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City approves up to $4.15 million to buy 130 acres for Cheyenne Mountain State Park extension
Summary
Council approved acquisition of roughly 130 acres for a Cheyenne Mountain State Park extension, a three-way collaboration with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Trust for Public Land; the TOPS supplemental appropriation of up to $4,150,000 passed 9-0.
The Colorado Springs City Council voted Nov. 25 to authorize acquisition of approximately 130 acres for a Cheyenne Mountain State Park extension and to approve a supplemental TOPS appropriation to complete the purchase.
Lana Thielen, TOPS program manager, told council the project is a three-party collaboration involving the City of Colorado Springs (north parcel, ~130 acres), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (south parcel, ~350 acres), and Trust for Public Land, creating roughly a 480-acre addition to Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Thielen said the parcel lies along South Highway 115 near Fort Carson and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and would conserve land that otherwise had approvals for about 95 single-family homes under the JL Ranch master plan.
Thielen reported an appraisal in June 2025 of about $31,000 per acre and said the TOPS program has approximately $16 million available for acquisitions, with roughly $14 million after a 10% reserve. She said partners including CPW and Trust for Public Land support the acquisition and that the Parks Advisory Board and TOPS working committee recommended the action.
Council members asked about ownership of adjacent parcels, trail connections (Chamberlain Trail), parking and access placement, and coordination with military partners. Thielen noted continuing negotiations on vehicular access and an existing easement for Snow Ridge Road tied to Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station; Jason Hagen (CPW manager) and Fort Carson had provided letters supporting acquisition. Councilman Hingeam moved and Councilman Gold seconded the motions for the acquisition and for the supplemental appropriation; both passed 9-0.
Thielen said the city intends to close the acquisition in 2026 and will coordinate maintenance and patrol responsibilities with CPW under a memorandum of understanding.
