Planning Phase
Department:
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Jacob Butterfield, Project Manager
March 9, 2026
  • Construction start (tentative, subject to weather and construction conditions)
May 22, 2026
  • Substantial Completion (tentative, subject to weather and construction conditions)
Mid-June 2026
  • Anticipated ribbon-cutting

The City of Colorado Springs will begin improvements to the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center in March 2026 to enhance accessibility, visitor experience, and environmental stewardship at the gateway to North Cheyenne Cañon Park. The project will add a new outdoor plaza and classroom space, renovate restrooms, improve parking, and upgrade pedestrian access to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. These enhancements support the North Cheyenne Cañon Park Master Plan and the City’s ADA Title II Transition Plan while ensuring the facility remains welcoming and inclusive for all visitors. 

Project Location

Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center 
2120 S. Cheyenne Canyon Rd. 
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Located at the entrance to North Cheyenne Cañon Park and the eastern trailhead of the Columbine Trail. 

Why This Matters

North Cheyenne Cañon Park welcomes approximately 450,000 visitors annually. As the park’s primary visitor hub, the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center plays a critical role in education, orientation, and environmental awareness. The improvements project:

  • Improves ADA accessibility for outdoor programs, events, and daily visitors
  • Enhances educational opportunities for school groups and community programs
  • Modernizes aging restroom facilities
  • Improves pedestrian circulation and safety
  • Supports continued investment in North Cheyenne Cañon Park
  • Strengthens stewardship of one of Colorado Springs’ most visited natural spaces 

Project Improvements 

  • Construction of a new outdoor plaza and classroom space
  • ADA-compliant pedestrian circulation routes throughout the plaza
  • Relocation and ADA upgrades to parking along S. Cheyenne Canyon Road
  • Full renovation of public restrooms
  • Removal of damaged site lighting
  • Site and safety improvements 

Construction Impacts

View detour and closure map

Safety is a top priority for the City of Colorado Springs. The Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center will remain open during construction; however:

  • A section of S. Cheyenne Canyon Road (adjacent to the facility) will be closed during most of construction.
  • Parking Lot #1 (“Pull-Off 1”) will be closed.
  • Parking Lot #2 (“Pull-Off 2”) at Evans Ave will remain open.
  • Visitors should follow posted detour signage via Evans Ave and Mesa Ave.
  • Temporary building closures may occur during hazardous construction activities (e.g., crane operations).

Visitors are encouraged to allow extra time for access and follow all posted signage. 

Funding

This project is made possible through a partnership of funding sources, including:

  • City of Colorado Springs Office of Accessibility
  • Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART)
  • Mary Starsmore Fund of Pikes Peak Community Foundation
  • Friends of Cheyenne Cañon
  • North Cheyenne Cañon Park Ambassadors Gift Trust 

 

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