Summary

South of Mann Middle School, just beyond a forbidding chainlink fence, are opportunities to transform underused land into an inviting public space.

The 4.5 acres between Paseo Road and Templeton Gap Road have three distinct features: a concrete stormwater channel to the north, a short stretch of the multi-use Rock Island Trail to the south, and in between a neglected berm that once held train tracks.

We propose to turn the dead-straight concrete channel into a natural meandering creek bed. The berm will be excavated to accommodate bends in the creek. Flood water will meander and slow down, allowing some of it to seep into the ground. Less flood water will slam into Monument Creek and scour its bottom. This naturalization is a stormwater best practice.

Soil removed from the old berm will be deposited onto the existing Rock Island Trail, forming a new berm that holds a gently curving trail for walkers and bikers. Shifting the soil in this way avoids the cost of hauling it off site and protects the ten houses just to the south from flooding.

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A formal hydraulic evaluation has concluded that the creek bed can hold as much water as the concrete ditch--and then some. Soil tests and more are needed, but this key analysis is encouraging.

Changes to the channel, berm, and trail seem manageable. We see them as the first phase of a longer Rock Island Greenway that one day extends to the east and west. 

For now, though, our focus is on creating a neighborhood gem. The concept turns underused land into opportunities to get outdoors and away from traffic. Children have places to play and learn. Students at two nearby schools (Mann Middle and Stratton Elementary) have convenient spaces for nature studies. And Colorado Springs adds a point of pride that demonstrates its commitment to livable neighborhoods.