Contact: Beth Kosley
Downtown Development Authority
Tel: 719-687-6954
Email: bkosley@city-woodlandpark.org

COLORADO MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY “MAINSTREET MAKEOVER”
Cooperation stimulates economy in flourishing mountain community.

Woodland Park, Colorado, June 10, 2009 – While the rest of the nation is brooding over the current slump in the economy, Woodland Park, Colorado is undertaking a renovation of its’ downtown core. Fifteen buildings are receiving new facades, paint and other exterior improvements. It is believed to be the largest concentrated renovation project in the Teller County/El Paso County, Colorado region, with all properties to be completed in a five week period this summer. In fact, a community celebration is planned for July 11, so the Mainstreet Makeover must be wrapped up by then. The project starts tonight, June 10 at 9:00 PM with one lane of Highway 24 being closed to allow for crews to begin work on facades facing the street. The highway lane will reopen by dawn.

The Mainstreet Makeover project is the result of a proactive effort by local businesses, with grants from the Woodland Park Downtown Development Authority and Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company. Park State Bank & Trust offered special low interest loans to those who wished to augment their project financing. The City of Woodland Park, Teller County and the State of Colorado offered cooperation in making possible this novel approach to re-investing in the downtown business district and the community.

At an altitude of 8,500 feet, the building season can be short. It was also vital for businesses to avoid disruption of the operations during the busy summer season. Hence, the compacted and coordinated effort to finish fifteen buildings in under two months. Business and property owners were also motivated to pick themselves up by the bootstraps in a recession, expressing the adage of “you have to spend money to make money”.

The project includes painting, awnings, facade upgrades, signage, rear entrance work, some landscaping and all-around-the-building work. Eight large flower vessels have also been ordered for the city’s downtown and will be mingled among hanging flower baskets.

The celebration of the Mainstreet Makeover on Saturday, July 11, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m., in the downtown area. The public is invited to attend. Food, fun, free entertainment, music and a variety of family activities and exhibits are scheduled throughout the day. Businesses from throughout Teller County will participate in the Mainsteet Makeover event. Local, state and national dignitaries have also been invited. The celebration will include an early morning Native American blessing ritual, Color Guard, and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“The Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce researched the record for the world’s largest ribbon cutting. It doesn’t appear to exist so with the Chamber’s energy, we hope to set the bar. Well, ribbon.”, Beth Kosley, Director of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), said. “The Saddle Club already had a dance planned for that day and will be holding it as a street dance in downtown. ... People from the community are bringing in lots of activities downtown for the celebration.”

Incorporated in 1891, Woodland Park’s primary business was saw milling. Logs were cut and sold for railroad ties and braces used for the gold mines of Cripple Creek and Victor.

Today, a mountain community with over 8,000 residents, it is the largest city in Teller County. Located just 18 miles west of Colorado Springs on U.S. Highway 24, Woodland Park is nestled among one million acres of Pike National Forest with spectacular views of Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range.

For more information, visit www.mainstreetmakeover.org.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Beth Kosley
Downtown Development Authority
719-687-6954
Email: bkosley@city-woodlandpark.org

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Merchant Makeover in Woodland Park
Posted: June 11, 2009 07:08 AM MDT
Updated: June 11, 2009 02:51 PM MDT

Woodland Park Stores Get Facelift

By SCOTT HARRISON
s.harrison@krdo.co

WOODLAND PARK - Some buildings along U.S. 24 will get a fresh look during the next four weeks, as part of a project called Mainstreet Makeover. 15 buildings are included in the project. Painting, new signs and landscaping are among the improvements being made. The project began Wednesday night.

Organizers plan to finish the improvements by July 11 when a day-long celebration is scheduled. The town's Downtown Development Authority and the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company are helping involved merchants pay for the work. Park State Bank and Trust offered special low-interest loans to business owners who want to do further improvements.

Organizers say completing the project in such a short time period will minimize disruptions during the summer tourist season, and allow merchants to revitalize their businesses in the slumping economy.

One lane of westbound U.S. 24 was closed Wednesday night in preparation for the work, and will be closed again Thursday night. However, organizers say the project should not significantly affect traffic.

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Woodland Park Going for a World Record?

Posted: June 12, 2009 04:43 PM MDT
Updated: June 12, 2009 05:06 PM MDT

By Cheryl Reza

The recession isn't holding one town back, the City of Woodland Park is making improvements to storefronts there. They had some setbacks earlier this week as the city didn't have the proper permits to close highway 24. Permits were approved friday morning. A section of Highway 24 was closed overnight on Friday while worked on fifteen businesses in downtown Woodland Park.

Business owner Deb Nichols, owner of Cowbells says, "I think it's creating new energy for Woodland Park." She hopes the improvements will bring in customers she adds, "I think the fact so many people have jumped on the bandwagon proves that..everybody is really excited about what they're doing to their businesses."

Around fifteen businesses will undergo cosmetic changes. Some of the more historic buildings like Cowhand will see some structural improvements, around 300- thousand will be spent on the improvements. Director of Economic & Downtown Development of the City of Woodland Park Beth Kosley says, "if a business is looking it's best and more attractive it's likely to draw more consumers."

In an economic time where many people have been conserving, Kosley says, "...here we have a lot of business people expressing that old adage you've gotta spend money to make money."

When the work is done, the town will try to land itself in the Guinness Book of World Records by having the world's largest ribbon cutting.

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Downtown Woodland Park will get a facelift

June 15, 2009

HELEN WOLT
THE GAZETTE

Woodland Park is undergoing an extreme makeover.

Face-lifts for 19 buildings in the heart of the downtown business district began Wednesday. Completion is scheduled for July 11. That's less than five weeks to paint, hang new signs and awnings and redo landscaping.

Local businesses are investing in spite of the recession, and see the improvements as a way to attract customers. Costs are expected to reach about $300,000, said Beth Kosley, executive director of the Woodland Park Downtown Development Authority, which was founded in 2001 to promote economic sustainability.

Grants from the Downtown Development Authority and the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. got the project started, and Park State Bank & Trust offered low-interest loans.

The project includes such landmarks as Bucks Mountain Saloon & Grill, Cowbells Gifts & Gourmet, and the Ute Inn.

The tight time frame will minimize disruption to tourism and business and take advantage of the fair weather, as well as maximize the visual impact at the unveiling, Kosley said.

"It's incredibly fast," she added.

Two of the historic buildings, the Studio West Aveda Salon & Spa and the Cowhand Western shop, need major structural work. Several others are making cosmetic changes to their rear entrances as well.

Every shop will have its own style, ranging from Western to mountain lodge, but each will look crisp and contemporary, Kosley said.

All businesses will remain open during renovations.

"It has brought this little town together," said Darlene Holloway, owner of Studio West.

"Everybody has agreed to go ahead and is so into it."

The pressure is on to complete the project by July 11, when there will be a celebratory street dance and pancake breakfast. Kids will be able to ride on firetrucks and pan for gold.

The Cowhand is holding a contest to name the iconic horse that has perched on its roof for 44 years, said the store's owner Merry Jo Larsen. The winning moniker will be chosen at the event.

The Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce is aiming to set a new world record by holding the largest ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The details aren't nailed down yet, but it may entail wrapping ribbon around the project's radius, which is just over three blocks long, Kosley said. Chamber of Commerce officials hope this will mark a first with Guinness World Records.

DETAILS

Mainstreet Makeover Celebration

WHEN: July 11

TIME: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kicks off with an American Indian blessing and $5 all-you-can-eat breakfast.

Music, fire truck rides and pictures with firemen, face painting, panning for gold, and digging for turquoise ongoing all day. Food vendors available.

Street dance begins at 6:30 p.m.

For more information go to www.mainstreetmakeover.org.

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LOCAL RANCHER FINDS LEGENDARY ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEERSNAKE

JULY 1, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

A local rancher has discovered an extinct Rocky Mountain Deersnake on his ranch just outside of Woodland Park, Colorado. The last time history recorded any mention of the Rocky Mountain Deersnake was in writings by Katherine Lee Bates in the late 1800's at the time she wrote "America the Beautiful". During her trip to the summit of Pikes Peak, she spotted a number of these unusual snakes. It has been said that the Deersnake was often associated with the Buffalo herds roaming the Pikes Peak and Rocky Mountain region, and many claim they became extinct with the disappearance of the Buffalo.

The Deersnake was a rare creature, primarily nocturnal, living in trees and migrating with the deer from timberline down to 8,000 feet, often settling in aspen groves in the fall. Thought to be relatively docile until rutting season, the deersnake could be spotted during the day, becoming much more aggressive and making a deep bugling-like hissing sound, signaling hunters, hikers and outdoorsmen to beware.

Toby Wells is the rancher who found the Rocky Mountain Deersnake on his property. When asked about his discovery he said "I was not sure what I was looking at when I saw it for the first time, it was not moving so I poked it twice with my walking stick and realized it was not alive. I remember my grandfather talking about the deersnake when I was a young boy but I never thought I would actually find one on our property."

Toby has agreed to unveil the deersnake at the Woodland Park Main Street Makeover celebration on Saturday, July 11, 2009 in Downtown Woodland Park. The unveiling will kick off the WPSC street dance that evening at approx. 6:30 pm. For more information go to www.mainstreetmakeover.org or follow the Cowbells blog at www.cowbellsgifts.com, and coming soon follow the Rocky Mountain Deersnake on Twitter. To celebrate the finding of this long lost Teller County artifact there will be a Rocky Mountain Deersnake Festival this fall, details to follow.

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Town creates its own stimulus with beautification project

Story By: Andy Koen
Source: KOAA
Published Thu Jul 02, 2009, 05:02 PM MDT
Updated Thu Jul 02, 2009, 09:54 PM MDT

America is going through a recession, but Woodland Park has chosen not to participate. In the past few weeks, the town decided to give itself a hand-up as it makes-over the downtown business district.

What started with a small $30,000 dollar improvement grant has multiplied ten fold after the community bank found the faith to make loans affordable to shop owners, and the shop owners found the faith to invest in themselves.

Beautification project coordinator Barbara Fritz says the project has come together so quickly, "we've been challenged to get the word out far enough, fast enough."

"Everyone's bought into the vision together and they're cooperating with each other and they're just opening doors fast and furious to allow this to happen," Fritz said.

Park State Bank and Trust president Tony Perry says it took more than just borrowing and lending to get the project running.

"It's happening so quickly that we had to have faith in ourselves and maybe in other entities to get to where we're at," Perry said.

"The community prides itself on being individualists and for businesses and city and county and non-profits to converge in one direction without too much negativity and without any major setbacks is incredible."

Along the way, the businesses have been putting people to work and have created a contagious atmosphere where other businesses outside the downtown district have started sprucing as well.

Perry says the common goal is to put the town's best face forward during the summer tourism season.

"We want them to look at the mountain, to look at what we've done here and say you know I may want to move here or I may want to retire here and we want people in the Springs to say you know what there's a lot going up there."

A community celebration in honor of the makeover will take place Saturday, July 11 beginning at 9am starting with an extra large ribbon cutting to announce the completion of the project.