It's been 10 years since voters in Colorado Springs approved a .01 % sales tax to fund Trails, Open space and Parks (TOPS). According to a story in today's Gazette, the $59 million raised has - acquired more than 5,000 acres of open space, completed more than 100 miles of multi-use trails, constructed 24 neighborhood parks, and leveraged another $40 million in outside grants for local parks projects. Without it, there'd be no Red Rock Canyon, no Stratton Open Space and likely no Cheyenne Mountain State Park.I'd argue that no other bit of city legislation will have such a lasting and beneficial effect on the city. It carries on the legacy of founder and avid park builder William Jackson Palmer.
Happy Birthday TOPS!
5 comments:
It's a sad day when people can hike, bike, camp, fish, and birdwatch instead of using that .01% of sales tax for something else. I could've used that money to upkeep some of my rental properties or sue the city.
Three cheers for TOPS. I had the pleasure of serving on the first TOPS Working Committee for five years. At times frustrating it was a great experience. It is the best decision Colorado Springs voters have ever made.
I, for one, am very very happy with what has been done, definitely money very well spent for now and the future as well.
Yup yup. These are the things that make this place so liveable. Now if we could only figure out a way to turn Fort Carson into a peace park we'd have one hip jazzy town.
It's the best tax that's been passed. Now we'll have some great places for our kids.
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