(NOTE: After you sign, Change.org will ask you to donate.  Please do not.  We are promoting the petition locally through Nextdoor and by individuals sharing on facebook.  Since the mayor and city council ignored us, a lawyer has been retained to put the issue on the ballot.  We really need funds for legal expenses.  Signatures on this petition are still important and greatly appreciated, but please make any donations to the gofundme fundraiser for this effort   https://gofund.me/d1b68915 .)
        
The original and still relevant Blodgett Open Space master plan was all about preservation.  Now the parks department wants to extensively ramp up recreation and parking in BOS to include paragliding (!) which studies show is detrimental to wildlife.  BOS is habitat for a variety of wildlife including Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, a State of Colorado designated "species of greatest conservation need."  
 
The city's parks department contracted a new master plan without asking the citizens first.  Later, in their "public input process," they asked citizens to weigh in on pre-determined "options" (of which making BOS a nature preserve was not one). 
 
With it's unique and fragile ecosystem and presence of a rare, non-migrating herd of bighorn sheep, BOS is ideal for a nature preserve. There are many places in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas for recreation.  There are few places for the bighorn.  Preserving such a habitat not only protects biodiversity but also ensures the conservation of sensitive species and contributes to scientific research and education.
 
Please sign this petition and let the mayor, the parks department and city council know that you want Blodgett Open Space to be formally recognized as “Blodgett Open Space Nature Preserve,” and the original detailed and scientific preservation-based master plan and forest management plan be kept in place.  
 
Thank you!

(Photo of bighorn on Blodgett Open Space by Jim Klever as published in the Woodmen Edition newspaper)

 “Data show that free-flight activities create disturbances and have negative effects on wildlife, resulting in increased energy expenditure, reduction of feeding time, abandonment of feeding areas, reduced breeding output, loss of body condition, increased predation risk and harm from flight accidents.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356901268_Effects_of_free-flight_activities_on_wildlife_a_poorly_understood_issue_in_conservation 

"Efforts to funnel recreational activity away from sheep use areas and to curtail development on private lands in critical areas will benefit the Rampart Range bighorns.”  https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5181936.pdf

“…a limited number (~5-10) of ewes lamb on the southwestern side of the USAFA. The exact route used by these ewes to travel to the USAFA is unknown.” https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/DAU/BighornSheep/RBS-14DAUPlanFinal.pdf

"Bighorns face a variety of threats (increased recreation pressure, habitat fragmentation, etc)..." https://coloradooutdoorsmag.com/2023/08/31/colorado-bighorn-sheep-management-2023/