Friday, March 22, 2013 â?˜ the gazette â?˜
B3
local & state
History stops by for a visit Bach calls for
renewed core by barbara cotter barb.cotter@gazette.com —
JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE
A group of District 11 teachers got to spend time with an important historical figure Thursday. Benjamin Franklin was promoting a multimedia program to be shown to District 11 students with three 20-minute DVDs starring himself and presenting his life and contributions. Franklin is portrayed by local historian/actor Christopher Lowell.
New app keeps track of Incline users’ times By R. SCOTT RAPPOLD srappold@gazette.com —
Many of the thousands who regularly hike the Manitou Incline wear their ascent times like a badge of honor. But how do you know they’re being honest? Starting Friday, there’s an app for that. Colorado Springs-based CoPilot Creative, a Web and graphic design company, is launching the Incline App, a free iPhone app that uses GPS technology to let hik-
ers track their times and see how they stack up against others. The trail runs 2,000 feet in a mile up a former railroad line above Manitou Springs. It has become legendary as a way for athletes to test their limits and, after years of illicit use, opened to the public legally last month. The app’s designers got the idea when they would climb it and wonder if their times were good, company co-founder Austin Buck said.
They also heard rumors about incredible ascent times and wondered if they were true. Hikers can’t hit “go� until they are on the first step of the Incline, and they can’t hit “stop� until the top, after which they can see how their time ranks and their past times at inclineapp.com. “It gives you really accurate results and pretty much eliminates cheating,� Buck said. Designers also wanted to help ensure Incline use
is beneficial for Manitou Springs, so the app includes discounts at local businesses for hikers, including $2 off a margarita at The Loop and a free beer at the Stagecoach Inn. For now, the app is only available for iPhones, though Buck said that if demand is there, they might design one for other smartphones.
Downtown Colorado Springs is getting an infusion of support from Mayor Steve Bach as he steps up an initiative to revitalize the city core. At his monthly news conference Thursday, Bach said the city will work more closely with downtown’s major stakeholders to boost the number of retail establishments, jobs and housing in the area. “We agreed this morning that we are going to meet regularly; to start, we’re going to meet once a month and determine what our agenda should be and drive toward solutions,� Bach said to a gathering that included representatives from the Downtown Partnership, Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance, Convention and Visitors Bureau and Urban Renewal Authority. He said top priorities include reconstruction of the Interstate 25-Cimarron Street interchange and beefing up security downtown. Already, he said, the city is making strides in the latter area with the addition of cameras that have resulted in drug busts and implementation of a law that bans panhandling within 20 feet of any business or residential entrance. He also noted that the Police Department is training more officers and plans to put more “boots on the ground� downtown. Bach also said the city has
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To hear Mayor Steve Bach talk about downtown, scan this QR code or go to gazette.com . been talking to developers about bringing in new retail operations and residences and hopes to make an announcement about new downtown housing this summer. “I hope it will be affordable so that more people can live downtown,� Bach said. Susan Edmondson, the new CEO of the Downtown Partnership, welcomed Bach’s initiative. “I think we’ll be bringing together the key downtown leaders with the city’s leadership to remove roadblocks,� she said. “We have to find ways to make projects a reality.� Bach reiterated that part of his 2013 strategic plan for the city includes a push to revitalize three “economic opportunity� zones, including downtown. The others are the Nevada Avenue-UCCS corridor and the area around South Academy Boulevard. He said he realizes other areas of the city could use a boost as well, but he doesn’t want to bite off too much at once. “When we have a strong downtown, that radiates out, and it creates a bond, and it builds community, and it attracts visitors who spend money and have a great time. So we are committed to a true renaissance downtown.�
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