Executive Summary
The Plan’s key elements of the initiative include extensive stakeholder engagement, community input and data-driven decision-making. Over the course of nearly four years, OPPI collaborated with over 400 attendees at 15 community listening sessions and gathered feedback from nearly 1,000 survey respondents, resulting in nearly 3,000 individual comments. Throughout the entire planning process thousands of constituents were reached through various in-person and digital outreach methods. Nearly 100 planning documents were reviewed, and data from agencies such as Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service and local municipalities were analyzed. The result is a Vision Plan centered around seven core visions or values: Partnership, Communication, Connectivity, Natural Resource Conservation, Recreation, Management and Funding.
A crucial outcome of this initiative is the development of decision-support tools, including a comprehensive data hub and an “Areas of Opportunity” interactive map, designed to help land managers and project proponents evaluate and prioritize projects aligning with the plan’s goals. Additionally, OPPI established a Project Framework Criteria to guide future projects through a self-scoring checklist, ensuring alignment with regional conservation and recreation priorities.
The Vision Plan also presents a prioritized list of regional projects, encompassing trail networks, watershed protection, wildlife habitat conservation and the enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure. Key projects include the completion of the non-motorized “Ring the Peak Trail,” a Regional Trail Master Plan, and forest health and wildfire mitigation initiatives. In the face of climate change and urban development, tourism data further highlights the region’s importance. In 2023, 24.8 million visitors to the Pikes Peak region generated $2.8 billion in spending, $1.7 billion of which came from outdoor recreation activities.
Looking ahead, OPPI proposes the formation of an Implementation Task Force to drive the execution of identified action items and projects. This task force will ensure continued collaboration, track progress, and secure sustainable funding to support the region’s long-term vision of balancing outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation.
The OPPI Vision Plan serves as a roadmap for preserving the region’s rich natural heritage while enhancing access to outdoor recreation, ensuring that future generations can enjoy and steward these cherished landscapes.
