Trails and Open Space Coalition

Background Statement

The Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) was formed as a citizens' initiative in 1987, under the name Pikes Peak Area Trails Coalition (PPATC), as an advocacy organization to help the City of Colorado Springs implement its trails master plan.

As the needs of the City of Colorado Springs changed and the Pikes Peak community grew, so did the mission of the Coalition. It helped envision and pass the original TOPS initiative in 1997. For the first time, the Pikes Peak Region had dedicated funding to help preserve open space, and build more parks and trails. As a result, the Trails Coalition changed its mission to include open space and changed its name that year to the Trails and Open Space Coalition. Since its founding, the efforts of the Trails and Open Space Coalition have facilitated construction of hundreds of miles of trails and bikeways in the area, helped preserve thousands of acres of ranch land and open space, provided recreational opportunities for the community and visitors of the Pikes Peak region, and protected the natural, geological, cultural, historical, and scenic features that are vital to the community's quality of life. In addition to the benefits to residents and visitors to the Pikes Peak region, communities throughout the country have used the model established by the Trails and Open Space Coalition to protect their own region and resources. TOSC is supported by over 1,000 community organizations, businesses, families, and individuals.