Colorado Parks and Wildlife announces Cheyenne Mountain State Park is getting an expansion

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Colorado Parks and Wildlife announces Cheyenne Mountain State Park will be expanding by 484 acres.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced during a ribbon-cutting event that it has acquired more land to expand the park. CPW said the expansion includes 11 additional campsites, creating more opportunities for people looking to camp and explore the outdoors.

In addition, the land was acquired through the City of Colorado Springs and funded in part by the Colorado Lottery.

More recreation planned at Rosemont Reservoir

During the event, CPW also announced expanded recreation opportunities are coming to Rosemont Reservoir in the Pikes Peak Recreation Area which is owned by Colorado Springs Utilties.

Officials planned activities include fishing, paddleboarding, and camping. The campsite groundbreaking is planned for June with the campsite to be fully finished by late summer in August.

What officials and campers are saying

CPW Director Laura Clellan said protecting the new land ensures the area will remain available for future generations.

“The fact that we have now — this is protected for infinity, right? So you’ll be able to drive through and see the wildlife,” Clellan said.

An out-of-state camper, Timothy Elkins, said additional camping capacity could help with high demand at Colorado’s state parks.

“Trying to get in and out of state parks as out of staters is very difficult,” he said. “They are always very popular and constantly full, so something like this being expanded like this, in my opinion, could be positive… for everyone as long as it continues to be managed well.”