El Paso County officials have announced a second open house for people to view concepts and offer feedback on the future management of Paint Mines Interpretive Park.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Swink Hall at the county fairgrounds in Calhan — close to that colorful, rocky expanse that has come under deep worry in recent years amid increased visitation.
An estimated 71,000 people visited the Paint Mines in 2023. The land-managing county intends for a master plan to "strike a harmonious balance between providing public access and safeguarding the fragile geological features within the park."
At the last open house earlier this summer, Denver-based contractor DHM Design showed renderings of chain-link barriers, buck-and-rail fences, boardwalks and stone steps all meant "to help guide people where they should be and where they shouldn't be," according to a company associate.
While presented as tried-and-true concepts at national parks, some onlookers have expressed doubts that the low barriers will prevent harmful climbers and Instagrammers. At a county parks board meeting in July, some called for more security and enforcement.
Educational docents have been posted at "peak times," said Todd Marts, county parks director.
"Enforcement is helpful, but having interpretive staff is even more helpful," he said. "Somebody there to talk to people about the importance of the Paint Mines."
While damage and vandalism have been reported in recent years, Marts called it a "misconception" that "people are climbing the formations."
"That's not really accurate all the time," he said. "As you walk through there, you sometimes just kind of work your way up. ... A barrier and things like that will help with those folks."
The county has also heard questions over its funding and capacity to properly manage the Paint Mines. Leadership has pointed to those docents as well as fencing, trail closures and revegetation at the park. "We've done quite a bit of work out there," Marts said at the previous parks board meeting.
With visitor analysis, data collection and public input, the master plan aims "to find out what is really needed there, instead of just hodgepodging things," Marts said.
Proposed concepts have also showed a paved, expanded parking lot and a "grand interpretive plaza" with a visitor center.
Concepts are posted along with a survey at a project webpage: tinyurl.com/3w65smth
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