WHY? THE COMMITMENT TO THE STEWARDSHIP FUND.
Collaborating with land managers and like-minded advocacy groups, the PPORA Stewardship Fund brings attention and action to the Pikes Peak region’s trail system and surrounding lands for multiple uses and users. The Fund supports both the existing and the potential system with priority given to ensure race venue areas and trails emerge more sustainable and better connected for enjoyment by all users in the greater community.
WHAT? THE GOALS FOR THE PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND.
FOR THE LAND
The PPORA Stewardship Fund strives to make a tangible improvement in the Pikes Peak area trail system.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
The PPORA Stewardship Fund strives to build community-wide awareness and expectation for trail system stewardship.
FOR THE FUTURE
The PPORA Stewardship Fund strives to embed sustainable protocols in all aspects of the event, such as: electric powered transportation and support, recycling at all venues and events, strategic spectator control to minimize environmental resource damage, pre- and post-race trail repair, and teaming with professional trail contractors.
HOW? THE FRAMEWORK AND DECISION MAKING. PROCESS FOR THE PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND.
The PPO Board of Directors is responsible for all PPO Stewardship Fund allocations, agreements and implementation.
Within the first five years, the PPO Stewardship Fund aims to annually complete three types of stewardship efforts.
In prioritized order these include:
Pre and post-race sustainable trail restorations on all race venue trails;
Sustained trail maintenance on the multi-use regional system via partnerships, funding manpower and/or other means;
Partnering with others to achieve long-term visionary regional trail system connectivity.
An Advisory Panel will formulate recommendations for consideration and action by the PPO BOD. The Panel makeup, envisioned as a group of diverse stakeholders, will be recommended by the APEX race administrator, APEX Board representative, and PPO Stewardship Fund chair each year for review and approval by the PPO Executive Director.
All Advisory Board project recommendations must be tangible, ‘do-able” projects benefiting the area’s citizens, meet the PPO Stewardship Fund Vision, Commitments and Goals, demonstrate benefit to the current and or future APEX venues,and include an implementation strategy, budget and timeline.
Recommendations to the PPO BOD will be coordinated by the PPO Stewardship Fund chair for selection/approval and funding allocation.
The PPO Stewardship Fund will be funded by a percentage of gross income from The Pikes Peak APEX, all post- APEX event remaining funds, and other fundraisers and grants.
2025 PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND ALLOCATIONS
Awards include the following:
- $3,500 to Teller Trail Team for the Rampart Reservoir Trail maintenance
- $3,000 to Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates for Forest Lakes-715 Connector Trail Planning
- $2,500 to City of Colorado Springs for a bridge over Buffalo Creek in North Cheyenne Cañon Park
- $1,000 to Colorado Motorcycle Trail Riders Association for Nelsons Trail (Forest Service Trail #672) maintenance on Mt. Rosa
2024 PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND ALLOCATIONS
In 2024, PPORA raised over $5,000 to this fund to support future projects. See more of our work this year in our 2024 Annual Report
2023 PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND ALLOCATIONS
Awards include the following:
- $7,000 to the City of Colorado Springs for the Ladders Trail
- $2,000 to Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates for Buckhorn Trail Repairs (USFS trail) and Equipment Purchase
- $1,000 to Friends of the Peak for St. Mary’s Falls Trail (USFS) maintenance
2022 PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND ALLOCATIONS
In 2022, PPORA raised over $9,000 to this fund to support future projects. See more of our work this year in our 2022 Annual Report!
2021 PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND ALLOCATIONS
This year of funding help support trails including: USFS trails in Monument, CO, new trails in Cheyenne Canyon on Colorado Springs Parks land, and support for existing trails in Palmer Park.
2020 PPO STEWARDSHIP FUND ALLOCATIONS
Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates and the City of COS volunteer work day in palmer park.
Additional Work on Apex Courses
The list below includes the PPORA Stewardship Fund funded projects as well as all the trail stewardship
work completed or underway, of which we are aware, on the 2020 APEX racecourses.
Palmer Park Course
• PPORA Stewardship Fund – funded professional trail builder
• City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services – trail design, trail signage
system and associated trail improvements/connections
• City of Colorado Springs funded Rocky Mountain Field Institute – RMFI – construction of rock
retaining walls and rock steps, maintenance of drains, and completion of tread armoring to
improve overall trail stability on the Templeton Trail continuing with three workdays in October
following the Race event.
• Guardians of Palmer Park work sessions and continued park funding
• Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates evening work sessions and full-day trail work September 19th
Rampart Reservoir Course
• USFS Pike National Forest funded RMFI- forest mitigation of UNBURNED forest for the purpose
of reducing fuel loads and enhancing health of riparian areas and the overall forest ecosystem
• National Forest Foundation funded through a grant from VF Corporation – Mile High Youth
Corps’ Front Range Stewardship Group – trail repair, restoration, and maintenance
Gold Camp and Jones Park and High Drive Courses
• The USFS Permit Fee for Pikes Peak APEX presented by RockShox (over $5,000) will be returned
to regional trails by the USFS Pikes Peak Ranger District
• Pikes Peak APEX presented by RockShox will construct temporary bridges over all water
crossings to eliminate bike wheel contact with the water in accordance with the USFS Permit
requirements
• El Paso County funded RMFI for trail work on the Kineo Mountain Trail/667 in Jones Park• CMTRA work sessions on Captain Jacks Trail including removing downed trees, trailhead
cleanup, repair of forest service trail signage, purchase and installation of new share the trail
signage and race day motorized volunteer support.
All Courses
• Following all the racing, the Pikes Peak APEX presented by RockShox will repair race related trail
damage on all courses.
