Stay connected to the project
Sign up here for our regular biweekly newsletter where information on the master plan update and opportunities for public engagement will be publicized. It’s also a great source of information on other on-goings Downtown!
For questions related to the project please contact the Project Facilitator, Jessica Thompson:
Jessica@thompsonleadership.org
719-237-3223
Opportunities for Community Engagement
- Community Events:
- On June 6th during the First Friday Scavenger Hunt there will be QR codes at all the stations for people to participate in the Virtual Open House that will be available until June 13th.
- In late July, mid-August, and early September the consultant will host several pop-up engagement opportunities in coordination with events like Food Truck Tuesday. Specific dates and times will be shared when scheduled.
- Online Surveys:
- A full draft of the plan is scheduled to be available for public review and input in late November and early December prior to final approvals in 2026.
- Focus Groups:
- In June and July the consultant team will host four (4) focus groups related to specific topics of the master plan document.
- Review and Approval: Each of the following entities will have an initial review presentation to provide input and a secondary meeting for final recommendation for approval. All of the review and approval meetings are subject to final scheduling and are publicly noticed and are open to the public to provide comment.
- Downtown Development Authority (October 2025 and January 2026)
- Downtown Review Board (October 2025 and February 2026)
- Planning Commission (October 2025 and February 2026)
- City Council (October 2025 and February 2026)
*Please note, all engagement opportunities are subject to final scheduling. Engagement windows will run congruently with digital outreach to give people an accessible touchpoint for feedback if they are unable to attend an in-person event
Completed steps:
- Community Survey: SURVEY CLOSED MARCH 5. The Downtown Partnership kicked off the update to the Experience Downtown Master Plan with a public survey. This was just the first step of public outreach in the year long process as we work to ensure that Downtown is a safe, welcoming, and prosperous destination for years to come. We need community participation to ensure this is a community-centered plan. By listening closely to community input and building on past efforts, we will make an actionable plan that includes all of us. The survey focused on Downtown’s assets, opportunities, and challenges.
View March 2025 survey summary results here
- Stakeholder Interviews and Focus Groups: COMPLETE In late February and early March the consultant team hosted stakeholder interviews and focus groups to introduce the project and the effort to come, familiarize the group with the existing document and then dive into discussion on Downtown’s current assets and challenges and the vision and goals to better inform the plan update. Example of focus groups include but are not limited to small business owners, property owners, housing and homelessness service providers, residents and neighborhood representatives, arts, events, and culture organizations, office tenants, large employers, educational institutions, and mobility and transit groups.
View Focus Groups summary here
- COMPLETE: Work Session presentation to City Council on March 10, 2025.
View briefing powerpoint document here.
- COMPLETE: On May 8th, the project team hosted two open houses/events to discuss the draft catalytic opportunities, assets, opportunities, and challenges with the community. The community will also have opportunities to review and provide input on the vision, goals, and action steps.
- Coffee and Chat from 7:30 to 9:30 am on the southern lawn of the Pioneers Museum to meet the broader project team, learn about the plan update, and provide input on the vision, priority topics, and catalytic sites.
- Walk and Talk from 5:00 to 7:00 pm to provide an additional opportunity to learn about the update, visit some relevant and potentially catalytic sites, and share their own experiences and wishes for Downtown in a candid and casual setting.
- On May 8th, the project team hosted two focus group on Park and Urban Design and Utilities and Infrastructure.
Give feedback in our virtual open house through June 13 here.
Resources
Downtown Colorado Springs specific:
- Experience Downtown Colorado Springs Plan of Development and Master Plan, approved by City Council November 2016
- Experience Downtown Plan: Plan Progress
- Downtown Colorado Springs Form Based Code
- Comparative Analysis of Downtown Colorado Springs, International Downtown Association Report, 2024
- State of Downtown Report, 2024
- Downtown Annual Report to the Community for 2023
- Downtown Colorado Springs Environmental Sustainability Plan (completed fall 2024) COMING SOON
- Downtown Colorado Springs Inclusion Charter and Strategic Areas of Focus (completed fall 2024)
Additional:
- Colorado Springs Strategic Plan, 2024-2028
- PlanCOS
- ConnectCOS
- HomeCOS
- Colorado Springs Homelessness Response Plan
- Platte Avenue Corridor Study
- Shooks Run Corridor Study
- Historic Downtown Parks Master Plan
- Mill Street Neighborhood Plan
- 2045 Regional Transit Specialized Transportation Plans
- 2014 City of Colorado Springs Parks Master Plan
- Creek COS Plan
- Reimagining the Drake Power Plant: A Community Visioning Project