Town invited (but please car-pool!) to Red Rock dedication

       Featuring a live blues band, guided hikes, rock-climbing demonstrations and some speeches, the city of Colorado Springs will formally dedicate the Westside's Red Rock Canyon Open Space in an event titled “Red Rock & Blues” Saturday, July 16.
       The hikes and demos will be offered starting at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., on the large grassy area near the lake by the old Bock house, speeches will be given by Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera, Manitou Springs Mayor Marcy Morrison, Linda Hodges of the Trails and Open Space Coalition, Colorado Springs Parks Director Paul Butcher, and representatives of Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Lottery, the Colorado Springs Parks Advisory Board and the TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) Working Commit-tee.
       A ribbon-cutting will follow the speeches, after which the Jake Loggins Band will play until 1 p.m., according to Aimee Cox of City Parks.
       Some snacks and drinks will be provided. People are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunches, she said.
       All activities will be free of charge. Dogs are not allowed.
       Because of currently “very limited parking” at the open space, people attending are asked to car pool, Cox said.
       She said the city expects as many as 1,000 people. A temporary dirt parking area south of Highway 24, off High Street/Ridge Road, holds about 100 cars. Other dirt areas exist closer to the Bock house, but the parking there will only be available during the event to city staff, event dignitaries and the handicapped, Cox said.
       Depending on some engineering issues, at least one stunt may also be open for a demonstration at the park's under-construction “free ride” bicycling area, she added.
       The city purchased the ruggedly scenic 788.1-acre Red Rock property as open space in late 2003, opening it to the public in limited form last October. With the help of volunteers, Red Rock now sports a few miles of trail and a rock-climbing area with nearly 100 routes. In the development stage at Red Rock are the free-ride area - where bicyclists can practice different stunts - and a leash-free dog area.

Westside Pioneer article