1,000 acres forever protected for future open space on Colorado Springs' east side

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~ In a joint effort, Palmer Land Conservancy, the City of Colorado Springs, and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) have announced the permanent protection of Wild Horse Ranch on the east side of Colorado Springs. This milestone was achieved through a conservation easement held by Palmer Land Conservancy, which will allow for future public open space planning by the city.

The conservation easement ensures that 1,018 acres of land will remain open space forever, benefiting both the rapidly growing east-side community and the wildlife that call this landscape home. Located directly south of State Highway 94, Wild Horse Ranch will address the increasing need for access to outdoor recreation in one of Colorado Springs' fastest-developing areas.

The city acquired Wild Horse Ranch in May 2023 for $7.5 million through the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) Program. This acquisition was made to protect its conservation values and potential for public benefit. In early 2024, GOCO awarded the city a grant to help fund the acquisition.

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Before opening the property for public use, the City plans to develop a master plan that will explore opportunities for recreation, conservation, and stewardship. "This protected property represents a permanent commitment to Colorado Springs' east-side residents and the natural systems that sustain our region," said Rebecca Jewett, President and CEO of Palmer Land Conservancy. "Through community-driven conservation, we're ensuring this landscape supports people and wildlife for generations to come."

Aside from providing community access to outdoor recreation, Wild Horse Ranch also plays a vital ecological role. It is located in close proximity to Corral Bluffs and Jimmy Camp Creek Open Spaces and completes a 2,000+ acre wildlife corridor where pronghorn, migratory birds, and prairie dogs can migrate and thrive across a landscape increasingly fragmented by development.

Lonna Thelen, Parks Design and Development Manager and TOPS Program Manager for the City of Colorado Springs, expressed her excitement about the project, stating, "Wild Horse Ranch represents an incredible opportunity to preserve one of the large grassland landscapes on Colorado Springs' east side while planning for future public access and recreation. We're grateful to everyone who helped make this project possible and look forward to working together as we plan for the property's future stewardship and public enjoyment."

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The property boasts 992 acres of shortgrass prairie, wetlands, a spring-fed pond, and areas along Jimmy Camp Creek. This section of shortgrass prairie has come full circle after more than a century of various uses, from coal mining operations in the 1880s to strip mining in the 1960s, to cattle grazing, and now natural restoration.

According to Jackie Miller, GOCO Executive Director, "Strategic collaboration is key to protecting the outdoors and all it provides. At Wild Horse Ranch, this approach has secured critical wildlife habitat, expanded recreation access for a growing community, and preserved a piece of our state's history. This kind of multi-layered, lasting impact is what GOCO was created to support, and we're so grateful to these partners for making it possible."

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