(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A new petition is raising concerns over the management plan for Fishers Canyon Open Space, with fire safety and congestion among some of their priorities.

Among the trees and slopes in Fishers Canyon in southwest Colorado Springs, some have been living for decades.

“We moved here almost 20 years ago,” said Sandi Gilliam, who lives near the open space.

Gilliam has always loved the trails by her house, but the space she has known for so long may soon be overwhelmed by cars parked alongside her house.

“I’m going to have hundreds of cars going by my house every day,” Gilliam said.

The concerns come from the city’s proposed plan for the open space. The 100-page master plan aims to introduce around nine to 10 miles of trail enhancements to allow for more biking, hiking and horseback riding.

During a recent public meeting, Gilliam tried to raise her concerns about the plan but was not able to completely share her thoughts.

“The head person motions me to come down here and the other person comes and rips the microphone out of my hand,” Gilliam alleged.

So, Gilliam and nearby neighbors Victoria Elliot and Brenda Tracy banded together to create a petition expressing their concerns about the plan. The petition has gotten over 500 signatures to this point.

“We realized we all share the same concerns and so we made a list of our concerns,” Tracy said.

Those concerns include traffic, parking, operating hours, fire safety, enforcement for the area and community engagement involving the plan.

“I think that one of the critical things we’re really looking for is building trust,” Elliot said. “There’s certainly signs that we can move that direction.”

We received a response from city officials regarding the latest petition. Officials tell FOX21 News they will address more concerns at an upcoming parks advisory board meeting. Officials also added “we will address key concerns that have been raised and how we are working to manage these issues including parking, increased traffic through the neighborhood, and fire safety.”

The next public hearing is set to take place on Thursday morning, April 10 during a city parks advisory meeting. There are also two other public meetings in May before the plan is finalized.

The open space will remain closed until a management plan and trail system is established.