DESCRIPTION

The Nature Discovery Playscape at the Halfway Picnic Grounds along the Pikes Peak Highway is a case study in how partnership, cultural respect, and stewardship-centered planning can shape a new kind of public open space experience. This session will explore how the City of Colorado Springs Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain, the U.S. Forest Service, sacred tribal government representatives, local stakeholders, and Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds are working together to create a nature discovery landscape within a sensitive, high-elevation setting on America’s Mountain. The session will focus on how public-land partnerships can honor tribal presence, navigate approvals, protect natural and cultural resources, and create guest experiences that foster long-term care for the land. A key focus will be on how full sensory engagement, forest regeneration, inclusive access, and playful nature discovery can work together to build lasting memories that shape future environmental stewardship. The session will model this approach by inviting participants to engage directly with natural materials, reinforcing the idea that people remember and care for places more deeply when they experience them through multiple senses.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

EXPERIENCE LEVEL:

Entry Level/Early Career, Intermediate or Expert