New Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center Proposals Being Accepted

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The City of Colorado Springs is currently accepting proposals from architectural and engineering firms to design the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center. KRCC’s Tucker Hampson reports. 

Over 600,000 people reach the summit of Pikes Peak each year, according to the city’s numbers. Manager Jack Glavan says the existing facilities at the top are 50 years old, and it’s time the peak saw some improvements.

“We’re gonna clean up most of the summit area itself," says Glavan, "restore any disturbed areas that aren’t being impacted by the new buildings, and then hopefully give it a new fresh look.” 

Pikes Peak District Ranger Oscar Martinez says the improvements are important in creating a more accessible experience for all visitors.

“We have a lot of 14ers in Colorado, but a lot of them require some pretty arduous or strenuous exercise to get up there, this is one of those unique opportunities where people can just essentially drive to the top of a 14er.”

Glavan says the paperwork for the proposals has been downloaded more than 150 times.

The deadline for proposals is Thursday, April 2nd. The city looks to break ground on the project sometime in 2016 and complete construction by 2020.