Starting his freshman year at Colorado College in 2018, Logan Henning was among students commonly seen walking across a line strung between two trees on the quad. The simple joys there a few feet above the ground inspired a life and career in slacklining and highlining across much greater elevations around the West and world beyond. 

Along the way, Henning realized the sport was illegal in the parks of his hometown Colorado Springs. 

“I’d like to change that,” he said at a recent Parks Board meeting. 

He was there to propose regulations that would allow slacklining between trees of the city’s green spaces and highlining between some of its postcard rock formations.

Just as rock climbers sign waivers and apply for permits to access the air of Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon Open Space, could highliners as well? Henning also alluded to granite pinnacles of North Cheyenne Cañon Park. 

“There are huge opportunities where there’s always been rock climbing,” he said. “There are huge opportunities to put up just spectacular, iconic lines.”

He added: “I’m not saying we should let people do whatever. But if we can manage that in a responsible way and make sure highlining is done well, I think that would be a huge asset. And people would get to see something they haven’t seen before.” 

Under city code, one cannot “run or string any utility into, upon or across any park except upon special written permission.” According to a related ordinance: “It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to any tree or plant in any park.”

Nonetheless, people have been doing it over the years, Parks Board members observed at the recent meeting. 

“It’s here, it’s happening,” Kimberley Sherwood said. “It would be really great for us to lead on how to do it safely while protecting our parks and give more access for more people to enjoy our beautiful spaces.” 

In a statement, Parks Director Skyler Rorabaugh said he welcomed “a thoughtful conversation about an emerging recreational activity and whether there’s a way to support it locally while continuing to steward the parks and open spaces that everyone enjoys.”

Henning estimated hundreds of locals shared his interest while calling the Front Range a “hub” for the sport’s growth nationally. He has insight through his LLC, Community Highlines, which hosts gatherings for beginners and pushes boundaries via expeditions and competitions abroad.

Henning was recently on hand for a record attempt over a cityscape in Brazil and for the “Gap the Gorge” event that featured a highline across the Royal Gorge. Previously, Henning worked with land managers to install highlines at Grand Teton National Park and at Boulder’s Flatirons. 

In terms of slacklining ー what he defined as “a flat piece of webbing tensioned between two anchors at a height of <4 feet” during his Parks Board presentation ー he pointed to Boulder for “model regulation.” Like Boulder, he recommended Colorado Springs designate certain parks and trees for slacklines. 

In terms of highlining ー “where the height would require a leash and harness to prevent injury” ー Henning indeed recommended permits and regulations similar to rock climbing. Similar to climbers, he envisioned rules for bolts that would anchor lines. 

In his statement, Rorabaugh pointed to “several factors to consider, including public safety, protecting trees and other natural resources, impacts to other park users and the associated balance of recreational use, practical enforcement and whether different activities (such as slacklining and highlining) should be approached differently.”

One Parks Board member suggested Henning focus his advocacy on slacklining over highlining, considering perceptions of an extreme sport. 

“I want to keep both in the conversation,” Henning said, “because I feel like highlining could get left behind if we don’t talk about highlining.” 

The conversation would continue, Rorabaugh said: “Right now, our focus is on listening, gathering information and doing the homework needed to determine the best path forward.”