August 17th of this year the City of Colorado Springs and The Friends Of Red Rock Canyon held an event at the pavilion in Red Rock Canyon to celebrate the the 10 years since purchasing the property. The event kicked off in the morning with a Native American Blessing by Eddie Three Eagles. Mayor Bach opened up the Celebration and expressed his commitment to the open space movement. Representatives from the County, State and Manitou Springs also talked of their love and commitment to our open spaces. There were awards and recognition given to the many people and organizations that helped bring about the acquisition of this prized jewel of open space we call Red Rock Canyon. With the beautiful Colorado deep blue sky and abundant sunshine, The lush green landscape from the recent rains, and the gorgeous red sandstone rocks towering above, the day was perfect for a celebration.
After the ceremonies cakes were cut and refreshments were served. The Cheyenne Mountain Resort furnished their ice cream truck and gave away free ice cream treats. The afternoon was filled with fun and educational opportunities. There were Native American Drummers and Dancers, Rapture demonstrations, and the J Miller Band provided some excellent blue grass and country music all afternoon. Representatives from Mountain Chalet, City Rock, Trails and Open Space Coalition, Colorado Springs Park and Rec, Runners Roost, and others were available for information. The Fire Department and Paramedics offered free children’s fingerprinting and ID. Wild Fire Tee’s was there selling T-shirts to help the wildfire victims. There were several food vendors to keep appetites at bay.
It was an opportunity to celebrate our profound love of nature and express our thanks and gratitude to those who worked tirelessly to bring about this gift to the people and visitors of our region.