As your mayor, my three core responsibilities are clear: ensuring public safety, maintaining public infrastructure and preserving public parks. These essential services are the foundation of our city government, and it's critical that we deliver in these areas.

A key part of this work is maintaining what we have, and, yes, this includes fixing potholes. Colorado Springs experiences 100-200 freeze-thaw cycles a year, which, combined with the weight of vehicles, regularly causes asphalt to crack and break.

Already in 2025, we have filled more than 16,000 potholes across the city, including the 809 potholes reported by residents in the City's GoCOS app. Please continue to report the potholes you encounter, as every request helps us respond quickly and keep our roads smooth and safe.

While filling potholes is critical work, it's only a temporary fix. The real solution to better roads lies in the repaving made possible by our 2C road improvement program.

In 2025, we are bringing 2C work to our neighborhoods with a number of highly visible 2C projects planned across the city, including Oro Blanco Drive, Flying W Ranch Road, Cheyenne Boulevard and South Chelton Road. If you had concrete work done last year, 2C road paving is on its way!

We are also prioritizing long-term capital improvements.

Thanks to voter-approved Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) funding, we are making significant progress on major infrastructure projects, including the long-anticipated Downtown Tejon Street revitalization project that begins this month. This necessary project addresses the evolving infrastructure needs of our downtown. It will enhance accessibility and expand outdoor dining spaces to create a more vibrant and welcoming environment for pedestrians and businesses alike.

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We are working closely with downtown businesses and the Downtown Partnership to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition during these upgrades. Importantly, businesses adjacent to this road work will remain OPEN throughout the project, and your continued patronage is appreciated!

Our city's parks and trails are just as vital to our infrastructure as our roads and bridges.

That is why this year we are updating our citywide Park System Master Plan. This plan has not been updated since 2014, and it is a crucial step in shaping the future of our beloved parks and recreation spaces. Part of the master plan process includes actively engaging the public to ensure our investments align with our community's needs and aspirations. Key dates and opportunities to share input are forthcoming on ColoradoSprings.gov.

I'm also happy to share that the waterline installation at Garden of the Gods Park is nearly complete, marking a significant enhancement for both safety and accessibility.

The project includes the addition of eight fire hydrants, ensuring a more reliable water source for emergency response. A dependable water source and swift emergency response are essential to safeguarding lives, homes and this treasured national natural landmark that sees over 4 million visitors annually. This project also improves accessibility, with the addition of nearly a mile of accessible trail and a fully accessible parking lot.

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As our Westside residents know well – parks, trails and open spaces are among our community's most cherished assets. On March 13, two of these properties faced serious wildfire threats: Corral Bluffs on the east side and the Blair Bridge Open Space near Garden of the Gods and 30th Street.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our region's first responders for their swift and decisive action in protecting our community from damage from these fires. I also want to thank the dozens of residents who called 911 that day. With many red flag days still ahead, this serves as a crucial reminder: if you see smoke or flames, call 911 immediately.

It's also important to address the sobering reality that the wildfire on the westside sparked from an illegal campsite. Our firefighters have responded to an alarming number of fires started in homeless encampments – 189 fires in just the first 79 days of this year and 419 in 2024. This is why I am doubling down on enforcement against illegal campsites.

This is a multi-department effort that combines street outreach, behavioral health services, and connecting our unhoused neighbors to critical services, while also cleaning up illegal camps and prioritizing the safety of our entire city. As we steadfastly work to provide necessary resources for those in our community experiencing homelessness, we will not compromise on public safety.

This year, we've celebrated many infrastructure wins already and have laid the groundwork for continued improvements for years to come. All these efforts will help ensure that, together, we are building a city of great neighborhoods; a city that is a safe, economically prosperous, culturally rich, welcoming and vibrant world-class American city on a hill that shines brightly.

Onward and upward!

Blessing "Yemi" Mobolade
Mayor of Colorado Springs

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