Hello Seth,

My name is Carl Strow and I am a Colorado Springs resident.

I read your article two years ago in October titled “Does Pikes Peak Lower Barr Trail need a reroute? Top advocate thinks so.”

I have been trying to follow up on this issue but the city of Colorado Springs is refusing to provide me with information.

I have been asking them questions via email.

Is the city considering a reroute of the first two miles of the Barr Trail?

I want to contribute to the public discussion on this issue and to make an informed decision on the reroute issue I need to know how much it would cost to do the necessary repairs to the existing trail.

The city of Manitou Springs is paying Rocky Mountain Field Institute $40,000 a year to do repairs on this section of the Barr Trail.

Most of that work is repairing ongoing damage from the poor drainage.

This will have to be done perpetually until the drainage is improved.

The existing trail is in desperate need of a drainage study and drainage improvements.

How much does RMFI estimate that a drainage study will cost?

The fence on this section of the trail that prevents switchback cutting is in desperate need of replacement.

How much does RMFI estimate that this will cost?

There is a lot of erosion damage on the hillside.

How much does RMFI estimate that it will cost to repair the erosion damage?

I have pointed out to the city that much of this work will still have to be done even if we build a reroute because the erosion damage cannot simply be left on the hillside and it cannot be fixed until the drainage problems are dealt with.

For years I have traditionally gotten the run around from Parks Dept. so I send my questions to the Mayor's Office and the nine members of the City Council.

Would you consider doing a follow-up article on the subject?

I have screenshots of your original article if you need them and don't have them on file.

Thank you, Carl Strow