DOUGLAS COUNTY
2013 COMMUNITY GUIDE
the
future is now A SUPPLEMENT TO
ourColoradoNews.com
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From the mid 300s
303-955-8634 GRAND FINALE!!
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720-627-5376
BAYOU GULCH RD. BAYO
From the high 200’s
303-688-8639
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WELCOME TO DOUGLAS COUNTY!
PLUM CREEK PKWY
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720-627-5376
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*Prices, included features, availability, and delivery dates are subject to change without notice. © D.R. Horton Inc. 2013
P A Season o CE Cente r f
Creative Converg en
2013 March 15-24 Godspell in partnership with Aurora Fox Arts Center March 28 SPYRO GYRA international jazz fusion music
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April 5 Colorado Wind Ensemble New York Nights April6 The Spirituals Project Choir April 7 Parker Symphony Orchestra featuring Young Voices Children’s Hospital Benefit Concert April 12-20 Always...Patsy Cline in partnership with Starkey Productions, directed by John Moore May 4 Ballet Ariel w/ Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra The Birth of Rock and Roll May 11 Parker Chorale A Celebration of American Song! May 12 Rocky Mountain Brassworks “And the Winner Is…” May 17 Parker Symphony Orchestra Season Finale featuring the 2013 Concerto Competition Winner
AIR SUPPLY
May 18 Colorado Symphony Orchestra Petite Musique ‘Buckaroo Jamboree’ concert for families May 19 Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado Don Quixote May 30 AIR SUPPLY classic rock
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PACE
PARKER ARTS CULTURE & EVENTS
And much more online! Parker’s NEW Center for the Arts Two Blocks East of Parker Rd. & Mainstreet 20000 Pikes Peak Ave, Parker, CO 80138
2013 DOUGLAS COUNTY GUIDE COUNTY FOCUS
COUNTY OVERVIEW .......... 4
H E A LT H C A R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
CASTLE PINES ................... 6
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
CASTLE ROCK ................... 7
H O U S I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
HIGHLANDS RANCH .......... 9
R E C R E A T I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
L O N E T R E E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
S E N I O R L I V I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
P A R K E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
E D U C A T I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PLACES OF INTEREST
President & Publisher: Jerry Healey Advertising Manager: Barb Stolte Managing Editor: Chris Rotar Assistant Editor: Scott Gilbert Community Editors: Ryan Boldrey, Deborah Grigsby, Chris Michlewicz, Rhonda Moore, Jane Reuter, Jennifer Smith Photo Editor: Courtney Kuhlen Layout & Design: Scott Andrews
F R A N K T O W N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 L A R K S P U R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 R O X B O R O U G H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A special publication of
INSIDE
COMMUNITIES
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9137 Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | 303-566-4100 | OurColoradoNews.com | ColoradoCommunityMedia.com Colorado Community Media is the publisher of 23 community papers and 20 websites reaching over 400,000 readers. Look for our Douglas County publications: Castle Rock News-Press, Douglas County News-Press, Highlands Ranch Herald, Lone Tree Voice, and the Parker Chronicle.
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COMMUNITIES
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Douglas County keeps on
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PARK MEADOWS
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HIGHLANDS RANCH LONE TREE 85
Wealth is crucial factor in area’s standing
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SKY RIDGE MEDICAL CENTER
RIDGEGATE OPEN SPACE
PARKER
DANIELS PARK
CASTLE PINES
RUETER-HESS RESERVOIR 83
SEDALIA ROXBOROUGH PARK
CASTLE ROCK
FRANKTOWN
CASTLEWOOD CANYON STATE PARK
LARKSPUR PIKE NATIONAL FOREST
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Map by Scott Andrews
By Rhonda Moore Douglas County was established in 1861 and originally spanned from the Rocky Mountains to the Kansas border. The county lines were eventually drawn to cover about 843 square miles, 96 of which are permanently protected through the county’s open-space program. Composed of urban areas that include Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree to the north and rural expanses such as Franktown and Perry Park farther south, the county’s boundaries include the incorporated municipalities of Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree and Parker. The 2013 population estimate for the county is 293,993. Between the 2000 census and the 2010 census, the county’s population increased 62.4 percent, making it the fastest-growing county in Colorado and the 16th fastestgrowing county in the nation.
According to the 2010 American Community Survey, the median
File photo
household income in Douglas County was $94,909, sixth in the na-
tion among counties with populations of 65,000 or more. The county consistently has one of the lowest poverty rates in the nation — in 2010 only 3.3 percent of people in Douglas County had incomes below the poverty level. County commissioners in 2012 conducted a countywide survey, which showed residents want the county to invest in a safe, efficient and affordable transportation system; protect the area’s economic future; and secure residents’ personal safety and security. Based on those survey results, the county is poised in 2013 to spend more than $95 million on road improvement projects and $19 million on improvements at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center, the county detention facility. According to the county’s 2013 budget report, economic prosper-
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ity and a conservative financial environment are cornerstones of the county’s spending priorities. “One of the most important things to ensure to continue healthy economic growth is to invest in our infrastructure,” said Commissioner Jack Hilbert, District 1. “To ensure that our economic development viability continues.” Healthy economic growth placed the county among those recovering from the 2008 recession in fine form. Douglas County saw a 133.9 percent increase in building permits between 2011 and 2012; in 2012 experienced a nearly $295 million increase in total valuation of new construction, including $91 million in unincorporated commercial construction; and thanks to companies relocating to and expanding in the area, experienced between 2000 and 2011 a 58.6 percent increase in jobs. The increase resulted in a ranking by CNN Money as number five in the nation for job growth.
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ABOUT DOUGLAS COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Jack Hilbert, District 1, representing residents of Parker and Lone Tree. jhilbert@douglas.co.us; 303-660-7401 Roger Partridge, District 2, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Larkspur, Sedalia, Roxborough. rpartrid@douglas.co.us; 303-660-7401 Jill Repella, District 3, Highlands Ranch. jrepella@douglas.co.us; 303-660-7401 OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS Teri Cox, assessor, tcox@douglas.co.us, 303-660-7450 Jack Arrowsmith, clerk and recorder, jarrowsm@douglas.co.us, 303-660-7469 Lora Thomas, coroner, lthomas@douglas.co.us, 303-814-7150 David A. Weaver, sheriff, dweaver@dcsheriff.net, 303-660-7505 Delmer H. Hamilton, surveyor, dhamilto@douglas.co.us, 303-681-3725 Diane Holbert, treasurer, dholbert@douglas.co.us, 303-660-7455
George J. Kennedy (appointed by governor), public trustee, gkennedy@douglas.co.us, 303-660-7417 Mark Scheffel, state senator, District 4, mark.scheffel.senate@state.co.us, 303-866-4869 Ted Harvey, state senator, District 30, ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us, 303-866-4881 Frank McNulty, state representative, House District 43, frank.mcnulty.house@state.co.us, 303-866-2346 Chris Holbert, state representative, House District 44, chris.holbert.house@state.co.us, 303-866-2933 Carole R. Murray, state representative, House District 45, murrayhouse45@gmail.com, 303-866-2948 George Brauchler, 18th Judicial District Attorney, da18@da18.state.co.us, 720-733-4500
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2013 DOUGLAS COUNTY GUIDE
CASTLE PINES
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Young Castle Pines growing fast City was incorporated in 2008 By Jane Reuter
File photo Castle Pines’ location and scenery make for picturesque recreation opportunities.
masterpiece... Every home is a
Castle Pines, Colorado’s newest city, incorporated in 2008. The decision was spurred by residents who in 2006 became concerned about protecting and controlling the community’s future. There is plenty to protect. Castle Pines ranks among Colorado’s wealthiest communities. Its median household income of $134,000 is more than twice the state average, and it ranks alongside Cherry Hills Village as the state’s most affluent communities. Though it’s still just a toddler, Castle Pines already has seen significant growth. Initially, the incorporated city included 2,437 acres roughly bordered by Daniels Park and Highlands Ranch open spaces and Interstate 25. It more than doubled in size in 2009 when it annexed The Canyons Development, a 3,344-acre community under development east of Interstate 25.
In March 2012, the city grew again. Its newest neighborhood is the Castle Pines Town Center, northwest of I-25 and Happy Canyon Road. The 354acre planned development is slated to someday have more than 300 single-family homes and some commercial development. The city also has expanded its staff. Initially, Castle Pines contracted for its municipal services, but in 2011, it hired its first city employees. Incorporated as Castle Pines North, residents agreed to change its name to Castle Pines. Today, Castle Pines covers about 9 square miles. The city’s municipal boundaries east of I-25 extend north to the Rueter-Hess reservoir, east to Castle Park Ranches and south to Crowfoot Valley Road, Sapphire Pointe and Happy Canyon Estates.
City of Castle Pines 7501 Village Square Drive
Let us help you find yours. Fuller Castle Pines 303.660.8800 fullersothebysrealty.com 858 W. Happy Canyon Road, Suite 100 in the Village Shops at Castle Pines
Incorporated: 2008 Population: 10,000 Median household income: $134,000 Number of schools: 4 City manager: Ted Soltis, Ted.Soltis@castlepinesgov.com Mayor: Jeffrey Huff, Jeffrey.Huff@castlepinesgov.com City council members: Tera Radloff, Tera.Radloff@castlepinesgov.com Kathy DesRosiers, Kathy.DesRosiers@castlepinesgov.com Kim Hoffman, Kim.Hoffman@castlepinesgov.com James Einolf, James.Einolf@castlepinesgov.com John Ewing, John.Ewing@castlepinesgov.com Marc Towne, Marc.Towne@castlepinesgov.com
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CASTLE ROCK
Castle Rock is rising star Town expands opportunities to work, play
File photos Left: Lights strung across Wilcox Street between 3rd and 4th streets illuminate downtown Castle Rock. Right: The Rock in Castle Rock is framed by fall foliage.
By Rhonda Moore Castle Rock began to take shape in 1874, when homesteader Jeremiah Gould donated 120 acres “to be known as Castle Rock” on property south of the rock formation that gives the town its name. At the time, 77 lots in an area designated the “Courthouse Square” were auctioned for a cumulative total of $3,400. Within a year, the new train depot unlocked the community to commerce north and south of town, opening the Front Range market for shipments from the rhyolite quarries and dairy farms that surrounded Castle Rock. By 2012, the town had grown past the 50,000 mark and town leaders were finding new ways to feed the engine that earned Castle Rock honors among the nation’s most desirable places to live. In August 2012 the town was named by CNN Money magazine among the top 20 places to live in America. The magazine ranked Castle Rock number 16 in the nation for its quality of life and attracting new businesses.
The selection cited the area’s school quality, crime rates, health care, available activities and job opportunities, with a
munity. Building upon traditions such as Starlighting, the holiday lighting of the star that sits
Town of Castle Rock 100 N. Wilcox Street | www.crgov.com | 303-660-1015 Incorporated: May 17, 1881 Population: 50,028 (as of Jan. 1, 2012) Median household income: $85,933
Mark P. Heath, District 2, mheath@crgov.com, 303-660-1396
Number of schools: 19
Jennifer Green, District 3, jgreen@crgov.com, 303-660-1366
Town Manager: Mark Stevens, mstevens@crgov.com, 303-660-1386
Chip Wilson, District 4, chipwilson@crgov.com, 303-660-1384
Town council members: Paul Donahue, Mayor, District 1, pdonahue@crgov.com, 720-733-3585 Joe Procopio, Mayor Pro Tem, District 7, joepro@crgov.com, 303-660-1372
job growth rate between 2000 and 2011 at 127.17 percent. That growth has enabled the town to bolster one of its strongest assets — its reputation as a family-friendly com-
Renee Valentine, District 5, rvalentine@crgov.com, 303-660-1383 Clark Hammelman, District 6, chammelman@crgov.com, 303-660-1371
atop the town’s rock monument, the town partnered with downtown economic development leaders to debut the Rink at the Rock. The town’s first outdoor ice rink opened
at the 2012 Starlighting celebration and merchants say it has “flipped a switch” on the energy level in downtown Castle Rock. The town has long placed quality of life at the top of its priority list, with $5 million dedicated toward economic development and nearly $20 million budgeted in 2013 to build a regional park that promises to eclipse destinations along the Front Range. Construction of the 225-acre Philip S. Miller Regional Park is scheduled for 2013 in hopes of celebrating a 2014 grand opening. The park is designed to include an adventure playground with zip lines, snow sports, hiking trails and an outdoor amphitheater, as well as traditional park features. Before they saw the first day of 2013, councilmembers bumped construction of the park’s $8.9 million fieldhouse a year ahead of schedule to ensure the 50,000-square-foot sports facility opened in tandem with the park. Once finished, it will become the town’s 20th developed Continued page 8
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DOUGLAS COUNTY
R E A L E S TAT E D I R E C T O R Y Douglas County Real Estate Expert & Resident.
LET ME PUT MY 40+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR YOU!
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Award recipient Magazine 720-988-4818 • www.KathyGrimes.com
File photo
THE DENVER MAGAZINE
The Castle Cafe in downtown Castle Rock is one of 20 historical locations designated with new QR code markers that reveal the stories and histories of the buildings.
Proven, Trusted, Experienced, Local, and now also your Senior Real Estate Specialists!
CASTLE ROCK: Continued from page 7
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John Mitchell Mitchell Realty Services 10660 East Bethany Drive, Bldg #2 Aurora, CO 80014 Direct: 303-204-4358 www.MitchellRealtyColorado.com John.Mitchell7@Comcast.net
park, nearly double the town’s acreage committed to parks, add two miles of soft-surface trails to the town’s 51 miles of soft and paved trails and add to the 5,475 acres of dedicated open space in and around Castle Rock. The project reflects the commitment to quality of life from the town’s parks and recreation department, which earned the National Recreation and Parks Administration’s 2012 Gold Medal Award. The award is a distinction among the nation’s top parks
and rec departments for excellence in parks and recreation planning and management. “We are excited to be the recipient of (the 2012) Gold Medal Award – the most prestigious award in the parks and rec industry,” said Councilmember Jennifer Green, District 3. “The award reflects our staff’s dedication and effort in providing fantastic amenities as well as the continued support we receive from our residents.”
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2013 DOUGLAS COUNTY GUIDE
The renovated Highlands Ranch Mansion officially opened its gates to the public in 2012.
HIGHLANDS RANCH
Highlands Ranch not too young for history Community nears build-out, has third of county’s population
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File photo
By Ryan Boldrey A landmark nearly four times older than the community it resides in, the Highlands Ranch Mansion came back to life in 2012. The Highlands Ranch Metro District opened the doors to the mansion at 9900 Ranch Road, vacant since 1976, in grand fashion this past June. Shea Properties, which had owned the former home of Colorado folk heroes Lawrence Phipps Jr., Frank Kistler and Waite Phillips, conveyed the property to the Metro District in 2010. Thus began a $6 million renovation that included the addition of a 5,000-square-foot carriage house, which functions as a meeting space and reception area for parties and weddings. “We owe a lot of gratitude to Shea for work that they have done, planning this master community and executing it and also conveying this property to us,” said Rick Owens, chairman of the Metro District board of directors. “This
Highlands Ranch Established: 1981 Population: 92,848 Median household income: $103,516 Number of schools: 31 Websites: www.hrcaonline.org, www.highlandsranch.org HRCA officials: Jerry Flannery, CEO, JFlannery@hrcaonline.org
Board of Directors: Scott Lemmon, board chairman, SLemmon@hrcaonline.org
Christina Caputo, Christina.Caputo@hrcaonline.org
is going to be a place for our community to gather, to learn about our heritage, to learn about the Front Range and all of Douglas County.” The mansion, which has undergone major transformations under five of its seven owners since it was built in 1891, is nine decades older than the community it calls home.
Jeff Suntken, Jeff.Suntken@hrcaonline.org
Brock Norris, Brock.Norris@hrcaonline.org
Craig Ziesman, Craig.Ziesman@hrcaonline.org
Metro District officials: Terry Nolan, general manager, tnolan@highlandsranch.org
Jeff Case, director of public works, jcase@highlandsranch.org
Carrie Ward, director of parks, recreation and open space, cward@highlandsranch.org
Highlands Ranch, one of the nation’s largest planned communities, saw its first homes built in 1981 under the direction of Mission Viejo, which later sold off to Shea Properties. The unincorporated enclave sits on 23.5 square miles in the northwest corner of Douglas County. Nearing build-out, at which the community is expected to have a
Rick Owens, board chairman, RickOwens@highlandsranch.org
Vicky Starkey, vice chair, VickyStarkey@highlandsranch.org
Allen Dreher, board treasurer, AllenDreher@highlandsranch.org
Kelly O’Sullivan, board member, kosullivan@highlandsranch.org
Nick Robinson, board member, NickRobinson@highlandsranch.org
Carolyn Schierholz, board member, CarolynSchierholz@highlandsranch.org
Nancy Smith, board member, NancySmith@highlandsranch.org
population of around 105,000, Highlands Ranch currently has 92,848 residents who all belong to the Highlands Ranch Community Association. Assessment dollars pay for access to four state-of-theart recreation centers and the 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area, along with a slew of community-oriented Continued page 10
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Lone Tree gets high marks
LONE TREE
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By Jane Reuter
File photo Lone Tree, with downtown Denver in the background.
City of Lone Tree 9220 Kimmer Drive, Suite 100 | cityoflonetree.com Incorporated: 1995 Population: 11,331 Median household income: $104,787 Number of schools: 1 City council members: Jim Gunning, Mayor, jim.gunning@cityoflonetree.com Jackie Millet, Mayor Pro Tem, jackie.millet@cityoflonetree.com Harold Anderson, harold.anderson@cityoflonetree.com Susan Squyer, susan.squyer@cityoflonetree.com Kim Monson, kim.monson@cityoflonetree.com City manager: Jack Hidahl, jack.hidahl@cityoflonetree.com
Like a perennial teenager, Lone Tree is on a seemingly endless growth spurt. At 18, it’s a relative newcomer to south suburban Denver, with plenty of room to grow within its incorporated boundaries. RidgeGate, the portion of Lone Tree that lies south of Lincoln Avenue and straddles Interstate 25, someday will transform the now-small city of 11,000. RidgeGate’s developers say they’re in no hurry to build out the 3,500-acre property. Nevertheless, RidgeGate is responding to economic demands that make cranes and churned earth part of the landscape there. Hotels are popping up at Lincoln and I-25, a Cabela’s is transforming the southwest corner of RidgeGate Parkway and I-25, and new housing developments are rising in pock-
ets throughout the area. Lone Tree is growing up fast, with sophisticated amenities like the Lone Tree Arts Center debuting in 2011, the growing and well-respected Sky Ridge Medical Center and the constantly evolving regional draw that is Park Meadows shopping center. The forecast for this upscale, well-organized city — where scandal is rare and news typically centers on growth — is sunny. All of it is in keeping with the city’s adopted slogan: “It’s a great day to be in Lone Tree.” Residents reflect this sense of well-being. During a 2012 survey, 98 percent of the respondents rated overall quality of life “excellent” or “good,” with suggestions for change mostly limited to desires for more amenities and less traffic congestion.
HIGHLANDS RANCH: Continued from page 9
Highlands Ranch’s Town Center is one hub for retail, dining and community activity. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
programs that set the Ranch apart from the majority of Denver’s suburbs. While Douglas County makes most of the decisions that govern Highlands Ranch, the Metro District and HRCA also have a voice in community direction and both bodies are run by a board of directors and CEO. The HRCA also has
91 district delegates that represent their individual neighborhoods and voice their opinions to the HRCA’s board of directors. The HRCA’s mission is to “enhance property values and create quality of life through recreation, community events and leadership.”
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2013 DOUGLAS COUNTY GUIDE
PA R K E R
Parker takes planned approach to change Town aims to bring in more employment
Parker Days Festival draws large crowds to downtown Parker every summer. File photo
By Chris Michlewicz Those who have lived in Parker for at least 10 years know by now that change is a constant. The town continues to take shape in the form of new housing projects and fresh initiatives. Small, undeveloped pockets of land are being filled in, and start-ups and national chains alike are filling in vacant storefronts. Parker stands at the beginning of a business-centric era. Mike Waid, who was elected mayor in November, has promised to run the town like a corporation, with residents being the “shareholders.� Likewise, all three council members who were voted in are local business owners. Leaders have promised to better support small and medium-size businesses, and even launched the Business in Transition Program last year, which subsidizes home-based
businesses that wish to move into commercial spaces. The Town of Parker has also
a place for employers to relocate. Decision-makers have long pledged to make the
Town of Parker www.parkeronline.org | 303-841-0353 Incorporated: 1981 Population: 45,758 Area: 20.8 square miles Median household income: $90,808 Number of schools: 21 Mayor: Mike Waid, mwaid@parkeronline.org Town administrator: Randy Young, ryoung@parkeronline.org Town council members: Scott Jackson, sjackson@parkeronline.org John Diak, jdiak@parkeronline.org Josh Martin, jmartin@parkeronline.org Amy Holland, aholland@parkeronline.org Joshua Rivero, jrivero@parkeronline.org Debbie Lewis, dlewis@parkeronline.org
beefed up its economic development department and is actively advertising itself as
town a place where residents can live, work and play, but an absence of employers causes
the majority of the population to leave during the day. That has resulted in a poor daytime economy. Nowhere is the economic turnaround more evident than in Parker. A rise in sales tax revenue has the town resurrecting projects delayed by a lack of funding. Housing permits continue to skyrocket, compared with the previous four years, and a new class-A apartment complex at Mainstreet and Dransfeldt Road called Vanterra is in the early stages of approval. Staffers continue to monitor the aging population and are focused on making sure there are enough amenities and services to fulfill future needs. Two new senior living centers opened in Parker in 2012, and recreation programming is frequently expanded to accommodate the growing active senior population.
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FRANKTOWN
Equine center focuses on rehab, adoption Dumb Friends League provides help, hope By Deborah Grigsby Situated among the rolling hills of rural Douglas County, the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center offers comfort and hope to abused and neglected horses, donkeys and mules. The new 168-acre facility is one of only a few in the nation that accommodate strictly animals seized from owners by law enforcement. “We put together a task force to better understand the plight of the horse here in Colorado,” said Duane Adams, vice president of field and equine services for the Dumb Friends League. “We were basically looking to see where we could make the biggest impact, and after talking with law enforcement, we found that in many cases, when animals were seized, local authorities had no place to keep them, most had no budget to feed them, and this seemed to be where we could make the biggest impact.” Made possible by a multimillion-dollar gift from Liberty Media chairman John Malone and his wife, Leslie, the facility houses up to 100 animals at a time, has an indoor arena, paddocks and housing for interns. Many animals brought to the center
A volunteer works to re-socialize a horse at the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
are among the worst — victims of prolonged starvation, untreated injuries and illnesses. Veterinary care is provided as well as socialization programs to prepare the animals for adoption. Adams noted that while area horse rescues do great work, many do not
have the capacity to handle the increasing number of neglect cases, nor the number of cases that may come in at one time. “We actually took in our first horses in November (2011), before the facility opened,” said Adams. “The total amount of horses from that single case was 46.” Since the facility opened in March 2012, the center has taken in more than 160 animals, of which 60 have now been placed with new owners. Not to be mistaken as a sanctuary for unwanted horses, Adams said the Harmony Center is a private facility with a very specific mission to alleviate suffering in the most severe cases of neglect. The center is open to potential adopters on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (except for major holidays). The center is open all other days by appointment only. The center is located at 5540 E. Colorado 86, Franktown. For more information about the DFL Harmony Equine Center and how you can help, visit ddfl.org/equine or call 303-7515772.
LARKSPUR
Centenarian reflects on Larkspur landmark Former owner of original ‘Spur’ turns 100 By Rhonda Moore
File photo Residents of Larkspur enjoy the scenic landscapes that surround the town.
Sylvia Cockrum remembers when the Larkspur bar, Spur of the Moment, was merely “the Spur.” That was back in the day when she “raised every kid in Douglas County.” At 100 years old, the memories remain fresh for the woman who owned Larkspur’s renowned watering hole,
once a “3.2 bar” popular among area teens, Cockrum said. Cockrum ran the bar from 1960 to 1980, and one of the first moves she made when she took over was to set the mood. She wanted to cater to the younger crowd who kept the Spur busy and she began by changing what
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came out of the jukebox. “I put on music the young kids liked, like ‘Go Johnny Go,’” Cockrum said. “And they liked it and they stayed. They’re probably old and gray by now.” Old and gray was something that skipped Cockrum, who still has a hint of original color in her hair and a spunk in her style that belies her years. It’s a style that has always defined Cockrum, according to those who know her best. “She still has it going on,” said Deborah Hoffman, Cockrum’s granddaughter, a resident of Monument. “She still remembers things.” When Cockrum and her husband bought the bar, they resided in living quarters attached to the original building. Cockrum recalls doing most of the heavy lifting on her own, before and after her husband “got sick” and was no longer able to help. She decided early on that the adults who took up residence at the counter didn’t stand a chance against the kids who would eventually prove to be her bread and butter. “I ran it by myself, I made a lot of money,” she said. “I raised every kid in Douglas County. Those kids were really good to me but, my God, noisy.” Cockrum cast her first presidential vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt and also voted for the repeal of Prohibition. She served as an election judge for 35 of the 40 years she lived in Larkspur and played a pivotal role in getting water service to town. She never served food at “the Spur,” but was the first to go to the state for grant money to help build the town’s water infrastructure. Once she gathered all of the paperwork, she handed it over to her friend, Ann Trueblood, who would eventually become the town’s first mayor. “I figured she was the most logical person I knew,” Cutbirth said. “She knew exactly what to do.” Cockrum was born in Weed, N.M., on Jan. 8, 1913, and
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worked from the time she graduated from high school. Before running the Spur, she was a telephone operator – “number please”; a police dispatcher – “that was a drag”; and cleaned the local fire department – “I just started cleaning it one day and pretty soon they were paying me.” She lived in Larkspur for 40 years, eventually settling in a mobile home on the Spur property, before moving to a senior living facility in Castle Rock. Her Larkspur family of friends helped her celebrate the century mark with a party that was to include a cake “this big.” Her fully extended arms formed a circle as big as a table as she gave party instructions to her friend Kris Cutbirth. The party welcomed close to 200 people, Cutbirth said. Cutbirth is among those who have known Cockrum since 1960. She makes regular visits to Cockrum at her new home in Castle Rock. “She drove herself around until she was 96,” Cutbirth said. “She’s amazing.” Cockrum was the one who was amazed the day she realized her 100th birthday was approaching. She still can’t believe she outlived her only child – “you just don’t think like that” – and has never liked the new name they gave her old bar. She peeked into the new Spur of the Moment once since the old building was torn down to make way for the new one. Cockrum now fills her time with weekly bingo, visits with friends and a promise to keep everyone on their toes, while it lasts. On her list for the week following her birthday was a phone call to give Medicaid piece of her mind. Social Security, on the other hand, is in the clear for the time being. “Social Security’s going to shoot us, I just got a raise,” she said. “They don’t count on people like me. I won’t be around another 100 years.”
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ROXBOROUGH
A gem from beneath long-ago waves Roxborough could see development pressure
The Roxborough Visitor Center offers information about the park and the history of the land formations. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
By Jennifer Smith In one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, there remains land virtually unchanged for millennia — except that it’s no longer under an ocean. Roxborough State Park, created in 1975, now contains 3,330 acres of unfettered nature just a minute away from suburbia. Friends of Roxborough have worked diligently to protect the park from encroaching development. Roxborough has strict rules to maintain its passive and pristine character — no pets, no rock climbing, no straying from marked trails, no nighttime hours. “Animals get really comfortable here, because they’re here more than we are,” said Todd Farrow, park manager. But should the proposed Sterling Ranch ever come to fruition, it would add 12,000 homes at Roxborough’s northern edge. Farrow said that could put a lot of pressure on the park. “As you get more users, they’re going to request more things,” he said. Residents would likely want to ride bikes or horses through the park, or leave the trails to explore or take pictures.
“My feeling is that not every park should be everything to everybody,” said Farrow, noting that Chatfield is just minutes away and offers tons of recreational options. “I like the diversity of the state park system, and I think we should keep that diversity.” There’s diversity within Roxborough, as well. Because it’s uniquely situated between mountain and plain, and features awesome rock formations that are older than the Rocky Mountains, an abundance of wildlife is supported. Common critters include reptiles, deer, bobcats, mountain lions, bears and more than 150 species of birds, including a pair of golden eagles. Found throughout the park are reminders that the area was once an ocean, which created the awesome rock formations. Lodged inside one 87.5 million-year-old rock is a shark’s tooth; on others, alligator prints are evident. The more recent past is represented by the remains of a brick kiln from the Silica Brick and Clay Co., just outside the park’s entrance, and Persse Place historic home. “It’s kind of a hidden little jewel,” said Farrow.
COUNTY FOCUS
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H E A LT H C A R E
Health care expanding in 2013
Hospitals scheduled to open in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch By Ryan Boldrey As the population in Douglas County continues to grow each year, so does the necessity for health care. It may be hard to imagine in a county the size of Douglas, but prior to the arrival of Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree in 2003, there was no full-service hospital inside the county lines. Parker Adventist opened its doors the following year, doubling the number of hospitals in the county, and 2013 will see the opening of both Castle Rock’s and Highlands Ranch’s first hospitals, giving residents of each of the four major Douglas County communities a place to receive convenient treatment. Castle Rock Adventist, which broke ground in September 2011, has plans to open its 212,000-squarefoot facility in the Meadows in the summer of 2013. The 50-bed hospital will be four stories tall and will feature an intensive-care unit, pharmacy, laboratory, three operating rooms, two dedicated cesareansection operating suites, nuclear medicine, a women’s imaging center, cardiology and radiology. “We’ve needed health-care services in this area for a long time,” said project manager Vicki Mettlach, a Castle Rock resident who also helped design Sky Ridge a decade ago. “We’re excited about being able to bring this to our community.” No community in Douglas County may be as starved for full-blown medical services, however, as Highlands Ranch. With its population nearing 100,000 and children spread between 31 different schools within its boundaries, Highlands Ranch is ecstatic to welcome Children’s Hospital to the intersection of Lucent and Plaza. On target to open in December, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s
File photos Top: Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus is a more than 212,000-square-foot, four-story, full-service hospital that is slated to open in the summer of 2013. Bottom: Sky Ridge Medical Center, which opened in 2003, was the first full-service hospital in Douglas County.
South Campus has plans for a 175,000-square-foot, four-story hospital to include inpatient and outpatient services, a 24/7 urgent care with 22 beds, a full diagnostic imaging center, numerous labs and specialty clinics, a sports medicine clinic with a physical therapy gym, and four surgical operating suites. Keeping with the concept of Children’s, the new hospital will also have play areas, short-term sibling care, a family hospital area and a healing garden. “If we could open up tomorrow we certainly would,” said Children’s Colorado Vice President Suzy Jae-
ger. “It’s been a long time coming and we’re very anxious to get things up and going. We anticipate serving over 80,000 patients our first year alone.” Other medical development includes Kaiser Permanente’s first Douglas County Behavioral Health Clinic, opening in Highlands Ranch in 2012, which complements Kaiser’s Castle Rock, Parker and Highlands Ranch clinics, as well as its forthcoming Lone Tree location. Sky Ridge also has plans to expand in 2014, and Lone Tree welcomed the University of Colorado’s Lone Tree Health Center in 2012.
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T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
Road improvements on horizon County’s goal is job growth By Rhonda Moore Have roads, will travel. That could be the mantra for Douglas County residents who in 2013 will see more than $95 million in road improvement projects take shape among the county’s 2,363 lane miles of roadways. It is an investment that has been long in the making. The county opted for road improvement projects in the 2013 budget after years of tightening its belt in the wake of the 2008 recession, according to the Douglas County 2013 adopted budget statement. Anticipating a drop in property tax revenue as a result of the declining housing market, the county in 2008 began making incremental reductions to prevent service disruptions. The early planning led to an increase in its general fund reserves. Coupled with an upsurge in new construction and an 18 percent reduction in bond debt, the financial forecast led to the opportunity for investing in its road infrastructure. And invest it will. County commissioners looked at the county’s citizen surveys, which reflect a desire among residents for a reliable transportation system, and consulted with a panel made up of representatives from the development community, corporate executives and economic development experts to prioritize Douglas County’s
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File photos Left: Congestion along C-470 is one transportation issue the county is tackling. Right: The southeast light rail line currently ends at the Lincoln Station in Lone Tree.
capital improvement investments. velopment viability continues; that is The list of priorities reflects the com- why we have some of the fastest job missioners’ goal to keep the county’s growth in the state.” economic engine running. Travelers in Highlands Ranch will Among the road projects for 2013 are likely see the most cone activity, with investments in Castle Rock’s North road resurfacing projects at Lincoln Meadows extension; reconstruction Avenue and Quebec Street, on Broadalong Santa Fe Drive from Titan Road way and along Highlands Ranch to Sedalia; partnering with CDOT to Parkway, Hilbert said. widen Interstate 25 from RidgeGate With an eye on the future, the counParkway to County Line Road; and ty dedicated $10 million to help with accelerated pavement restoration in design and preliminary studies for Highlands Ranch. “One of the most important things the C-470 project, to reduce congesto ensure continued healthy eco- tion from Interstate 25 to Interstate nomic growth is to invest in our infra- e70. r e“There tes are times when it’s just a structure,” said Commissioner JackstFima E mess over there,” Hilbert said. “One Hilbert, District 1. “Businesses that see problems in those areas are hesi- of our primary goals is to create an tant to invest in Douglas County. We environment that would allow for job need to ensure that our economic de- growth.”
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HOUSING
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Housing shows signs of life Permit numbers rise in all communities
Housing construction permits in Douglas County have been on the rise. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
By Chris Michlewicz Housing permit figures are among the most reliable indicators of how the local economy is faring. In the early 2000s, Douglas County’s claim to fame was its designation as the fastest-growing county in the nation. That all changed when the housing market bottomed out in 2008. Apartment and townhome projects in Highlands Ranch and Parker were abandoned, and major developers were placing indefinite holds on new single-family home construction. Numbers climbed nominally in 2011, providing the first glimmers of hope for a recovery. In 2012, local officials became more convinced that it was not cautious optimism that was prompting a steady increase in permit applications, but rather a shift in attitude and financial stability. It became apparent that development in Highlands Ranch was on the uptick. Residents saw progress on Tresana, a Shea Homes community of “luxury attached residences,” townhomes and flats. Further to the northwest, near County Line Road
and Erickson Boulevard, work continued on Verona, an over-55, activeadult community. The Backcountry, a gated community of higher-end homes, also received renewed attention. This year promises much of the same. Even in the first two months of 2012, Parker officials saw vast improvements in the percentage of housing permits being requested. The building department approved 54 residential permits by the end of February, compared with 23 during the entire first quarter of 2011. The year finished with a bang, as Faestel Properties submitted plans for Vanterra, a 306-unit apartment complex to be built on vacant land south of Mainstreet and between Dransfeldt Road and Twenty Mile Road. Shea Homes received county approval in September on an application to subdivide 360 acres into 381 lots for single-family homes, the latest phase of the Meridian Village neighborhood southwest of Mainstreet and Chambers Road. Heir-
loom, a 160-home subdivision, is now being built west of Chambers Road by Standard Pacific Homes. In Castle Rock, an application was submitted for a 60-unit multi-family development, adjacent to Red Hawk Crossings on the north side of Wolfensberger Road. The housing product will be similar in design and style to the adjacent Townhomes at Red Hawk. Through November, 369 certificates of occupancy were issued for single-family attached and detached homes in Castle Rock. Lone Tree has also seen its share of activity, with the 281-unit Vue Apartments under construction on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Interstate 25. Just to the south, the 142 single-family-home Montecito development was started. The 31-home Parkside at RidgeGate is under construction just east of the Lone Tree Recreation Center, and Regency at RidgeGate, a 208-unit multi-family development, is under construction nearby.
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By Jane Reuter A world away from Interstate 25 and C-470, a more pastoral throughway links Douglas County. The East-West Regional Trail extends 20 miles from the west end of Highlands Ranch to Lone Tree. The wide, unpaved trail meanders through suburban neighborhoods and across high, windswept plains; its undulating hills offer views that extend north beyond downtown Denver and south to Pikes Peak. It someday will roam east from its current endpoint at RidgeGate Parkway and I-25 to Parker, connecting with the Cherry Creek Regional Trail. It ranks among Douglas County’s most well-used and precious recreational assets on a long list of options. Highlands Ranch boasts its own network of trails, connecting the community of nearly 93,000 people as well as the 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness area — a community-owned area along Monarch Boulevard laced with trails that tie into the EastWest Regional Trail. Highlands Ranch homeowners also have access to four recreation centers, each offering athletic and cultural programs, a public golf course and four off-leash
dog parks. In Parker, residents can choose from the Parker Recreation Center or the Parker Fieldhouse, an equestrian park, large outdoor pool with slides and skateboarding park. Lone Tree also is home to its own recreation center, pool, tennis courts and public golf course. In Castle Rock, the recreation department oversees a recreation center, public golf course, skateboarding park, disc golf course and a vast assortment of parks ranging from one-half to 174 acres in size. If that’s not enough, Douglas County’s parks department oversees a vast network of parks and trails, including large, regional parks and dog off-leash areas. And South Suburban Parks and Recreation oversees 3,700 acres of parks, 100 miles of trails, several recreation centers, ice arenas, Frisbee and regular golf courses and other amenities in the south metro area. For more information on Douglas County facilities, visit www.douglas.co.us/parksandtrails. To learn more about South Suburban facilities, visit www. ssprd.org.
File photo East-West Regional trail in Highlands Ranch extends 20 miles from the west end of Highlands Ranch to Lone Tree and is one of Douglas County’s popular trails.
File photo Evan Sharp, 2, of Castle Rock, splashes through the water at H2O’Brien Pool last summer.
R E C R E AT I O N
County boasts ample recreation options
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SENIOR LIVING
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Senior population spurs changes No shortage of living facilities in county By Ryan Boldrey As the number of seniors 60 and older in Douglas County is expected to double between 2010 and 2015, the number of residential options for seniors continues to climb as well. It’s not surprising for a county that ranks in the top 10 nationally for fastest-growing senior populations. With 25 assisted living and retirement communities and nursing homes scattered throughout the county, there is no shortage of options for older residents when it comes to living in comfort — regardless of individual health. Of the four major communities, only Lone Tree doesn’t offer any senior living facilities at this time, but plans are in place to build one soon in the city. Meanwhile, Wind Crest Retirement Community, the county’s largest senior facility — home to 730 residents in Highlands Ranch — continues to expand. It is adding a four-story building to its campus in the fall of 2013 that will consist of a specialized memory-care unit, two floors of assisted living and a skilled nurs-
File photo Residents take Zumba at Wind Crest in Highlands Ranch, one of the senior living facilities in the county.
ing floor, bringing a total of 130 new apartments. “We’ve had a lot of people who have had to move out to higher-care communities, because even with inhome support it just got to be too difficult,” said Craig Erickson, executive director at Wind Crest, who sees the new addition as a way to prevent seniors from having to go through an unwanted move down the road.
Wind Crest is not the only senior care facility expanding. Clare Bridge of Highlands Ranch, which specializes in dementia care, is adding on in 2013, and two new facilities — LifeCare Center at Stonegate and Parker Assisted Living by Morning Star — opened their doors this past year in Parker. Castle Rock, which has the most options for seniors in the county, also continues to increase its options. According to a recent survey, 78 percent of Douglas County residents said they are either very likely or somewhat likely to remain in the community through their golden years. As the baby boomer generation ages, this has created more of a need to take care of the county’s seniors. “People like the quality of life here and they want to remain,” said Denver Regional Council of Governments Senior Planner Brad Calvert. “How the region needs to mature to meet their needs is something we all need to work on. It’s a regional issue but every community is different.”
E D U C AT I O N
School district pushes for reform By Jane Reuter The Douglas County School District, which long has enjoyed a sterling reputation for quality, now also is making headlines for education reform. The current board is dedicated to the idea that the district, despite its high ranking, can do better, providing a world-class education and school choice model for other districts to follow. “Our system needs to change,” Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said. “Who better to do it than us? The world can’t wait. The country can’t
wait.” In 2011, the district implemented a voucher program, which allowed students to use state school funds toward tuition at private schools. The program quickly was halted by a lawsuit and court injunction and since has been appealed. The board aims to take the issue all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2012, its longstanding collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union lapsed after a negotiations standoff. Since then, the district has implemented a market-based pay
program for its teachers, and created a new pay-for-performance program. Citing budget constraints and swelling class sizes, the board also implemented schedule changes at its high schools, with most adopting a block schedule. The district is the third largest in Colorado, with more than 60,000 students. The district’s students continue to post some of the highest standardized test scores in the state on average and the overwhelming majority go on to attend college.
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IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
Please see our website for holiday service times 2013-14
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