The El Paso County Parks and Recreation Department’s decision to construct a multi-million-dollar nature center facility in a remote section of Fox Run Park, with a tower and canopy walk, event room, and a 60-car parking area, will destroy the very qualities that make this small, forested park so special. A news release on the website even says the structure is envisioned as a hub for tourism. The county claims to have done public outreach but made zero effort to include locals who are most directly impacted. If you study the reports on its website, it is obvious that it began with this goal and worked backward to justify it; all decisions were made privately by park and nature center staff/volunteers and its hired design/architecture team.
The feasibility study doesn’t even consider any environmental or wildlife impacts, and the traffic study incredibly claims that there will be no impact on surrounding neighborhoods. All its “public meetings” are just fundraisers, like the one in March at a brewery; a meeting was hurriedly called in February because of local residents’ complaints at having this sprung on us with zero notice or input, but it was clear they had no interest in actually addressing any of our concerns and intended to proceed with this project. Once again, the county commissioners and agencies refuse to listen to citizens who disagree with their zeal to develop all of our increasingly scarce natural resources. If you agree that funding would be better spent on fixing the ponds/gazebo area and existing trails, and that this park should be protected, not developed, please let the county know about your concerns by contacting your county commissioner and parks@elpasoco.com.
Michelle Satterlee
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