Behind the Springs

Helping those experiencing homelessness and providing affordable housing are priorities for the City of Colorado Springs, but the city is just one part of a team of organizations working toward solutions. Hear more about this and learn about “attainable” housing, which mean offering housing at various price points that match all income levels. These topics impact our entire community and you won’t...

It’s time to talk about the election – yes, another one! Our City Clerk is wrapping up the 2023 General Municipal Election and preparing for a mayoral run-off election between the top two candidates. Find out all you need to know and make sure to VOTE by Tuesday, May 16 at 7 p.m.

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum has exhibits, lectures and events highlighting women during the month of March (and every day). Hear some remarkable stories about Colorado Springs women from our museum’s curator, aka: awesome storyteller!

There’s a new tool, so to speak, that enables property and business owners to navigate the city’s land development process. We’re excited because it SIMPLIFIES things, which might not be what you expect from your local government (wink, wink). This project impacts the entire community, and you’ll find out why during this conversation!

One of the most important things you can do as a Colorado Springs resident is vote. And you’ll get a chance to do that very soon if you live in the city and are registered to vote. Find out all the details about the April 4th election from our City Clerk. It’s your city, your voice, your vote!

We are discussing the Club Q shooting during this episode with a specific focus. We want you to hear about the Victim Advocacy Unit at the Colorado Springs Police Department. It was a key component during the response to this tragedy and it’s a focus every day for the officers and civilians working to help those in crisis in Colorado Springs. 

It’s hard to keep up with all the acronyms used today and local government is guilty of using a lot! During this episode, we’re tackling PPRTA. It’s important to know what this one stands for and what it means for you. Hear from our Deputy Public Works Director about road projects coming up, thanks in part to voter approval of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, or PPRTA.

We want to let you know about a wonderful way to dive into our local history! The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum offers a lecture series that highlights local individuals who made significant impacts in our community. We explore one story about a female employee at the Colorado Springs Police Department who paved the way for future officers. Plus, find out about the many programs available at th...

There are countless benefits to participating in youth sports and the City of Colorado Springs is working to remove financial barriers so that more kids can play. During this episode, hear about our FREE youth sports program, how it’s growing thanks to our amazing partners, and how to sign up in 2023!

This is the 100th episode of Behind the Springs! We are celebrating by sharing a few highlights from past episodes, in hopes that those who ARE listening to this podcast will share it with someone who has not yet discovered our great conversations. Help us spread the word about our local government, incredible employees and why Colorado Springs is the very best!

When the temperatures drop, we often think about those who are experiencing homelessness in our community. In this episode, hear from our city’s new Homeless Prevention and Response Coordinator. She shares her background, goals, the city’s accomplishments and challenges, and how YOU can make a difference in the lives of those in need. 

It’s almost time to hit the ice in Acacia Park! The area’s only outdoor ice skating rink is back open for the 10th year, offering fun and special events for all ages! Hear about how our city team builds an ice rink in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs and why Skate in the Park has become a special tradition in our community. 

Whether we’re paving or plowing, one of the city’s biggest priorities is taking care of our streets. Hear from the leader of the team that takes that job seriously in order to keep your travel time smooth and safe!  

The Colorado Springs Senior Center has been around since 1986, providing great programs and a “magical place”, according to users. Now, it’s time for a bigger and better facility! Join the conversation with our city’s Deputy Chief of Staff about the plan for this beloved senior center and how the city manages more than 150 facilities across our community.

We’re considered to be a military friendly city, but why? What makes us a place where active military members want to live and where veterans want to retire? We have two guests who will answer that question and provide a look at the resources available to our valued military members and their families. 

“The State of our City is excellent. The future is bright.” This quote from Mayor John Suthers sums up his State of the City speech. But you won’t want to miss the details about the challenges we face and all that we’ve accomplished in Colorado Springs – Olympic City USA!

We hope this episode of Behind the Springs motivates you to do more than just listen. We are launching a program called COS Ready with 3 simple steps to help our community be prepared for any type of emergency. Sign up for alerts, know your zone and make a plan. Join this conversation with the experts and find out how we can all be ready together!

If you don’t ride the bus, we have a lot of reasons why this the perfect time to take a ride! Free fares in August, a new downtown shuttle and electric buses … just to name a few. Plus, Mountain Metro Transit is celebrating 50 years!

They deal with everything from piles of trash, to elderly residents needing help, to people who don’t shovel their sidewalks in the winter. We have a whole team in the city devoted to keeping our neighborhoods looking as good as possible. Hear from two of them as they share stories, ways you can report issues and why they love serving the City of COS!

Ready or not, our city is growing. Mayor John Suthers talks about why it’s critical for city government to focus on certain aspects of responsible growth. These priorities impact your daily life and this conversation could impact your views about growth!

Our trails are a treasure around here, but a large amount of illegal trails are causing problems. Hear from the experts at the city and county about these “unofficial” trails and why they’re hurtful to our environment and our budget. Find out how to avoid them and get involved in future planning of our parks and open spaces.  

If you lived in Colorado Springs 10 years ago, you probably remember where you were during the Waldo Canyon Fire. Our city employees share their experiences during this special episode about the devastating fire that reminded and taught our community how to prepare for the worst. 

What does the City Auditor’s office do and why should you care? Those are the questions we answer in this episode of Behind the Springs, thanks to a great conversation with our City Auditor. What she and her team do impacts everyone in COS. Find out how!

There’s a new police chief in town, only he’s not new to town at all! Chief Adrian Vasquez became a police officer here in Colorado Springs nearly 27 years ago. Now, he’s leading the largest department in the city. What are his goals, challenges and favorite parts of the job? Find out in the latest episode of Behind the Springs!

We know that wildfire is a major threat in our community, now more than ever with the recent warm and windy conditions. Are you prepared? Join us for this important conversation with our City’s Fire Marshal, who shares his concern, provides great information and reveals news about critical investment in the effort to prevent wildfire in COS.  For more information visit https://www.coswildfireready...