$279 million deficit remains for Colorado Springs Parks Department after 2C failure

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo (KRDO) - A $279 million dollar backlog in maintenance needs still stands for Colorado Springs Parks and Trails. Ballot issue 2C, which would have increased city sales tax and put that money into trails, open spaces, and parks, didn’t pass in Tuesday’s election.

“It’s very disappointing but we’re refocusing, reengaging, and look forward to our next opportunity,” said Karen Palus, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.

Without 2C passing, improvements at sports facilities in the city will sit on the back burner and new parks won’t be developed.

“That deficit is not just general maintenance, repairs, and such," said Palus. "It’s also promised parks within our community. So as growth occurred, we’ve not been able to stay up with that growth to complete those parks for those neighborhoods.”

But the department isn’t giving up. Palus says they will continue to chip away at the deficit through help from partners.

“We’ve built a lot of amazing relationships with many partners and granting agencies throughout the state and throughout the nation," said Palus. "So we’ll continue to leverage those assets that we do have with those additional funding partners through granting opportunities to continue to nibble as we have been, at many of those deficit areas that we want to address.”

Another blow potentially looms as Colorado Springs' TOPS program, which helps to preserve trails and parks, is set to expire in 2025. But the department says they’re not worried.

“We anticipate being able to come back to the voters, repackage our plan, and make sure we’re educating and informing up until that point," said Palus. "Making sure voters understand how those funds are used, how they can be used, and bring that back to the voters prior to expiration.”

In the ten-year management plan for the Parks Department introduced back in 2014, is the discussion of adding a fee for things like the Manitou Incline. Palus says that’s not being considered right now, and won’t be revisited until the Incline’s Northern Trail is completed.