Woodland Park/ Small city big on benefits

There are two kinds of small towns. With the first, out-of- towners driving down main street make comments such as "There's absolutely nothing to do here! Why in the world would anyone want to live in such a place?" Residents usually keep to themselves, muttering variations of "You ain't from around here, are ya?" as gawking tourists interrupt the daily routine.

Then there's the other kind of small town, the one that exudes a welcoming sense of peace and hospitality. Towns like these cause visitors to turn to one another and say "Wouldn't it be great to live here?"

Woodland Park is the second kind of town. In fact, a large portion of Woodland Park's population consists of one-time visitors who converted to full-time residents.

And those converts are arriving in droves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people calling Woodland Park home increased by more than 2,000 from 1980 to 1990; and roughly the same increase was seen from the 1990 census to the 2000 count.

What's drawing folks to put down roots in this self-proclaimed "City above the Clouds?"

Nestled on a wooded plateau less than 20 miles from Colorado Springs and more than 8,000 feet above sea level, Woodland Park offers spectacular views of Pikes Peak, the Rampart Range, and acres of national forest.

The spectacular mountain setting allows for endless year-round recreational activities. Nearly any location in town is the ideal spot for embarking on hiking, camping, backpacking and mountain biking outings. Angling opportunities abound, thanks to nearby Rampart Reservoir and Manitou Lake and the scenic South Platte River - a prime spot for fly fishing - located near Deckers. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are just a few of the winter activities to be enjoyed.

Residents who lean toward more metropolitan recreation can hit the balls on Shining Mt. Golf Club, take the kids to play in one of the city's four parks (totaling 25 acres of fun within city limits) or head to Cripple Creek for a few hours of limited-stakes gambling.

A long list of annual events throughout the year draws the community together while welcoming tourists. The Colorado Ice Fest, a cool ice-carving celebration, warms up January. Patriotism takes center stage in the old-fashioned Fourth of July festivities, and the Ute Trail Stampede Rodeo leaves its brand in July.

The Oktoberfest celebration, when everyone displays their German heritage - be it bona fide or not is another annual offering.

But one activity you won't see written down on any schedule of events or publicized to those outside the community is one of the more time-honored in this City above the Clouds. It's the observation of thousands of tourists that drive - and sometimes clog - the road through the city each fall, heading for the hills to watch the aspen trees change.

While the out-of-towners may be disgruntled by the multitude of fellow travelers, the locals just wave as the throngs drive by, smiling as if they share a secret.

And they do share a secret: They know it won't be long before many of those tourists return, hoping to make this wooded wonderland into the place they too can call "home."

Woodland Park

Altitude: 8,465 feet

Population: 7,500

MONEY MATTERS

Average household income: $127,192

Average new home price: $195,000

UTILITIES

Electricity

Woodland Park City Utilities, 687-9246

Intermountain Rural Electric Association, 687-9277

Garbage

There are several companies that provide residential trash service, including:

U.S. Waste Industries, 591-5000

Woodland Trash Service, 687-9603

Cable: U.S. Cable, (800) 480-7020

Phone: Qwest, (800) 244-1111

Landfills

Woodland Trash Service, 1060 W. County Road 231, 687-9603

POST OFFICES

Main office, 300 W. South Ave., (800) 275-8777

900 Tamarac Parkway, (800) 275-8777

VEHICLE

REGISTRATION

Teller County Clerk and Recorder's office, Woodland Park branch, 540 Manor Court, 687-0701.

DRIVER'S LICENSE

Colorado State Department of Revenue, 625 W. Midland, 687-2447

GOVERNMENT

Woodland Park City Council, 220 W. South Ave., 687-9246. Council members: Mayor Protem John Schenk, Prentis Porter, Gary Crane, Jeff Baldwin, Bruce Hamilton, Gene Kozleski, Gene Sperry.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

For all emergencies, call 911.

Police Department: Woodland Park Police Department, 911 Tamarac Pkwy., 687-9262. Chief Robert Larson.

Sheriff: Teller County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Frank Fehn. 11400 U.S. Highway 24, Divide, 687-9652.

Fire Department: Northeast Teller County Fire Department, 687- 1866.

JAIL

Teller County Detention Facility, 288 County Road 29, Divide, 687- 7776.

HOSPITALS

Longstaff-Brown Urgent Care Center, 41 N. Highway 67, 686-0551.

Woodland Park Ambulance, 785 Red Feather Lane, 687-2291.

Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center (coming soon), 627 W. Midland Ave., 686-0302.

CHURCHES

For a complete list of churches in the Pikes Peak region, see page 54.

SCHOOLS

Woodland Park District RE-2, 211 N. Baldwin St., 687-6048.

For a complete list of schools in the Pikes Peak region, see page 44.

LIBRARIES

Woodland Park Public Library, 821 Lafayette, 687-9281.

PARKS

Parks & Recreation, 204 W. South Ave., 687-5225.

Berstrom Park, off Midland Ave. Restrooms, picnicking.

Cavalier Park, Woodland and Sheridan avenues. Picnicking and hiking.

Crestwood Park, off Valley View Drive. Picnicking and hiking.

Fountain Creek Greenway, County Road 21 and Aspen Garden Way. Picnicking and hiking.

Kavanagh Park, off Midland Ave. on West St. Baseball field.

Lions Park, at Highways 24 and 67. Picnicking.

Meadow Wood Park, Terri Lane. Baseball and hiking.

Memorial Park, Lake Ave. and Park St. Fishing and picnicking.

Sunnywood Neighborhood Park, Lovell Gulch Road at Ridge Drive. Picnicking.

ANNUAL EVENTS

Colorado Ice Fest!, January

Summer Activities Festival, Ute Pass Cultural Center, April

Annual Job Fair, Ute Pass Cultural Center, May

Ute Pass Chute-Out Bull Riding, Saddle Club, 205-0557, May

Old Fashioned 4th of July, July

Rodeo Parade, July

Ute Trail Stampede Rodeo, Saddle Club, 205-0557, July

Ute Pass Chute-Out Bull Riding, Saddle Club, 205-0557, September

Annual Chamber Golf Tournament, Pikes Peak Jazz Festival - UPCC, for more information contact Flossie Binder, 687-5489. September.

Oktoberfest, Ute Pass Cultural Center, October

Annual Mountain Holiday Festival and Arts and Crafts Fair, Ute Pass Cultural Center, 687-9885, November

The Parade of Lights, downtown, December.

Copyright 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.