Governor Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Outdoor Recreation Space at Rosemont Reservoir

TELLER COUNTY - Today, Governor Jared Polis joined Colorado Parks and Wildlife, local leaders and Colorado Springs Utilities to break ground on a new outdoor recreation space at Rosemont Reservoir. With construction underway, visitors will be able to camp, paddle and picnic at the new Pikes Peak recreation area as early as 2027.

"We are making the Pikes Peak area an even better and more fun area to recreate. Coloradans will soon have a brand new place to camp, fish and paddle in the shadow of Pikes Peak, and the watershed and wildlife we value will be protected for years to come. This is what coordination across local, state and federal partners delivers. I am grateful to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Springs Utilities and every land-management organization that made it happen," said Governor Polis.

"We know Coloradans love spending time in the outdoors, which we have seen in the skyrocketing demand for campsites in recent years. This groundbreaking will help Colorado families have a place to pitch a tent, roast a s'mores, and fish in Rosemont Reservoir for years to come along the flanks of America's mountain - Pikes Peak," said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. "I applaud the collaborative approach from a wide range of community groups, land management agencies and decision makers working to enhance recreation opportunities on Pikes Peak and who helped to make this improved recreational asset a reality."

"Today's groundbreaking is an important milestone," said CPW Director Laura Clellan. "We look forward to working with our partners to provide more opportunities to enjoy this remarkable mountain setting and expand outdoor recreation opportunities in the Pikes Peak region."

Rosemont Reservoir's outdoor recreation area will feature 35 primitive campsites, five tent campsites, a boat ramp, vault toilets, a day-use area, a pavilion, and a scenic overlook.

Made possible through a partnership between CPW and Colorado Springs Utilities, the recreation area expands opportunities for carefully-managed recreation while maintaining stewardship of natural resources, watershed protection and reservoir infrastructure.

Pikes Peak is a beloved recreation hub for the Coloradans who call the Colorado Springs region home. It's also a unique destination that attracts visitors from across the state, country and around the world. For decades, anglers have traveled to Rosemont Reservoir on the south side of Pikes Peak to fish at the state wildlife area that's rich in Brook, Brown, Cutbow, Cutthroat and Rainbow trout as well as Splake and Kokanee salmon.

With this expansion, Rosemont Reservoir will offer new ways for Coloradans and visitors to experience Pikes Peak through camping, fishing, paddling or a quiet picnic beside the reservoir.

In 2020, Governor Polis took executive action to foster collaboration through the Regional Partnerships Initiative (RPI), ensuring that Colorado's land, water, and wildlife thrive while also providing equitable access to quality outdoor recreation experiences. In 2025, Governor Polis announced the launch of Colorado's Outdoors Strategy, a statewide framework for action that ensures a future where Colorado's outdoors, people, community character, and ways of life endure for generations to come.

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