Red Rock development leader steps down

       Terry Putman, who had been with City Parks for 21 years and led the initial development of Red Rock Canyon Open Space, retired Feb. 7.
       “I will miss most his vision for the future of the parks system,” City Parks Director Paul Butcher told the Westside Pioneer. “He's been our long-range planner and a key driver of TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks).”
       Christian Lieber, Parks trails coordinator who has worked closely with Putman on open space issues, will take over his duties, effective immediately.
       The Red Rock master-planning process, which Putman had overseen, recently won one of the privately bestowed Partner-ship for Community Design awards. With little controversy, the 788.1-acre property went from being purchased from the Bock family in December 2003 to being opened to the public in October.
       Putman worked for the Texas State Parks Depart-ment before moving to Colorado Springs, where he found a position with El Paso County. Putman joined the city in May 1983. He started as a park maintenance operations manager and eventually became manager of design, development and TOPS.
       Other major open space acquisitions he spearheaded included Stratton, Union Mea-dows and Blue-stem Prairie; and he guided master plans for Garden of the Gods, North Cheyenne Canyon, Palmer Park, Memorial Park and Monument Valley Park.
       Putman gave no reason for stepping down in his resignation letter to the city Feb. 7 - only that it was with “heavy heart” and “effective immediately.” He could not be reached afterward. Butcher declined to comment.
       “It was abrupt, a big surprise,” Deputy City Manager Dave Nickerson told the Pioneer. “He was a good employee.”

Westside Pioneer from a press release