Retail & Restaurants.

From the legendary Donut Mill to Starbucks, from local coffee houses to the elegant cuisine of the Swiss Chalet, there’s something to suit every taste in Woodland Park. Shopping runs the gamut from unique art galleries to major players like Wal-Mart. There are large supermarket chains, home improvement centers and a full array of service businesses to make life convenient and comfortable.

Recreation & The Great Outdoors.

All around, nature abounds and beckons the child in you and the children among you to play. Whether your pursuits are tame or adventurous, there’s a spot for you at Woodland Park’s 8 city parks, Meadow Woods Sports Complex (ball fields, tennis courts, skating rink and more), 18-hole public golf course and Fountain Creek Greenway.

Within or close beyond the city limits are breathtaking trails for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and more. You won’t be able to resist nearby Mueller State Park, Florissant Fossil Beds, Eleven-Mile Recreational Area, or even the backside of Pikes Peak.

If camping is your thing — whether extreme remote or RV style — you’ll discover numerous campgrounds under an hour’s drive from home — and sometimes right out your back door! For tempting the trout, Rampart Range Reservoir or Manitou Lake can’t be beat. And for downhill skiing enthusiasts and snowboarders, several of Colorado’s premier resorts are less than 90 minutes away.

Although officially “in the mountains” on the western side of Ute Pass, Woodland Park enjoys a fairly temperate climate, with average highs of 78 degrees in July and 38 degrees in January! The snowiest month is typically March, which sees as average accumulation of nine inches. August receives the most rain (usually in the afternoons) but in Woodland Park, the sun shines nearly 300 days of the year!

Weather. Although officially “in the mountains” on the western side of Ute Pass, Woodland Park enjoys a fairly temperate climate, with average highs of 78 degrees in July and 38 degrees in January! The snowiest month is typically March, which sees as average accumulation of nine inches. August receives the most rain (usually in the afternoons) but in Woodland Park, the sun shines nearly 300 days of the year!

Schools.

Woodland Park School District Re-2 covers the northern half of Teller County and serves more than 3,000 students at three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds are offered at each elementary school as well.

The District consistently performs well on state standardized tests and prides itself on being “small enough to be responsive to student and constituent needs and yet large enough to offer a well-rounded instructional program.” Woodland Park High School offers a range of specialized programs for individual needs, Gifted and Talented opportunities, honors and Advanced Placement classes, and a plethora of sports and extracurricular activities. To learn more about the District and each school, go to www.wpsdk12.org.

Government. Woodland Park operates under a Council/Manager form of government with an elected mayor and six council members. Major City departments include Parks & Recreation, Utilities (water and wastewater; electric and gas service are privatized), Police, Public Works, and Planning. To learn more about the City of Woodland Park, go to www.city-woodlandpark.org.

Worship. Nearly 20 churches, representing approximately 15 denominations, have a home in Woodland Park.

Medical Care. More than 20 physicians (in private practices or medical groups) and more than 10 dental offices are available in Woodland Park to provide general medical care.

In August 2007, Woodland Park will open its first full-service hospital, the Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center.  The 42,000 square-foot facility will be equipped with a 24-hour emergency room and trauma center, 15 in-patient beds and major medical services as well as a helicopter landing pad.