The Board of Directors of the Friends of Red Rock Canyon have learned of a proposal before El Paso County Commissioners to allow the Billboard on the westbound lanes of Highway 24 to become Electronic. We are against this proposal, for many reasons, which include not fitting into the recreational experiences Red Rock Canyon offers. The meeting of the County Commissioners to decide this issue is Thursday, September 11th at 9am. We have included facts and points about the effect of an electronic billboard below. Main points include: The electronic billboard will be seen by those using the Open Space. The property is in unincorporated El Paso County, completely surrounded by the cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. Both cities do NOT allow Electronic Billboards. When Red Rock Canyon was purchased by the City of Colorado Springs over 20 years ago, leases on two existing billboard at the Highway 24 entrance were left to expire. The City of Colorado Springs then took down the billboards. Electronic signs will distract drivers turning left into Red Rock Canyon.
Please voice your concerns to the County Commissioners as this decision lies with them.
Email with LINK: In preparation for the BOCC hearing on September 11, 2025, please send all public comment emails to PCDhearings@elpasoco.com. Any requests to be called in to speak remotely during the hearing will also need to be directed to this email. All public comment emails provided at least 24 hours in advance will be printed and handed to the Commissioners prior to the hearing. All emails will also be uploaded to the project file in EDARP as part of the public record. (EDARP link: AL252)
Yes, please include the PCD file number AL252 in the subject line of the email! I am including the specific Land Development Code criteria for Special Use applications below. This is what the Commissioners will be considering.
(C) Criteria. In approving a special use, the following criteria may be considered:
• The special use is generally consistent with the applicable Master Plan;
• The special use will be in harmony with the character of the neighborhood, and will generally be compatible with the existing and allowable land uses in the surrounding area;
• The impact of the special use does not overburden or exceed the capacity of public facilities and services, or, in the alternative, the special use application demonstrates that it will provide adequate public facilities in a timely and efficient manner;
• The special use will not create unmitigated traffic congestion or traffic hazards in the surrounding area, and has adequate, legal access;
• The special use will comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding air, water, light, or noise pollution;
• The special use will not otherwise be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare of the present or future residents of El Paso County; and/or
• The special use conforms or will conform to all other applicable County rules, regulations or ordinances.
Proposed Electronic Billboard on Highway 24 westbound side, across from Red Rock Canyon, Points and Facts:
El Paso County document AL 252
The existing billboard is on the westside of Ridge Road across from Red Rock Canyon, on Highway 24 westbound lanes.
The existing billboard is 378sf. New billboards are limited to 245sf, unless “credits” are used by the billboard company. The existing billboard, established in 1992, is “static” whereas the proposed change would make the billboard electronic, Electronic Message Display. No other changes made to height, size or location, thus the existing electronic billboard is bigger.
The Planning Commission has given the okay for this billboard to become an electronic billboard, along with another electronic billboard up by Cascade off Highway 24. The two billboards are separate proposals with the County. This proposal is identified as AL 252.
When Red Rock Canyon was purchased by the City for Open Space, at least 2 existing billboard leases by the entrance to Red Rock Canyon were purchased by the City. After the existing leases for advertisements expired, the City took the billboards down.
The electronic billboard, though across from the entrance, will be seen from people using Red Rock Canyon Open Space doing outdoor activities. The lighted, flashy billboard will be noticed.
Lamar is the company doing the billboards. 143 Mellville Columbia SC LLC, based out of 3010 E Bonanza Rd, Gilbert, AZ, owns and leases the land to Lamar for the billboard. The billboard is on the Timber Lodge property which has access off Colorado Avenue.
Both Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs do not allow electronic billboards. The billboard is on El Paso County property, completely surrounded by both cities which do not allow electronic billboards. Teller County, going up Highway 24, also does not allow electronic billboards.
A billboard which distracts attention would make more animal-vehicle collisions. Many deer, racoon, bears, mountain lions, foxes and more, cross Highway 24 to get water from Fountain Creek. It will also distract drivers turning left into Red Rock Canyon.
Red Rock Canyon entrance marks an important transition from urban areas to the “wild and natural areas” many people use. People enjoying Red Rock Canyon will see the new electronic display billboard. Electronic display billboards are made to be noticed advertisements. The electronic billboard does not fit into a “wild and natural area” to enjoy for recreation.
This trail will be adjacent to Greenlee Pond (the north pond). It will involve building new trail, finishing machine built trail and restoring rogue trails. The city is looking for forty volunteers for this large project. The priorities are:
Click HERE for our latest newsletter.
New Improved Bench
Old Bench it Replaced
For the latest update to the city’s e-bike policy click HERE. Note that your response to these draft rules should be submitted by May 4, 2025.
Click HERE for Colorado Trails Explorer app. This is the official, most up to date map of Red Rock Canyon trails and all other trails in Colorado.
Click HERE for Palmer Land Trust’s (which holds a conservation easement on RRC) position on e-bikes and working with the city.
The Board of Directors of the Friends of Red Rock Canyon Open Space has considered the City’s initiative to permit use of e-bikes in Red Rock Canyon and other TOPS open space properties. While there are board members who favor the use of e-bikes in open spaces and others who are against it, the Board’s official position is that the unambiguous language in the TOPS ordinance, the Conservation Easements and the Red Rock Canyon Master Plan must be respected and followed and that a change to the TOPS ordinance permitting e-bikes requires a vote of the citizens.
The language of the TOPS ordinance clearly and unequivocally states that trails are thoroughfares within open space lands “for nonmotorized use” and “no motorized vehicles” shall be permitted. See City Code 4.6.101 (N) and (O). This ordinance, with the nonmotorized use provisions, was voted on and approved by the City voters in 1997 and 2003. Most recently in 2023, the TOPS ordinance was extended with this identical “nonmotorized use” language. The TOPS ordinance was passed by a vote of the people and can only be changed by a vote of the people. The letter and spirit of the law requires nothing less.
The Board of Directors’ position that the language unequivocally prohibits use of motorized bicycles is bolstered by the language of the Master Plan and the Conservation Easements.
The Red Rock Canyon Open Space Master and Management Plan from January 2013 under the Trail System section at Page IV.7 states:
“The primary recreational feature of the Red Rock Canyon Open Space is the non-motorized multi-use trail system. It is the defining and organizing element of the open space.”
The Master Plan states that it is a cooperative agreement between the community and the City of Colorado Springs and that it is a community-created plan. (page A.a) The Master Plan was developed as a result of several well-attended community meetings. It was endorsed by the Palmer Land Trust Stewardship Committee and recommended for approval by the TOPS Working Committee and the Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The non-motorized trail feature of the Master Plan should not be changed without a Master Plan type public process.
Also, there are two Conservation Easements for Red Rock Canyon that require a non-motorized trail system. There is the original Deed of Conservation Easement, Red Rock Canyon Open Space – El Paso County from May 2006 and the Deed of Conservation Easement, Manitou Section 16 Open Space – El Paso County from December 2010. Both Conservation Easements prohibit the use of motor vehicles and specifically only allow “non-motorized passive recreational uses such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding….” See 2006 and 2010 Conservation Easements, section 3(k) and 3(q)
The Board of Directors understands that e-bikes were not common when these documents were developed and approved. The Board also recognizes the current popularity of e-bikes. The Board has also considered the arguments that e-bikes are not motorized vehicles in the traditional sense. Regardless, the Board concludes that the unambiguous reference to a non-motorized trail system in the TOPS ordinance, the Conservation Easements and the Master Plans were developed through a public process and should not be changed or modified without a similar public process that includes a City-wide vote on modifying the TOPS ordinance.
Friends of Red Rock Canyon Open Space Board of Directors sadly announces the passing of two dear friends and board members. Recently, David Schell, our President and Stewart Green, our rock climbing advocate, passed away within just a few days of each other. Both David and Stewart were long time board members and passionate stewards of our open space. Words cannot express how much we will miss them. You can see David’s obituary HERE and an article in the Gazette about Stewart HERE.
Click on the “News” tab at the top of the page to see the Summer 2023 edition of our newsletter as well as older archived editions.
On May 1 the Friends of Red Rock Canyon partnered with the school and the City of Colorado Springs to host a full day field trip for the entire student body of Ute Pass Elementary, consisting of 175 students, teachers and parents. The school was able to secure a grant to purchase native flora for the students to plant in the area of the old reclaimed catch pond and the newly redesigned Roundup Trail. Ranger Wes provided safety instruction and was joined by about six other rangers and David, Glenn, Shanti, Sean, Dave and Dan from the board. Everyone had a great time and a rewarding experience.
Last fall, the Friends received a gracious letter from an instructor at Ute Pass Elementary school thanking us for helping them achieve a Leave No Trace Youth Program Accreditation. This is the first school in the nation to do this. Read details HERE. On April 22, 2022, FoRRC teamed up with teachers, parents and students from the school for an educational field day in Red Rock Canyon Open Space for this(see below).
Below is a link to a KKTV newscast at RRCOS about the importance of staying on designated trails and the damage caused by rogue trails. https://www.kktv.com/2021/08/24/destructive-avoidable-park-rangers-reminding-hikers-not-go-off-trails-or-take-short-cuts/
These photos were sent to FoRRC by Scott Schow, great, great grandson of the original founder of the Greenlee Quarry. The Second photo is of Juanita Schow and Bud Greenlee, grandchildren of the original owner of the quarry.
If you have an idea of how to improve our open space please share it with us. Your friends’ group Board of Directors is looking for suggestions and we will consider all reasonable ideas. Please contact us here .
Here is a link to an interesting article about on rock cairns at National parks: Rock Cairns
LEAVE NO TRACE