Envisioning Shooks Run

Before the city of Colorado Springs was established in 1871, the small creek that empties into Fountain Creek was given the name Shooks Run after the brothers Peter and Denton Shooks, who started their ranch in 1865 that included the streams’ juncture and spread north up the creek to present-day Fountain Boulevard.

Through the years, the creek has seen many changes: residential development and resulting water pollution and debris; a railroad built and removed; floods and attempts to control flooding; invasive trees and attempts to restore the natural ecosystem and wildlife, and the construction of parks and trails.

Now, infrastructure along Shooks Run is deteriorating from lack of maintenance over the years. Overgrowth of invasive vegetation is harming the ecosystem. Bridges, retaining walls and culverts along the corridor are nearly a century old and in some instances deficient. As a stormwater drainage system, Shooks Run has aging and undersized drainage structures, increasing the risk of flooding. City officials know that something must be done and done soon.

But – while they’re at it, the city of Colorado Springs has invited members of the community to submit their input about what it could ultimately be. Three options have emerged from the discussions so far: to simply redo the waterway and bridges to make them more efficient, to create a greenway, that invites more walkers, runners and bikers, and a mixed-use concept that make it a central corridor that has new homes and shops.

The third of six meetings is taking place Thursday evening, which Aaron Egbert, project manager for the city, says is an important one. “I would just encourage people to come out and participate. This is the third meeting, this is a critical meeting, where we’re really starting to make decisions along the corridor and we’re presenting those decisions to senior management and the mayor’s office,” – he told us.

Martha Slonim walks her dogs there almost every day. She’s been very happy with the collaborative nature of the process. “People have just kind of brainstormed with what they’d like to see, and as it goes along, I guess they’ll come together with a plan, but people have been involved from the very beginning,” she said.

Slonim fully intends to keep going to the meetings and being a part of the planning and enjoying the outcome.

You can learn more about the project, called “Envision Shooks Run,” by clicking here.