Downtown Partnership celebrates ‘Decade of Transformation’ in downtown Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Downtown Colorado Springs has grown exponentially in the last decade giving the area life because of key additions.

The Downtown Partnership celebrated a "decade of transformation" this week. The Downtown Partnership says they are a group of businesses, non-profits and people dedicated to shaping the identity and future of downtown Colorado Springs.

In the last ten years, the non-profit group Downtown Partnership and affiliated organizations say they have added more than 3,000 residential units that have contributed to the success of businesses in the area. This has led to more than 200 businesses that have opened including restaurants, bars, boutiques, art shops and many more.

They say efforts made to expand and develop the area led to the visitation rising significantly, quadrupling the number of people who went downtown from 5.8 million in 2016 to 18.8 million in 2025.

"I see people from everywhere and it's just been cool, especially downtown," Kimberly Gallardo, who works at Josh and John's Ice Cream, said. "A lot of people from Denver say they've never been to Colorado Springs and now they love downtown."

Downtown Partnership has already put a plan in place for the next decade, called the "Elevate Downtown" plan has the vision to expand on possible undeveloped lands near downtown, like the Martin Drake Power Plant area.

Officials say they want more new businesses, live music, art and expansion of the downtown area.

The whole "Elevate Downtown" plan can be viewed on the Downtown Partnership's website.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.