About
The City of Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise (SWENT), in cooperation with El Paso County, is improving storm drainage in the Park Vista South Neighborhood. The improvements will address public safety, drainage and flooding issues that have historically impacted the Templeton Gap Floodway alignment located between the western intersection of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street to Hopeful Drive.
What the project involves:
- Permanent closure of the western intersection of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street, also allowing improved protection for underground utilities. The three legs of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street will dead end into cul-de-sacs. The cul-de-sacs’ design still allows fire truck and emergency vehicle access and turn around capacity.
- The remainder of the creek will then be stabilized up to Hopeful Drive.
- The Hopeful Drive bridge over the creek will be replaced in fall 2025 requiring an approximately 9-month full closure of Hopeful Drive at that time. Detours will be in place.
- The area affected by this project will be annexed into the City of Colorado Springs at the conclusion of the project construction.
El Paso County has also approved an agreement to annex the rights-of-way in the Park Vista South area into the City of Colorado Springs. Transferring ownership responsibilities to the City will streamline maintenance and flood mitigation efforts.
Storm Drainage Background
The reach of the Templeton Gap Floodway natural channel alignment (from the western intersection of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street to Hopeful Drive) needs to be stabilized to prevent further erosion and incision of the creek bottom. Additionally, the creek flows over the intersection of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street in a low water crossing, causing a major safety concern for the traveling public.
Most of this area is currently within an unincorporated El Paso County enclave surrounded by the City of Colorado Springs, east of the intersection of Academy Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway. The area was built to county rural specifications decades ago, and the drainage is not capable of handling current use.
Matrix Design Group has been contracted by the City for data collection, research to determine the opportunities and constraints in the project area, to develop the design for presentation to impacted property owners and agencies, and to prepare for construction.
The scope of this study is to provide a design to improve storm drainage and safety improvements along this reach of Templeton Gap. The low water crossing will be studied to improve the safety in the area.
Storm drainage/safety improvement elements will include:
- Design for channel improvements that reduces flooding outside of the channel alignment to increase water quality, minimize further erosion that could damage downstream infrastructure, and mitigate creek flow over low water crossings;
- Design for safety improvements to the intersection of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street;
- Design which protects the utilities located beneath Siferd Boulevard and Date Street intersection and along Templeton Gap;
- Easement documents where necessary for drainage easements; and
- Remapping of the outdated FEMA floodplain in the area.
Annexation Background
El Paso County has approved an agreement to annex the rights-of-way in the Park Vista South area into the City of Colorado Springs. Transferring ownership responsibilities to the City will streamline maintenance and flood mitigation efforts.
An Intergovernmental Agreement between the County and City will:
- Transfer ownership and maintenance of the Park Vista South area to the City of Colorado Springs.
- Contribute $5.5 million of El Paso County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds specifically allocated to the City’s Templeton Gap Channel Improvements Project which will address stormwater and drainage improvements in the Park Vista South area.
El Paso County staff will work with the City’s Real Estate Services Department to help facilitate annexation discussions in the area, encompassing Siferd Boulevard and Date, Rosalie, Lotus, and Orchid streets.
In addition to the roadway rights-of-way, and County and City owned lots being annexed into the City, the remaining lots currently in the County are being considered for annexation into the City. If the City pursues options to annex remaining lots, the current property owners will be contacted to discuss options and preferences regarding annexation.
Funding
The project’s anticipated cost of $11 million (design and construction) is funded through a combination of El Paso County’s allotment of federal ARPA funds and SWENT funds from the City of Colorado Springs.
Contact
Email: ParkVistaCOSInfo@gmail.com (Link to email)
Website: ColoradoSprings.gov/ParkVista
Project Hotline: 719-425-8655
Public Information
A Public Information Meeting took place from Oct. 19, 2023 at Lighthouse Baptist Church, 4280 Hopeful Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80917. A presentation was given by the project team about the drainage improvements design study and the option for property owners within El Paso County to be annexed into the City of Colorado Springs.
Meeting materials:
- Park Vista Presentation Slides | Park Vista Presentation Video
- Park Vista Presentation Exhibits
- Park Vista Fact Sheet
- Park Vista Public Meeting post card
To receive project update e-newsletters, send an email to ParkVistaCOSInfo@gmail.com requesting to be added to the distribution.
Photos
October 2023 Public Information Meeting
