Motorcycle park plan stirs debate

Open-space advocates fired a warning shot, politely, over the head of county parks director Tim Wolken on Wednesday morning about a proposed off-road motorcycle park.

Whether it turns out to be the first salvo in what one wag called the “Shootout at Corral Bluffs” remains to be seen.

Members of the city’s advisory Trails, Open Space and Parks Working Committee expressed either reservation or skepticism about the county’s plan to create a 980-acre park east of Colorado Springs and north of Colorado Highway 94 that would include 20 miles of trails for motorcycles.

The proposed motorcycle park, promoted by avid motorcyclist and county Commissioner Jim Bensberg, encompasses part of what is called Corral Bluffs, a crescent-shaped section of rugged land running north to south that features canyons, bluffs and cliffs.

The chairman of the TOPS committee, Bill Koerner, said he was surprised the county had just signed a contract with property owners Randy and Lindsay Case for a 525-acre parcel key to the park — one the committee had suggested be acquired for open space.

Wolken said Koerner shouldn’t have been surprised because the idea of a motorcycle park has been included in the county’s parks master plan for at least two years, and a park or open space in the area has been envisioned for at least a decade. Wolken said he had kept city staff members apprised of the progress of the motorcycle park.

The TOPS committee and a private, nonprofit group called the Trails and Open Space Coalition have envisioned a large regional park running from the proposed Jimmy Camp Creek Reservoir on the flat land west of the bluffs that could extend into Corral Bluffs.

Members of the trails committee said they don’t want to see motorcycle trails intrude onto environmentally sensitive land on the bluffs or destroy its scenic qualities.

Wolken said he understood that concern and said there are opportunities to create open space and riding trails on the property. But he said offroad motorcycle enthusiasts who also pay the TOPS sales tax that funds open space should have a place to ride in the county.

He said that opportunity is not available on the 20,000 acres of open space and parks in the city and county.

Just what is worth preserving as open space in the area may be open to interpretation. While Corral Bluffs presents an interesting face to the west, Waste Management operates a large landfill that abuts the Case property on the east.

A privately owned motocross facility that would play a key role in managing the park is south of the Case property and several auto salvage yards line Colorado Highway 94 in the area.

Wednesday’s meeting highlighted not only the competing interests of open-space advocates and off-road enthusiasts but of developers as well.

John Cassiani, a vice president with California-based developer Banning Lewis Ranch Management Co., said he was not told about the proposed park.

“We’re a neighbor,” he said. “It would have been great if the county had talked to us.”

He said he has no objections to the park — if the trails are far enough east not to disturb residents of the $500,000 and $1 million homes planned for the northeastern section of the Banning Lewis development.

The 23,000-acre development stretches along the eastern flank of the city.

Wolken told the trails committee it’s a little early to decide where the motorcycle trails would be, although some would be on an easement Waste Management would grant to the east of the Case property.

He said the county recognizes some of the park may not be suitable for riding. He said he’s not a big fan of fencing, but it may be needed to keep motorcyclists off fragile or scenic areas.

He said the county plans to do an analysis of the site in the spring, after a state board decides whether to give a $320,000 grant crucial to developing the park. A consultant would then be hired to plan the riding trails.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0197 or bill.mckeown@gazette.com

MOTORCYCLE PARK

- El Paso County’s proposed off-road vehicle park would encompass 980 acres north of Colorado Highway 94, about 42 miles east of U.S. Highway 24.

- Cost to develop would be $1.13 million; no county general fund money would be used.

- Current operator of the Aztec Family Raceway would operate the park, collect user fees and assume liability. Aztec would pay a fee to the county. Aztec also would buy property north of its raceway so riders could access the park. It would retain ownership of that land.

- Initially, 20 miles of trails are planned for the 980 acres, although additional trails could be added.

- A key component of the park, 525 acres now owned by Randy and Lindsay Case, would be purchased using $275,000 in park fees dedicated by developers; a $320,000 grant from the state; and $275,000 from the county’s conservation trust, funded by lottery proceeds. The remainder of that money would be used to develop the trail system, at $5,000 per mile.

- Waste Management, which operates a landfill to the east of the proposed park, would lease or grant trail easements to 365 acres.