Mark your calendar for the Park Board meeting on Thursday, 2/11/2016. We are trying to nail down exactly when the public has an opportunity to finally be heard. Also, there's a City Council Meeting today - City Hall 107 N. Nevada Avenue 80903 at 1pm. Citizens can attend and make a 3 minute comment. Meeting starts at 1pm. You can watch it live by clicking on "Watch Live" under City Council Meetings at this link: https://coloradosprings.gov/resident-services/communications/springstv/springstv The current agenda does not have the land swap listed as an item. Reprinted with permission. Dear City Leaders, I have additional questions regarding the proposed land swap. 1. What other options have been considered for acquiring the desired trail easements? ie TOPS purchase, non profit purchase or fundraising 2. Why does Strawberry Fields have to be included in this deal? 3. Why/who plans/designs trails that go through private property? 4. What is the existing red trail on the proposed map (south of Cheyenne Mtn Blvd and east of the zoo road)? Is this the Chamberlain trail? Why would it be moved to west of the zoo road? Or is the Chamberlain a new trail? If so why do we need another trail in the same area? 5. What is going on with the online survey? There is not adequate methodology being used. (ie can take survey multiple times, survey being changed, survey at one time by invitation only, not measurable) You cannot change a survey once it is made available and obtain valid results and this survey is not quantifiable. Any results in favor or against will be invalid. 6. What happened with the TOSC survey? 7. What wildlife impact and environmental impact studies have been completed on Strawberry Fields? 8. What other city owned public open space has been traded away to a for profit company? 9. What other parcels in the city are park zoned and owned by a for profit company? 10. What events, structures and uses of land are allowed in park zoning? 11. City Master Plan for Parks includes preserving open space. New developments usually include an open space/park area be part of the development plan. Why is a highly desirable parcel, with historical and wildlife significance, easily accessible by the public because of it’s proximity to city/residential development even being considered as currency? As this proposal stands, I adamantly oppose it. Historic, public, wild open space should never be sacrificed. Especially a parcel as special as Strawberry Fields. Who owned this land before people? Mother Nature. Protect her and her voiceless subjects inhabiting Strawberry Fields. I implore you to find another way to obtain the trail connections desired. You have probably by now read the below article written in 1884…I ask you to read it again. http://more.ppld.org:8080/specialcollections/index/ArticleOrders/271418.pdf With Gratitude, Rachel Rocks