings on the final plan will begin in February.