Archive for the 'Cheyenne Cañon' Tag

PLAYING THROUGH! I’M GONNA BURY THIS PUTT!

July 13th, 2011, 1:16 pm by Bill Vogrin

Andrea Brown, former Gazette columnist

My former colleague, Andrea Brown, wrote a piece in 2007 about how her family kept the ashes of her mother-in-law, Grandma Brown, in a cardboard urn in a linen closet.

It was a funny piece. Read it here. Of course, Andrea often made me laugh. Even when she didn’t mean to.

Anyway, I thought of Andrea and Grandma Brown when I learned what other folks do with the cremated remains of their relatives.

Turns out, lots of folks spread ashes around Colorado Springs parks, trails and even golf courses.

Playing through!

In fact, back in 1995, maintenance crews at Patty Jewett Golf Course, found a strange-looking substance spread on the 17th green.

Patty Jewett Golf Course boasts spectacular views.

Dal Lockwood, manager of the city’s golf enterprise, tells the story:

“There was a fair amount of stuff spread all over the greens. One of our old guys, an old sage, tasted it. He said it tasted salty. We had it tested. It was cremated remains.”

Wonder if it tasted like chicken?

Anyway, it’s a pretty common practice, as I learned. City parks, trails and golf courses get used for a lot of things besides the obvious.

Of course, weddings are a common activity especially during spring and summer. Some places must be reserved for a fee. Learn more here.

Garden of the Gods Park

Topping the list are the Garden of the Gods and Grandview Overlook in Palmer Park, says Kurt Schroeder, parks, trails and open space manager for the city parks department.

Both parks offer inspiring views and spectacular backdrops for ceremonies and photos.

Some prefer getting hitched atop Pikes Peak with the panorama of the city as their backdrop.

Others like the American Mothers Chapel at Rock Ledge Ranch or the

Heritage Garden in Monument Valley Park.

The gazebo and pond at Nancy Lewis Park is a favorite spot for tying the knot. The splashing waters of Helen Hunt Falls in Cheyenne Cañon attract some for their nuptials while others exchange vows at the Red Rock Canyon Open Space pavilion.

And there have been plenty of wedding receptions of Patty Jewett.

But I was surprised how often the same venues are used to spread cremated remains.

“The Garden of the Gods is probably the place the most ashes are scattered,” said Paul Butcher, retired parks department director. “We’ve always had hearsay stories that people scatter ashes in Garden of the Gods, Palmer Park and from the top of Pikes Peak. It happens. We never encouraged it. But I’m 100 percent sure people have done it.”

In fact, Native American groups tried unsuccessfully to stop construction of the visitors center in 1994 by claiming the garden was a sacred burial ground of the Kiowa, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

Here’s a link to a video about Patty Jewett Golf Course.

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Posted in: Uncategorized • Andrea Brown • Cheyenne Cañon • Colorado Springs • Dal Lockwood • Garden of the Gods • Helen Hunt Falls • Kurt Schroeder • Monument Valley Park • Nancy Lewis Park • Palmer Park • Patty Jewett Golf Course • Paul Butcher • Pikes Peak • Red Rock Canyon Open Space • Rock Ledge Ranch • weddings | Post a Comment »

CHICKENS SLAUGHTERED IN COOP A SAD LESSON TO KIDS

March 16th, 2011, 12:38 pm by Bill Vogrin

These chickens, Moto, Nugget and Snowball, were pets raised by 11-year-old Dalton Holm and his mother, Stacey Stallwood, behind their Cheyenne Canon home.

Dalton raised them from chicks. We’re talking heat lamps, medicated chick feed and constant care until they grew feathers and could survive outdoors.

To protect them outdoors, Stacey paid her brother to build a sweet coop, fully insulated, shingled and painted, for the trio of chicks.

On Monday, they believe someone entered their fenced chicken coop and killed the hens, breaking their necks, stomping on them and even decapitating one.

The coop was fenced on all sides and even above to protect the hends.

And because the hens were not taken or eaten — only abused — the family and neighbors believe their deaths were an act of criminal mischief.

Neighbors like Leona Breaker said the children in the neighborhood are horrified by the killing.

Dalton said the hens were pets who taught him to love animals, take responsibility for their care and even how to start a business . . . he sold their eggs around the neighborhood.

Besisdes his hens, Dalton likes horses. And he likes riding motorcycles and garden tractors.

Here’s a video of Dalton talking about the hens taken Tuesday by KRDO News Channel 13.

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Posted in: Uncategorized • Cheyenne Cañon • chickens • Colorado Springs • coop • Dalton Holm • fenced • frightened • Leona Breaker • neighbors • pets • police report • slaughtered • Stacey Stallwood • vandals | 3 Comments »

IS CITY TRYING TO TAKE EVANS AVENUE BRIDGE TOO FAR?

December 15th, 2010, 2:19 pm by Bill Vogrin

In 1925, bridge building was more art than science.

To cross Cheyenne Creek at Evans Avenue in Cheyenne Cañon, crews grabbed 16 old steel railroad rails — narrow gauge — framed them with wood, poured concrete and collected rock to fashion railings.

Voilá — a pretty little two-span bridge was created.

Given the small volume of traffic in Cheyenne Cañon then, it was plenty sturdy.

Not anymore.

Today, it is rated “structurally deficient.” The worst bridge in Colorado Springs.

Eighth-worst in Colorado. Unsafe for garbage trucks or fire trucks to cross.

You might think replacing it would be a no-brainer.

You’d be wrong.

The tiny 30-by-20 foot span is the focus of a big snit on Pine Grove Avenue, home of the famous Starr Kempf wind sculptures.

Folks there are fired up, convinced the city is conspiring to use $840,000 in federal bridge-replacement money to dramatically change their quiet, wooded little neighborhood.

Neighbor Ellen Casey has rallied neighbors to fight suggestions by the city that, as part of the bridge project, it’s time to consider realigning the confusing entrance to the North Cheyenne Cañon Park and parking for the Starsmore Discovery Center. Here’s a view from FlashEarth.com.

The neighbors’ reaction shocked Dan Krueger, senior civil engineer overseeing the bridge project. He said it simply makes sense to examine other issues at the Evans Avenue/Cheyenne Boulevard intersection besides just the bridge.

Folks driving west often are confused by the three-way intersection of Evans, North Cheyenne Cañon and South Cheyenne Cañon roads. School buses and trucks often veer right up the north road and get stuck trying to turn around, the city told Pine Grove residents.

Another issue is the parking lots for Starsmore. School kids must cross the busy south road to reach the center.

So he created 10 options. One option is to do nothing. The second is to strictly replace the existing bridge. The next 8 are more elaborate. See what you think.

This one shows Evans Avenue curving into the park, over a new bridge. The old bridge is preserved for foot traffic. Pine Grove would remain a side street.

In this version, the bridge is replaced and the intersection realigned.

This is a more radical realignment. It curves Evans into the park over a new bridge, preserving the old for pedestrians. It also swaps the parking lot and the road so visitors to Starsmore don’t have to cross lanes of traffic.

This configuration replaces the bridge and squares up the intersection but leaves Evans Avenue basically the same with a change to the parking lot and road in the park.