1
December 25, 2013
75 cents | Volume 48, Issue 50 Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County A publication of
tri-lakestribune.net
City For Champions project full-steam ahead Mayors of Monument, Woodland Park likley to be asked to serve on board By Danny Summers Dsummers@ourcoloradonews.com On Dec. 16, the city of Colorado Springs received great news when the Colorado Economic Development Commission awarded an estimated $120.5 million dur-
ing the next 30 years to help finance the City for Champions project. City for Champions includes a downtown sports and events center, an Olympic museum, a new Air Force Academy visitors center and a sports medicine and performance center at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. But the combined price tag of the completed projects is estimated to be double what the city received; meaning a lot of fundraising will be required. “This has meaning far beyond what we
could possibly envision today,” Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said during a news conference at UCCS. “I don’t think that overstates our circumstance. “What this will do for so many generations of people in this region and for all those will visit here. The jobs it will create, not only directly, but catalytically through this wonderful state of Colorado and the Pikes Peak region.” Bach and City For Champions backers are in the process of establishing a board. The board will likely include representa-
tives from the City and El Paso County, the four tourism projects, and the public. Bach said he also plans on including members of his office, the City Council, El Paso County commissioners, and the mayors of Woodland Park (David Turley) and Monument (Travis Easton). Both Turley and Easton gave their full support to the project through letters of recommendation. City continues on Page 5
Academy to get bigger, better visitor center in coming years
Inside the current center.
CITY FOR CHAMPIONS PROJECT CALLS FOR FUNDING OF NEW FACILITY By Danny Summers
Dsummers@ourcoloradonews.com
A
s part of the City For Champions project, the Air Force Academy will get funding for a new visitor center. But when or exactly where it will be constructed won’t be determined until at least early next year. Academy spokesman David Cannon said on Dec. 18 that the Air Force’s Financial Management Center of Expertise in Denver will perform a study over the next month that will help to determine where the next facility should be built. “Once the study is complete it will be presented to Academy Superintendent Lt. General Michelle D. Johnson for her review,” Cannon said. The current visitor center, which is named after former Arizona senator and Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, is located near the famed Academy Chapel. The visitor center is about 32,000 square feet and includes a theater and exhibit area, gift shop and small restaurant. The center was built with donated and borrowed funds totaling $4.5 million. The private organizations which donated the building named it honor of Goldwater. The facility opened its doors in June
The 31,600-square-foot building contains exhibits, a snack bar and a gift shop. A one-third-mile paved nature trail east of the facility allows visitors to walk to the Cadet Chapel. Photos by Rob Carrigan
POSTAL ADDRESS
Vistor continues on Page 5
THE TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)
OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863 MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 340, Woodland Park, CO 80866 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in El Paso County, Colorado, The Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display advertising: Thurs.11 a.m. Legal advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 12 p.m.
GET SOCIAL WITH US The Tri-Lakes Tribune wants to share the news. Check out and like our page on facebook. Search for Tri-Lakes Tribune.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.