Mountain Park Environmental Center

Park Stewardship for Today and Tomorrow

"For the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run."

Founding father of the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, said these important words in the earliest days of the
1900's. Over 100 years later, this mantra for land conservation still holds true. Here in Pueblo Mountain Park, MPEC is
working to manage the park for the greatest good of the land, to serve the greatest number of people, and to have the
park be able to provide Nature experiences far into the future.

MPEC assumed overall management of Pueblo Mountain Park in July of 2008 from the City of Pueblo's Parks and
Recreation Department. We believe that we have a unique opportunity to fulfill our mission of promoting ecological
literacy by using and managing the park as an avenue for folks to connect with Nature. Just by being in this beautiful
place, one can be revitalized by the wonder and awe of Nature.

In order for the park to continue to offer these experiences far into the future, management must keep the park's
ecological systems healthy and intact. This must occur while also affording as many opportunities as possible for
folks to use the park and its facilities. This two-pronged approach should occur simultaneously in order to allow for
maximum use today, while conserving the natural beauty of the park for future generations. MPEC will be successful
in this multi-level management approach through the creation and use of the Pueblo Mountain Park Stewardship Plan.

A park stewardship plan is a document that provides a complete view of the resources and management of the park.
The plan begins with a physical description of the park. Goals and objectives of management actions are also clearly
stated. Included is a comprehensive map of the park, which contains legal descriptions, property boundaries,
ecological attributes and vegetative communities, wildlife habitats, vehicle access and road conditions, and other
resource sites such as picnic areas and trails. Plans for fire mitigation, cultural resource management, recreation
resource management, and roads and trails maintenance are also included. Flexibility in the plan is maintained
through monitoring and adjusting to real time conditions as needed.

A Pueblo Mountain Park that is in prime ecological condition will be in the best position to provide the quality Nature
experiences, today and far into the future. Fuels-reduction projects will aid in protecting the park and the surrounding
area from catastrophic wildfire impacts. Weed management projects will aid in maintaining native flora and fauna in,
and around, the park. Trails and road work will help prevent or reduce erosion and maintain travel-ways into the future.

But what the Pueblo Mountain Park Stewardship Plan will also do is provide the users of the park with a top-notch
experience while achieving the above goals. MPEC is in the early stages of drafting the Pueblo Mountain Park
Stewardship Plan. Consultation with representatives from the National Resources Conservation Service, Colorado
State Parks and State Forest, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife will ensure that this stewardship plan is
comprehensive, and that the plan follows established guidelines in the stewardship planning process.

Travel up and down the Front Range and you will see that Pueblo Mountain Park is a rare gem of a park. MPEC is
dedicated to conserving this amazing place through conscientious stewardship of the parks' facilities and ecological
systems. The comprehensive approach of the Pueblo Mountain Park Stewardship Plan will be an avenue for achieving
the appropriate park experiences you desire today, while ensuring that our children and grandchildren can have an
unequaled Nature experience in the future.