City of Colorado Springs teams up with Downtown Partnership to launch an enhanced Downtown experience

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~ The City of Colorado Springs has announced the launch of a new pilot program in collaboration with Downtown Partnership, aimed at enhancing the Downtown experience. This initiative will run through at least the end of 2024.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade expressed the city's recognition of Downtown as the "beating heart" of Colorado Springs and emphasized the importance of working with community members and organizations to preserve its vibrancy. With the holiday season approaching, Mayor Mobolade hopes that this coordinated effort will encourage more people to visit and experience Downtown.

The program will focus on five key areas: parking, security, clean-up efforts, homelessness response, and business support. These areas were identified based on feedback from the community.

One major change that will be implemented is in parking. The City's Parking Enterprise conducted a survey and analyzed its services to develop a long-term plan. Based on over 900 comments received and data analysis including drone footage of parking patterns, several permanent changes will be made starting November 15th in both Downtown and Old Colorado City. Metered parking hours will be shortened to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-8 p.m. on Sundays. Additionally, parking will be free in City-owned garages and lots on Sundays. A final parking plan is expected to be released in January.

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To ensure enhanced security in Downtown, the Police Department's Downtown Area Response Team (DART) will deploy additional resources during early morning hours. This team provides public safety and law enforcement services for the greater downtown area.

Efforts to keep Downtown clean will also be prioritized through early-morning clean-up initiatives led by the City's Neighborhood Services team. They will work closely with Downtown Partnership's business improvement district clean teams to maintain public property in front of businesses, creating a more enjoyable experience for all patrons.

In response to concerns about homelessness in Downtown, the City's Housing & Homelessness Response department will coordinate with local nonprofit service providers, DART, and the Fire Department's Homeless Outreach Program to conduct additional street outreach and case management for high-needs individuals. The goal is to create personalized service plans and remove barriers to resources in order to help people recover and successfully exit homelessness.

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The City's Economic Development team will also play a role in this program by conducting business walks to connect with local business owners. This two-way engagement will allow the City to share information about existing resources and gather feedback from business owners on ways to further collaborate.

Jen Furda, Downtown Partnership board chair and interim CEO, expressed excitement for this partnership with the City. She believes it will amplify their efforts in making Downtown a magical holiday experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the city.

The results and observations from these action areas will be evaluated and shared with the community in January. Depending on their success, this program or certain aspects of it may continue into 2025.

Overall, the City of Colorado Springs is committed to working with its community members and organizations to enhance Downtown and ensure it remains a vibrant business and cultural district. With these efforts in place, they hope to attract more visitors during the holiday season and beyond.

Filed Under: Government, City
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