COLORADO SPRINGS — A committee that explored whether to pursue national monument status for Pikes Peak has decided such a designation would not be a good idea.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn formed a committee in September to examine whether making the mountain a national monument would help the city build a new summit house and pay the $1 million a year Colorado Springs spends to pave Pikes Peak Highway.
After two meetings, committee members learned that restrictions would accompany such status and could jeopardize the Pikes Peak Hillclimb and the Pikes Peak Ascent.
“It became the opinion of committee that there was no further need to continue to pursue this, although we would encourage the congressional staff to keep their eyes and ears open back in Washington for potential funding opportunities,” said Terry Sullivan, president and chief executive of Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak.
Erin Emery, The Denver Post File photo by Steve Nehf, The Denver Post
