Security-Widefield Has No City Hall. Its Fall Calendar Runs Through Aspen Drive Instead.

"District 3 takes on many of the functions which are normally performed by municipal governments." That sentence is on Widefield School District 3's own welcome page, right after the line calling Security/Widefield the largest unincorporated area in Colorado.

Here, one school district runs both the Security Public Library and Widefield Parks & Recreation, and the library sits inside the Parks & Recreation complex. So nearly everything on the local calendar between now and Christmas happens at one pair of addresses: 715 and 755 Aspen Drive.

One campus, two addresses, six decades of setup

The library lists 715 Aspen Dr. as its permanent home. Widefield Parks & Recreation lists 755 Aspen Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80911. The arrangement took a long time to build.

Between the founding and its current building, the library spent a short stretch in what was then the WSD3 administration building, which is now Discovery High School. It started with a small collection of books donated by community members and now holds more than 97,000 items. In recent years it has expanded inside the Community Center, adding a Makerspace with 3D printers, laser engravers and Cricut machines, free meeting spaces, and a state-certified testing center.

The library's service area is real enough that PPLD stays out of it

Security Public Library has its own governance. A seven-member volunteer Board of Trustees sets its policy, budget and planning, and the WSD3 Board of Education appoints those trustees.

PPLD's own board minutes show that this boundary counts. At a November 2020 meeting, PPLD trustees heard about a chance to co-locate in a new development in the Security area. The minutes record that because the site was inside the Security Public Library service area, PPLD could not pursue it.

The library on Aspen Drive is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Sunday.

Who pays for what

The rec center and the library share a campus, but their money comes from different places, and that explains how some fall events work.

WSD3 says Widefield Parks & Recreation is not paid for out of school funds. It has its own special fund, supported by property taxes, license-plate revenue, and program and event fees. The new recreation center cost a reported $23.7 million. That was covered by $19 million in certificates of participation plus $4.7 million from the Parks & Recreation general fund, with $1 million a year moved from that fund to pay down the debt. The building is about 65,000 square feet. It was finished in June 2023 and opened in July 2023. Inside are a 6-lane indoor pool, a diving well, a climbing wall, a three-court gym, an indoor walking and running track, and an outdoor fitness area the center calls the Peak Fitness Patio. Outside are a splash pad and baby pools.

The library's support network runs on volunteers and used books. The Friends of the Security Public Library is a nonprofit volunteer group that has backed the library's growth and services since 1988, mostly through book sales and special events. Colorado's 2024–25 State Grants to Libraries allocation lists Security Public Library for $18,060.

That's why the first big date on the fall calendar is a fundraiser shaped like a bargain.

October on Aspen Drive

1. Now through October 31: Scary Story Contest. The library's yearly contest has categories for K–3rd grade, 4th–5th, 6th–8th, 9th–12th and adults. Entries can be up to 10 pages, one original story per person, and AI-generated stories are not accepted. Include your name, address, phone number and age or grade. Mail entries to 715 Aspen Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80911, email them to [email protected], or drop them off in person by October 31.
2. October 16 and 17: Fall Book Sale. Friends of the Library members get a preview Friday, October 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday early entry starts at 8 a.m., and the sale opens to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All day it's books by the bag or box: $5 fills a grocery bag and $10 fills a box. Single items are also for sale, and the library takes cash, checks, and debit or credit cards.
3. October 23: Trunk or Treat and Movie in the Park. Widefield Parks & Recreation runs Trunk or Treat from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., then a movie listed for 6:30 p.m. that starts at dusk. Costumes are encouraged. The City of Fountain holds its own Trunk-or-Treat the same Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
4. October 24: DEA Drug Take Back Day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the library collects unused or expired prescription drugs. Drop-off is outside, down by the pool. This is where sharing a campus helps, since the library and the aquatics side of the rec center are close enough that the pool works as the landmark.
5. October 29 through 31: Monster Smash Workout Days. Work out in a costume, in the fitness area or a fitness class, and get a fitness goodie bag while supplies last.

November and December stay on the same campus

The holiday season follows the same pattern. Every date below is on Aspen Drive.

The tree lighting listing doesn't print a year, and live event pages can change, so check the Parks & Recreation events page closer to December 8. The toy drive is already running. The Recreation Center collects new toys through November and up to the tree lighting. For anyone keeping a December calendar beyond Aspen Drive, Fountain's tree lighting is Friday, November 20, from 6 to 7 p.m.

What's paused, and what keeps going all winter

One familiar service is off the road. The library says its bookmobile, Betty, is taking a break for fall and winter and will be back in spring. The community picked Betty's name, and the library describes her job as bringing library service to every part of a growing community. Until spring, getting books means a trip to Aspen Drive.

The Makerspace keeps going. Workshop hours are every other Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. You need to register, and machines must be booked at least 24 hours ahead. First-timers can sign up for an introduction class, and anyone mid-project can book a one-on-one help session. A laser engraver and a Cricut machine on a weekday afternoon is a useful thing to know about with handmade-gift season coming.

The library's 100 Book Challenge started January 2 and runs through December 31, so there's still time to log the rest of the year's reading. Families who want a guided start can use the library's "Check Out a Librarian" program. It's aimed at homeschool families, child care providers and parents, and covers library tours, study help and finding materials for class projects. Requests go through an intake form or to [email protected].

Many Front Range communities have a library and a rec center. Here, a school district manages both, the park and recreation district became part of WSD3 in 1978, and the two have shared the Community Center since it opened in 1966. That's why the book sale, the take-back drop-off, Trunk or Treat, the craft fair and the tree lighting are a short walk from each other on Aspen Drive.

At Pulse Real Estate Group, we pay attention to what keeps Security-Widefield running, from the Aspen Drive campus to the calendar it hosts. If you own a home here and wonder how it compares with what's selling nearby, a free home valuation is an easy place to start, and you can find more on the area on our Security-Widefield page.