For More Information
Contact: Kitty Clemens
Economic Development Director
719-685-9741
CELL (719)-321-8561
March 17, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Celebration On Manitou Avenue Marks Beginning Of Huge Streetscape Face Lift
(Manitou Springs) March 17, 2005 – With a little help from a lot of
people, the chain link fence blocking the public from Shoshone Spring came
tumbling down! Manitou Springs has been waiting for this moment for many years.
An effort to upgrade the Manitou Avenue streetscape was first introduced in the
1970’s. Efforts continually faltered until 2002 when a large group of community
activists worked with the City to create a funding plan that was overwhelmingly
embraced by the voters in November of 2003. Shoshone Plaza is the first phase of
a five year construction project. When complete, the plaza will replace an
unsightly area that excluded the public from Historic Shoshone Spring and be a
public gathering place for the entire community.
Funding for the streetscape improvement is coming from numerous sources
including a voter approved $1.6 million bond that is being utilized to leverage
federal highway funds. The El Pomar Foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Fund for
Colorado awarded grants to the effort. Private individuals will be purchasing
benches and donating public art. Business owners in the downtown commercial
corridor also created the Central Manitou Springs Business Improvement District
(BID). The BID will perform enhanced clean street services and marketing for the
newly revitalized area.
Engineering for the project is being provided by Nolte and Associates. The
contractor is AA Construction. Both firms have a long history of successful
streetscape improvement projects in the region. A design liaison group made of
diverse citizen interests worked with the consultants to fast track the public
approval aspect of the project.
Manitou Springs is a small community with less than 5000 residents. This project
became a reality because a lot of people realized that their little efforts
could be combined to a lot of stuff done!
# # #
Manitou Springs Ahead is a citizen driven
volunteer effort to implement the Manitou Avenue Master Plan. Citizens from
numerous community groups formed Manitou Springs Ahead to submit
charitable grant requests, solicit individual legacy gifts and work with
government agencies on final design and construction in historic downtown.
Progress updates can be found at
www.manitouspringsahead.com.