COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Work to expand and improve the Blodgett Open Space is underway on the northwest side of Colorado Springs.
The hope from one regular visitor is more of a good thing. Watch their reaction below.
“This is one of the best open spaces, Blodgett Mountain, whatever you want to call it, hike in the Springs, my personal opinion,” hiker Toro Cortez said.
Soon, park visitors will have more space to enjoy.
Land acquired in 2018 and 2021 will increase the park property to nearly 400 acres.
"Expand Blodgett Open Space by nearly double, and to provide for public access," Colorado Springs Trails, Open Space and Parks Programs (TOPS) Senior Administrator David Deitemeyer said.
Upgrades include added parking locations, more entrance points and added trail options.
“We have over 14 miles worth of trail improvements and new trail that we're putting in at Blodgett Open Space that also will include about five miles worth of illegal trail or social trail closures,” Deitemeyer said.
The start of work is a big deal because it comes after years of planning and public input.
“We had heard from the community a lot more vocal interest to have single use trails. So we incorporated the use of hiking only trails on the northern portion of the open space, as well as creating bike only trails that really accommodate kind of more of the southern portion of Blodgett Open Space,” Deitemeyer said.
Some in the community wanted more trails. Others wanted fewer. The plan reflects a compromise.
“Finding that right balance is really what the public process allows us to do,” Deitemeyer said.
Now, there will be give and take during construction. Workers and trail users will share space.
“There'll be a phased approach where we implement and open up the new trails throughout the duration of the project,” Deitemeyer said.
Completing the work will likely take until the end of summer 2026.
