There’s a big controversy in the small town of Woodland Park, Colorado, population 7,000. Here’s how local residents described the problem back in October: “It appears that Wal-mart has bought 40 acres on the eastern edge of Woodland Park, but within city limits, for an estimated $7 million. Surveyers have been spotted on the property, and two city councilmen have confirmed that Wal-Mart is in fact getting ready to submit preliminary plans for a superstore and adjacent strip mall. While Woodland Park does have very strict architectural, lasdcaping and lighting codes on the books, this addition to our town would most definitely have a significant impact on Woodland Park’s ongoing $30 million downtown redevelopment project as well as many locally owned stores. Woodland Park and Teller County currently have no superstores or large retailers, other than a Safeway and a City Market (Kroger), both of which are under 60,000 square feet. Wal-Mart would be the first “big box” in the county (pop ~32,000).” A second resident contacted Sprawl-Busters this week with an update from Woodland Park: “Concerned citizens in Woodland Park met for the first time this evening to start a campaign to keep Wal-Mart out of our community. We don’t have much time, the first petition to the city council is expected in the beginning of January 2005 with a following 60-90 days window before the city council will vote on the issue. Woodland Park sits at the base of our nation’s mountain, Pikes Peak. The same mountain that inspired Kathy Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful. Woodland Park is a mountain town with a wilderness spirit. The location of the proposed Walmart store lies between our town and Pikes Peak, and will be the first thing travelers will see as they come up Ute pass to Woodland Park. If Walmart is successful it’s existence will change our quaint town inextricably.”
It looks like Wal-Mart will have some climbing to do if residents of Woodland Park have anything to say in the matter. Locating near Pike’s Peak is part of the retail movement to defile natural monuments, inspiring the song “Wal-Mart The Beautiful.” If this superstore is built in the shadow of Pike’s Peak, it would seem fitting to rename the mountain “Sam’s Peak.”
