A free household occasion this Saturday at The Citadel Mall

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — The Citadel Mall is internet hosting its first Spring Fling occasion on Saturday, providing free video games and actions for all ages.

The occasion runs from 11 a.m. to three p.m. and highlights the purchasing middle’s progress right into a neighborhood hub crammed with native companies.

“Breathe some new life back into The Citadel Mall,” stated Mark Hanson, who moved his tortoises, reptiles and plant store, The Plant Vault, to The Citadel Mall two years in the past.

• Watch News5’s full interview with Hanson beneath:

The Citadel Mall is not only large field shops.

“These are small businesses and mostly run by the owner of that business,” stated Hanson. “Anybody that’s really interested in starting your own business, this is an amazing place to get started.”

Hanson stated the mall’s unhealthy status is dated.

• Watch News5’s protection of adjustments at The Citadel Mall beneath:

“Seeing the mall change from being what it used to be to something now where it’s, I feel like it’s more of a community, a giant community center,” stated Hanson. “Yes, there has been some bad instances that happened here. Is that something that I feel like it identifies with this place currently? No.”

Other enterprise house owners agree that the mall is evolving.

“Yeah, the Citadel’s had a reputation in its past, and malls evolve, and this one’s evolving, and it’s much different. It’s a fun place to be,” stated Chris Griffin, the proprietor of Nerdstalgia.

One Event coordinator of the ‘Spring Fling,’ says The Citadel Mall is a welcoming locations for households, making it the proper spot for pleasant video games and actions.

“So we will have some sources from the neighborhood. We’re going to have some stay video games, a life-size chess board, some mini glow golf. The Easter Bunny might be out there for some photographs,” said Andrea Freygang.

She says they will also have a sensory room for children with disabilities.

“It’ll be like a dim room. The room will also be supervised by a dance teacher who teaches instruction in ASL. So she’s used to working with autistic and special needs kids,” stated Freygang.

Hanson says optimistic and enjoyable occasions like this one are precisely what the mall wants.

“I’m actually hoping that it is gonna hold including extra occasions to the roster for The Citadel (Mall),” said Hanson.

But what do everyday mall goers think about added events and improvements to the Citadel mall?

The Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs is undergoing several changes, including increased security and more events, which is shifting some people’s perceptions of the shopping center.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, there were 30 violence-related calls for service at the Citadel Mall in 2024, and 34 calls in 2025 through Dec. 7. However, calls for shots fired and weapon offenses decreased from 13 in 2024 to eight in 2025.

ALSO READ | The Citadel Mall safety efforts continue amid mixed crime statistics

Nick Provencio grew up going to the Citadel Mall and now brings his children. He said the increased security is a newer development.

“There was one level I consider it was most likely proper earlier than COVID the place there was plenty of violence occurring,” Provencio said, “There’s much more safety round right here, and I feel there’s much more households I’ve seen coming in right here and trying out the shops,” Provencio said.

Mary Waechter also noticed a change in the reputation of the shopping center regarding public safety.

“Security. I’ve seen their presence fairly a bit currently. Which is an effective factor as a result of we have had somewhat little bit of issues earlier than with children simply coming in, throwing stuff down there or no matter,” Waechter said.

Ronald O’Neill said more improvements can be made to bring the community together.

“Because of some issues that occurred prior to now it has been a scary be aware and other people hear the Citadel and so they do not need to come right here anymore, however hoping that it type of will get a brand new title, a fortress, a citadel, it may be a spot for households to return collectively once more as a result of it’s within the coronary heart of the springs,” O’Neill said.

“I feel issues that need to do with neighborhood, issues that you may’t get on-line, I feel that will be in the event that they if they might conspire and give you extra issues to deliver into this space that will need to deliver folks to return collectively,” O’Neill said.

Provencio said he is beginning to see more opportunities at the mall for families to join in on the fun, like the spring fling this Saturday.

“I feel that is a great factor to have occasions in order that means folks might get out of their home and are available out and simply type of simply see that the mall’s nonetheless right here,” Provencio said.

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