Six Days Left to Shape Colorado Springs' Park Future — Public Comment Closes September 22

Colorado Springs families have six days to weigh in on a document that will influence the city's parks, trails, and open spaces for years to come. The public comment period on the Draft Park System Master Plan closes September 22, and the city is actively soliciting input from residents before the plan moves toward adoption.

The Draft Plan was presented to the Parks Advisory Board on September 10, 2026. It outlines priorities for how the city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department — which operates three community centers, seven sports complexes, and five program areas and serves more than 300,000 Colorado Springs residents annually — should grow and evolve over the coming decade.

How to Comment

The Draft Park System Master Plan and the public comment form are available at coloradosprings.gov/ParkSystemMasterPlan. The comment period opened September 2 and runs through September 22. You can review the draft online and submit written feedback through the same page — the process doesn't require in-person attendance at a meeting.

What to Focus Your Comment On

If you're not sure where to start, the most useful comments tend to be specific: the trail connection your neighborhood is missing, the playground equipment that needs replacing, the community center hours that don't work for working families, the parks that lack shade or restrooms. Planners can't act on what they don't know about, and residents closest to specific parks and trails often have information that doesn't surface in a top-down planning process.

You can also comment on broader priorities: whether the plan appropriately reflects the interests of younger children and teens, whether it addresses accessibility for families with disabilities, or whether the geographic distribution of improvements across the city's different neighborhoods seems equitable.

What's Next

After the public comment period closes September 22, the city will incorporate feedback into a revised plan that moves toward a final adoption process. Families who want to stay engaged beyond the comment period can follow updates at coloradosprings.gov/PRCS or attend Parks Advisory Board meetings, which are open to the public. The comment deadline of September 22 is firm — submit before then to ensure your input is part of the official record.