Brandan's blog

El Paso County Parks Hosts Free Movie Night in Bear Creek Regional Park

Community Invited to Enjoy Classic Film “E.T.” Under the Moonlight

Colorado Springs, June 9, 2010 – The El Paso County Parks Division invites families and citizens of all ages to "Movie Night in the Park" on Thursday, June 24, in scenic Bear Creek Regional Park. The 80s film classic "E.T." will be featured, beginning around 8:30 p.m. (dusk). Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for preferred seating and take in a fun, summer evening of outdoor theater in the park.

Bear Creek Regional Park is located at 21st Street and Argus Road in Colorado Springs, 80906. For more information, call 520-6375. To learn more about El Paso County Parks programs, events, amenities and more, visit elpasocountyparks.com.

Kids on Bikes was established as a nonprofit organization in 2005 with a mission to give new bikes to children through programs that inspire a healthy lifestyle, independence, and achievement. Recall your first bike and the freedom and confidence that it gave you. Our goal is that these bikes will provide that opportunity and be a motivating force for children to succeed. We seek to enable under-served children to experience the benefits, in freedom, self-confidence, and healthy lifestyle, of owning their first bicycle. Founded by Paige Carmichael and supported by a dedicated board comprised of community leaders, Kids on Bikes designed two powerful programs, ABCs and P.E.D.A.L., to reach deserving children in need of bikes.

Thank you to all the Piñon Valley Park donors

Thank you all for your generous donations towards maintenance of Piñon Valley Park for this year. We have already collected over $5,000 towards park needs.

Our first effort will be to provide funds to the City for overseeding. Per Kurt Schroeder of the City of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation department, this is a top priority in addition to fertilization. The time to do this is now so we will request that work be done as soon as possible.

In addition to donations received by neighborhood residents, we are pleased to report the receipt of two HOA donations towards the park. First, Green Valley Ranch HOA is donating the cost of a dumpster for the park starting in May and continuing through October. This is in addition to their donation of trash bags and two GVR residents picking up trash on a weekly basis. Second, the Piñon Glen HOA is generously donating $320 to go towards the cost of a portable toilet for May through October also. Our thanks go to both of these associations for their generous donations for these services.

We are continuing our work to support Piñon Valley Park.

• Green Valley Ranch HOA has contracted with Bestway Disposal to place a 1 yard dumpster container in the park (in the same location as the previous dumpster). The dumpster was placed in the park on April 30. Neighborhood residents are picking up trash from 4 trash containers and the association is supplying trash bags for them.
• We have raised over $5,000 so far to go towards work designated in the park and continue to raise additional funds.
• We have also placed signs in the park indicating that we are raising funds for park maintenance.
• The Piñon Glen HOA has donated funds to place one portable toilet in the park.
• We have received enough funds at this time to have the Parks department proceed with some overseeding and fertilization.

With the local weather slowly turning to spring we need to make sure that we are aware and prepared for the usual runoff from the mountains. This year's heavy winds and dust have accelerated the melting of our snow. Given our nearby drainage way, we need to be prepared for potential flash floods ₁ in the area.

[1] http://www.springsgov.com/page.aspx?navid=1191