Looking to play in Colorado Springs?

This town was built upon its outdoor reputation.  The sparkling outdoors was all that kept this city going when there was nothing here and no reason to come. 

If you are trying to reserve a park facility or find a sport to play in Colorado Springs, I don't do that. But you can search here and find what you are looking for.

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Colorado Springs Parks

Park History

When Colorado Springs filed the original town plat in 1871, it included one city block as the first city-owned park in the Colorado Springs parks and recreation. The park, known as North Park or Acacia Square is the site of the present-day Acacia Park.

Colorado Springs' city founder General William Jackson Palmer generously donated 1,270 acres of parkland, bridle and foot paths, scenic drives and roadways planted with trees, to establish a significant foundation of the Colorado Springs parks and recreation system. These gifts included Acacia (North) Park, Monument Valley Park, Antlers Park, Pioneer Square (South) Park, Palmer Park, North Cheyenne Caņon, Prospect Lake and Bear Creek Caņon.

In 1879, Charles Perkins, president of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad, purchased much of the land now known as the Garden of the Gods. After his death, at his request, his family gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs to be used as a park. The stipulations included that it be known as Garden of the Gods and it would remain free forever to all visitors.  In 1909, the Perkins heirs gave Garden of the Gods Park to the city, adding to the beautiful parklands already established. 

Discover the Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation System

And the number of parks in Colorado Springs continues to grow.  There are over 8000 acres of parks in Colorado Springs.  Almost every school and neighborhood has an associated park.  This was done by design.  The outdoors are such an important part of Colorado Springs, that they are included in most new subdivision designs.  There are three types of parks in Colorado Springs.

• Neighborhood Parks are generally one to six acres in size, and are intended to be in walking distance of the neighborhood in which they serve. Amenities can include walking paths, playgrounds, picnic tables, small picnic pavilions, sod grass areas, backstops and/or dirt infields, basketball courts, tennis courts, or in-line hockey facilities.



• Community Parks are generally 25 to 100 acres in size, and are intended to serve the needs of several neighborhoods as well as community-wide needs. Community parks provide active recreational facilities such as athletic fields, swimming pools, community recreation buildings and/or other special features that cannot be readily accommodated in neighborhood parks. Other amenities can include walking paths, open sod grass areas, picnic areas with pavilions, playgrounds as well as court facilities found in neighborhood parks.



• Regional Parks are typically over 100 acres in size and include a major natural area or regional landmark. Parking areas, restrooms, trail access, and picnic areas are found in all the developed regional parks. Large portions of regional parks are retained in their natural states.

In addition to fun to be had at all the parks, there are many other activities to be found in the Colorado Springs area. 

• Organized sports from Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation
• Hiking - many of the parks have great hiking trails
• Bike Riding - Palmer Park, Bear Creek Park, and Garden of the Gods and North Cheyenne Caņon are great places to start
• Rock Climbing - Garden of the Gods and Red Rocks Canyon

Here is a list of just a few of the parks in Colorado Springs.

• Garden of the Gods
• Palmer Park
• Bear Creek Park
• North Cheyenne Caņon
• Paint Mines Park
• Memorial Park
• Monument Valley Park
• America the Beautiful Park

Looking for a different park. You can find one using my search engine.

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Or you can just return from Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation back to Discover more of Colorado Springs!