January 13, 2021– May 4, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of El Paso County Parks when County residents approved the establishment of the park system.
El Paso County Parks began as an answer to a community need to provide increased access to outdoor recreation opportunities and open spaces for citizens of all ages and backgrounds throughout the County. Over the past fifty years, the County Park system has grown to 8,000 acres of parks and open space, 130 miles of trails, two award winning nature centers, and a wide variety of education and recreation programs and facilities.
“As we bring in the new year, we are very excited to celebrate the history and stewardship of County Parks. We recognize the value each park brings to our citizens and how they connect our community together,” said Tim Wolken, El Paso County Community Services Executive Director. “The park system has become an integral part of our County and we are very pleased that our citizens consider our parks, trails, open space, facilities and programs as a sense of pride for our County.”
El Paso County has planned many events and initiatives throughout 2021 to celebrate the history and future of the County Park system.
“We have multiple events and activities that citizens can participate in throughout the year,” said Todd Marts, El Paso County Recreation and Cultural Services Manager. “These initiatives have been thoughtfully designed to bring our citizens together and create a spirit of celebration for our County.”
The 50th anniversary of El Paso County Parks will kick off with the “50K for 50 Years” hiking series. Participants will be invited to hike 50 kilometers of trails at seven different parks throughout the County. The first guided hike is February 6, 2021 at the Paint Mines Interpretive Park. Citizens may also participate independently and are encouraged to photograph their adventures and share on social media using the hash tag: #EPCParks50Years.
For complete details and a full list of scheduled celebrations and events visit www.elpasoco.com