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A magazine for everyone who calls Castle Rock home
a place to Be
DOWNTOWN
Your Town your money A music man’sjourney PROJECT GREEN rethink
Promises kept
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Hi neighbor. A publication of the Castle Rock Community Relations Division Staff: Designed by Karen McGrath, Senior Community Relations Specialist Executive Editor Fritz Sprague, Deputy Town Manager Editors Angela Copeland, Community Relations Manager Kristin Zagurski, Community Relations Specialist
This time of year makes it easy to see why people love living in Castle Rock. When I think of Castle Rock, I think of friendly people and great views. I think about people who care about each other. I think of unique, independent businesses. I think of open space, parks and recreational offerings. I also think about what the Town staff and elected leaders are doing to make sure Castle Rock retains those elements that make this place special. Decisions are made based on what’s best for the Town’s future and its residents.
Administrative Assistant Shannon Watkins
Castle Rock is Your Town. Get involved by attending Town meetings and open houses. Talk to your Council representative. Volunteer for a local nonprofit. Get to know your neighbors. Become a part of Your Town.
photography Mark Sims, Angela Copeland, Karen McGrath
Rhonda Dougherty, Community Relations Assistant
On the cover: The Courtyard in Downtown Castle Rock offers places to shop, dine and relax.
IT’S ALLGOODTO KNOW Briefs, Where to Call
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LAYINGDOWNthE BATON Kent Brandebery retires
4-5
Randy A. Reed Mayor
About
YOUR TOWNYOUR MONEY Surviving a down economy 6-9
TABLE OF Contents 2
living up topromises TABOR, TAP projects
10-11
WHAT’S UPdowntown The heart of Castle Rock
12-16
YOUR TOWNCONNECTION Town Council profiles 17-20 SOCIAL MEDIANETWORK Your Town online
21
projectgreen Environmentally smart
22-23
GETTINGOUTDOORS Parks, open space and trails
24-25
in theclear Importance of water quality 26 Don’tmissout Community calendar
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Castle Rock has changed a lot since it was incorporated in 1881, but the heart of our community remains the same. Castle Rock’s foundation is its residents, people who care about their neighbors and care about the Town’s future. It’s this caring that is the cornerstone of the small-town charm we have in abundance. Your Town has grown from less than 5,000 residents in 1980 to more than 46,000 today. The secret is out: Castle Rock is a great place to live and raise a family. And Town leadership is committed to keeping it that way. With a shared goal of safeguarding our quality of life, Castle Rock is sure to thrive for years to come.
GOODto KNOW Go green and save some green
Get around Town in a greener manner by using Castle Rock’s free bus service, CATCO. The buses run 7:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. You’ll be in good company when you board. In 2008, more than 103,000 riders took advantage of the local service – a 27 percent increase over the 80,876 riders during 2007. The buses also have racks for bikes so you can make your travels even greener. Visit CRgov.com/CATCO for route and schedule information.
Know what’s going on In Your Backyard The Vision 2020 says the Town is “a world-class community with a small-town character.” One way to define small-town character is that everyone is fully aware of what is occurring within the community and can participate if desired.
Animal Control/PD nonemergency
303-663-6100
Building Permits
720-733-3527
Business Licenses
720-733-2227
It’s with that idea in mind that the Town has launched In Your Backyard. In Your Backyard offers a comprehensive approach to informing the community about development activities.
Castle Rock Chamber
303-688-4597
CATCO
303-814-6407
Code Enforcement
720-733-2200
An interactive map, an e-newsletter and a list of development public hearings are all part of In Your Backyard. Simply go to CRgov.com and click on the In Your Backyard icon on the right.
Douglas County Government
303-660-7400
Douglas County Libraries
303-791-7323
Fire Department nonemergency
303-660-1066
FREX
719-636-3739
Main Number
303-660-1015
Municipal Court
303-663-6133
Park Rental
720-733-2260
Legion is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, and is Officer Todd Thompson’s right hand man…er…dog.
Public Works/Potholes
720-733-2462
Recreation Center
303-660-1036
Legion is not on the street yet because his training is only 50 percent complete. He is trained in narcotics building, area and suspect searches. The other half of his training, which involves suspect tracking and apprehension, as well as officer protection, should be complete by the end of the summer.
Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course
720-733-3500
Town welcomes new four-legged employee With K-9 Jax now retired, a new dog is in Town to help K-9 Kuno fight crime in Castle Rock.
WHERE to call
Currently, Legion trains twice a month with police dogs in the Aurora PD as well as Kuno, who’s been on the street since 2007. His handler/partner is Officer Jeremy McElroy.
Town Council Agendas/Meeting Information 303-660-1367 Town Employment
720-733-2218
Utility Billing
303-660-1373
Water Conservation
720-733-6000
What’s Up Downtown Hot Line
720-733-3577
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a music Journey man’s Brandebery lays down his baton
After 50 years of bringing music to the ears of Castle Rock, Kent Brandebery has decided to retire his baton and instead focus on another passion: historical research. The end of his tenure probably was somewhat bittersweet, as he is the one who founded the band in 1999. Having an interest in both music and history, it was a natural for Brandebery to create a band in homage to the original Castle Rock Band, which played from the late 1880s through the start of World War I. Brandebery, 73, will be the first to admit that starting and staffing a turn-of-the-century-style band was no easy task. “We started with no money, no instruments and no music,” said Brandebery, “so I went back and wrote some music and dug some up and borrowed some sheet music, and we got to work.” His tenacity and commitment to music always have been apparent. Brandebery, who grew up in Littleton and Sedalia during the Great Depression and World War II, settled in Castle Rock in 1958 to be the Douglas County School District’s first full-time music teacher and Douglas County High School’s first band director. Brandebery retired from the school district in 1990. He and his wife of 48 years, Mary Lou, have a 42-year-old son, David, who also lives in Castle Rock. Much of the time he’s lived in this Town has been spent helping children discover beauty, complexity and satisfaction in music. One former high school student, Jaclyn (Jones) Dittrich, remembered playing in the 1968-1970 Douglas County High School orchestra and marching band. After having spinal fusion surgery in mid-1968, she wanted to continue to participate in band programs. “My grandfather had to drive me to school every day of my sophomore year as I wasn’t physically able to ride the bus,” she said. “Mr. Brandebery’s band class was my first one in the morning, and I tried not to be late because band was my life, and I enjoyed his teaching it so much.”
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Knowing how important band was to her, Brandebery designed a half-time program that worked with her physical limitations. “Mr. Brandebery came up with a marching drill where I just came straight down the 50-yard line … and played my horn while everyone else had to pivot around me. It was the only way I could be in band, and he made that accommodation.” Forty years later, Brandebery remembers that autumn. “Oh, yes! Jackie Jones … I just ran into her at our [Sept. 27, 2008] concert at the bandstand. I remember her. I guess it just shows, you just do what you’ve got to do to make a thing work!” It’s that kind of humble, make-it-work attitude for which Brandebery is famous among colleagues. Jamie LaRue, director of the Douglas County Libraries, has been the announcer for the Castle Rock Band since its inception. “He takes enormous and justifiable pride in the quality of the band’s performances and their presentations to the public,” LaRue said. “He combines seriousness … and an infectious enthusiasm for the period. He’s fun to watch conduct.” LaRue added that Brandebery has a quiet dignity reminiscent of another era: “I think we’ve performed in rain, snow, high wind, amidst train whistles and lightning. I remember Kent, dressed in his full band uniform, head high, posture correct, recreating the music from a hundred years ago.” Doug Stroup knows Brandebery not only from playing in the Castle Rock Band, but also from having worked as a junior high music teacher inheriting music students from Brandebery’s elementary programs for nearly 20 years. He describes the music man as a conscientious colleague.
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“He was always very concerned about the continuity of the band program through the entire district. He was concerned particularly about the quality and asked if there was anything he should change or do differently,” Stroup said. Brandebery’s retirement does not in any way mark a slowing down for the man who’s also a military historian and, until recently, a cattle rancher. With the time he’s gaining from retiring from the Castle Rock Band, he’s researching two aspects of early Castle Rock: the very first Castle Rock Recreation Center – built in the early 1900s – and the history and significance of bells in Douglas County. Both bodies of work no doubt will be on display one day in the Castle Rock History Museum, a place near and dear to Brandebery’s heart. He wishes more young people knew about it and understood the history of the Town. “It’s so important … so important,” Brandebery said. With that outlook, it’s not surprising to hear that a favorite Brandebery quote is from Roman philosopher Cicero: “Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to be always a child,” a fitting mantra for one who has worked so hard to educate so many about U.S. history as well as the history of Douglas County and the Town of Castle Rock. “There have been so many amazing people, brilliant people, important people who have helped make this Town what it is, and they should be not only remembered, but understood.” To many, Kent Brandebery is one of those people of whom he speaks and a person from whom many have learned and will continue to learn.
Kent Brandebery presented with Vision Cornerstone Tribute Some people leave an indelible mark on their community, and Kent Brandebery, founder and former director of the Castle Rock Band, was recognized at the March 24 Town Council meeting for doing just that. Mayor Randy Reed presented Brandebery with the Vision Cornerstone Tribute, recognizing his contribution to the character of the Town of Castle Rock. Brandebery – there under a ruse concocted by his wife, Mary Lou – was surprised to receive the award. The Vision Cornerstone Tribute is a resident-recognition award designed to honor people or organizations in the community who make Castle Rock a better place. When someone is nominated, the mayor forms a panel tasked with deciding whether the impact of the nominee upholds one of four Town “cornerstones” established in 2000 for Vision 2020: Town Identity, Community Planning, Community Service or Local Economy. A nomination form can be found at CRgov.com. Brandebery was recognized not only for having started, and then directed, the Castle Rock Band, but also for his efforts in preserving Castle Rock, Douglas County and U.S. history.
Brandebery joins Castle Rock historian’ Lionel and Starr Oberlin as the only other recipient of the award to date. Plaques honoring both Vision Cornerstone Tribute recipients were placed in Festival Park on June 6. w w w . C R g o v. c o m 2 0 0 9 5
Your Money
Many wallets are a lot lighter nowadays. Whether you are a single 25-year-old or a 40-year-old with three kids, you’re probably feeling the crunch of higher prices and fewer dollars. That same crunch is being felt among Town services, such as police, fire, water, streets and recreation. Many of the sources of revenue for the Town – sales tax, the motor vehicle use tax, building use tax, utility system development fees, development impact fees and building permit fees – are all down this year. And, certainly 2008 was no banner year either. An example of that downward trend easily is seen in new housing permits. Less than half the number of permits has been issued in first quarter 2009 compared to first quarter 2008. Sales tax is projected to be 3 percent less than 2008, and motor vehicle use tax is projected to decline 25 percent from 2008. Some residents may think their home property taxes come to the Town, but it is not a main source of revenue for the Town. In fact, the Town only receives about $40 a year from property tax on a $300,000 home – the rest goes to other entities like the County, Library District and School District. Like families, when the Town has less money coming in, that prompts changes in how money is spent. As Mayor Randy Reed put it, “We are staying very on top of the financial condition of the Town and the revenues coming in.” In response to the worsening local economic picture, Town leadership has made three considerable rounds of cuts in 2009 alone – for a total of about nearly $8 million. The cuts include eliminating personnel and reducing service levels in some areas. At this point, the Town has been able to mostly preserve direct community service levels for police, fire, recreation, streets and public transit, but nothing is certain in the months ahead. The Town’s goal is to eliminate or defer all possible expenditures before considering reductions in core direct community services. The next page provides greater detail on the cuts made so far this year. But cuts and deferments began long before this year. Town leadership noted the first signs of the economy slipping back in 2006, and began making adjustments to the budget as early as 2007.
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During 2007 and 2008, the Town took actions to address these financial and economic conditions, including eliminating 22 authorized full time positions (in 2009 increased to 38), deferring about $17.8 million in capital projects, implementing cost reductions saving about $3.1 million on an annualized basis, creating one-time cost savings of about $3.2 million and, through the efforts of Town staff members, generating about $3.3 million in new revenues. More details on these cuts and deferments can be found on page 9.
Staying Smart When Town leadership created the 2009 budget at the end of last year, they were hopeful that revenues might slightly increase from 2008, and the budget was a lean one. Unfortunately, revenue has declined from 2008, forcing three rounds of cuts to be made since the start of 2009. Below are a few examples of those cuts, but the program in its entirety will save nearly $8 million in 2009. The full list of cost-saving measures can be found on CRgov.com. Click on 2009 Budget in the left-side menu.
2009 COST SAVINGS • Reducing full-time staff by 16, making it 38 total full-time staff reductions since 2007 • Three mandatory furlough days without pay for Town employees. Employees not included in the furlough – police, fire, recreation and golf – will see equivalent reductions in other compensation areas. • No expected raises for Town employees in 2010 • Reducing staff training and costs • Continuing practice of requiring Town Manager approval to fill job vacancies; continue practice of experimenting with leaving some positions vacant to assess impacts • Implementing energy-efficiency measures • Deferring water line rehabilitation • Deferring replacement of sprayers, mowers and trimmers • Deferring all aesthetic playground equipment replacement • Deferring street repair and maintenance • Reducing overtime, materials, supplies and use of consultants
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2009
PRIORITY PROJECTS
It’s true in Castle Rock, across the state and throughout the country: Tough economic times are here. With an uncertain economy, consumers pull back on spending. It’s natural to spend less on wants and instead focus dollars on needs. The Town of Castle Rock is doing the same. But despite the revenue shortfall, the Town remains committed to the following 2009 major projects: Water projects • Rueter-Hess Reservoir construction continues • Possible regional interconnect water pipeline discussions Transportation Action Plan projects • Southwest Arterial Connection Road construction planned to be complete by December 2009 • Southeast Arterial Connection Road construction planned to be complete by December 2009 • North Meadows Extension design and funding planning Other major projects • Complete the missing section of East Plum Creek Trail between Wolfensberger Road and Meadows Parkway and construct the trail from the Sellars Gulch confluence to Plum Creek Road. • Complete strategic-planning process during 2009 and submit Strategic Plan Report to Council by December 2009. • Effectively implement planned Downtown projects and results of Downtown Development Authority election.
Did you know?
• On a $300,000 home, only about $40 in property tax is paid to the Town. • The Town’s property tax mill levy declined for the 17th consecutive year. The 2009 rate is 1.705 mills. • 2009 revenues for the Town are estimated at $118.6 million, a $42 million decrease from the 2008 budget. • The number of full-time employees has decreased by 38 positions since 2007, or 11 percent of the Town’s total full-time workforce. All vacancies that occur continue to be carefully evaluated. A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATION Less-than-expected revenue forces this to be the only “Outlook” magazine you will receive this year. The Town originally budgeted for three issues, and while the Town can’t afford to print and mail all three, it was important to get this in your hands. The Town is committed to keeping you informed. Please visit CRgov.com and read your monthly “Your Town Talk” utility bill newsletter for Town updates and valuable information.
• Effectively implement residential water budget rate system and associated customer service program. • Conduct an effective public process for the Parks and Recreation Commission and Town Council decisionmaking process for additional planning for future parks, recreation facilities and open space preservation priorities. • Effectively complete and adopt new land-use IGA with Douglas County.
The Town of Castle Rock Rueter-Hess team, at the groundbreaking fall 2008.
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Adapting and getting better Budget reductions began as early as 2007 Town leadership always has taken seriously its responsibility to those who live, work in or visit Castle Rock. The level of trust we have in each other is a major reason why we have accomplished so much together over the years. The economy took a steep dive over the last year, but a slower decline began more than two years ago, and revenues to the Town haven’t been what were expected. Since that time, the Town has taken steps big and small to save dollars and better allocate resources. Since the start of 2007 the Town has cut about $37.5 million from its budget. Here’s a look at only a few of the adjustments the Town took to cut costs since 2007. Some add up to big bucks, others not, but they all add up to savings.
DEFERRED PROJECTS • Deferred Castle Oaks Park, planned for 2009 – $2.5 million • Deferred reconstruction of streets in north Craig and Gould – $3.1 million • Deferred Kinner Street sewer project – $2.8 million • Deferred construction of addition to Fire Training Center – $750,000
REDUCING OPERATING COSTS • Eliminated purchase of bottled water and soft drinks, implemented mug program to reduce use of paper and plastic cups – $2,500/year estimate • Implemented new Town banking system to reduce staff costs and bank fees/charges – $65,000/year in staff time otherwise needed and bank fees/charges • Obtained bond rating upgrade for TAP bonds to reduce interest costs – $500,000 • Reduced number of Outlook magazine publications – $34,000 • Reduced publication of job vacancy notices and increased use of online postings – $47,000 • Reduced Recreation Center toddler classes during school breaks, reduction in part-time staff hours – $13,200/year • Switched to black and white photos for Recreation Center Resident ID cards – $1,200/year • Reduced mowing of open space areas from three to two times a year – $33,000/year • Used recycled asphalt millings instead of purchasing road embankment material – $4,800/year • Increased use of re-tread tires – $1,500/year • Replaced incandescent traffic signal bulbs with LED lights to reduce electricity costs – $3,100/year • No additional police officers or fire personnel added since 2006 • Purchased new Police software system using County license – $250,000 one-time cost savings • Moved Fire personnel to different stations to reduce overtime costs and to maintain minimum staffing levels – $50,000 in overtime savings
For full lists of cuts made 2007 to present, please go to CRgov.com and click on 2009 Budget in the left-side menu. The documents are attached at the bottom of the Budget page.
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TABOR Timeout
Promises kept
In November of 2005, voters approved ballot question 2A by almost 60 percent, allowing the Town of Castle Rock to keep revenue over the TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) limit for parks, trails, recreation, roads and public safety. That vote provided about $13 million over the course of five years, helping the Town keep up with service demands for fire and emergency medical services, police, recreation, roadway and park maintenance. This was not a tax increase. Instead, the five-year time out allowed the Town to “de-Bruce” like almost every other city, town and county in Colorado (more than 90 percent) whose voters have exempted them from the revenue limits imposed by TABOR. In Douglas County, the Library District, School District, County, Town of Parker and City of Lone Tree also are exempt (Larkspur is the only exception). The following list details Town improvements that were funded in part or in entirety by the TABOR timeout. “Residents had faith in the Town to use the revenue as we had promised, and we did just that,” said Mayor Randy Reed. “We’ve accomplished a lot, services and amenities that would have been impossible without lifting TABOR restrictions.”
ü= Completed Police projects and services
Park projects and services
Six additional police officers ü
Construction of Gemstone Park in the Sapphire Pointe area ü
Traffic police officerü
Construction of Matney Park in the Castlewood Ranch area ü
School resource officer for Castle View High School ü Three patrol officers ü
Vehicles, equipment, uniforms, trainmaterials and supplies for additional officers
ü
ing,
Police traffic trailer (were instead able to purchase four mobile speed-indicator signs – one per patrol district) ü Regional law enforcement service delivery studies and assessments ü Police capital improvement planning and facilities improvement design ü
Fire and Rescue projects and services Acquisition of land for Fire Training Center expansion ü Fire Station 151 improvements ü
Fire Station 153 improvements ü
Fire Station 154 improvements ü
Three additional firefighters ü
Equipment, training, materials and supplies
for additional firefighters ü
Transportation projects and services Plum Creek Boulevard maintenance project ü
Enderud Boulevard maintenance project ü
Downtown parking structure – joint venture with Douglas County ü
Neighborhood traffic-calming policy ü
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Additional park maintenance part-time, seasonal and reclassified employees ü
Founders Park parking improvements ü
Regional/intergovernmental park facilities planning (ongoing) ü Construction of Rhyolite Regional Park in the Crystal Valley area ü
Recreation projects and services Recreation Center expansion, expanded programs and additional personnel, materials and supplies ü
Regional/intergovernmental recreation facilities planning (ongoing) ü Junior Golf Program support (transfer from Community Center Fund) ü
Trail projects and services Trails planner position ü
Regional/intergovernmental trail facilities planning (ongoing) ü
East Plum Creek Trail connection (opening June 6) ü
Open space Quarry Mesa purchase and improvements ü
Getting roundabout Town The two-lane roundabout at Ridge Road and Enderud Boulevard opened last April, joining the nine one-lane roundabouts in the Maher Ranch and Castle Oaks areas. A second two-lane roundabout will open later this year farther down Ridge Road, where it will meet a new road that will connect to Plum Creek Parkway. Both Ridge Road roundabouts are part of the Southeast Arterial Connection Road project. Roundabouts’ advantages include improved safety due to slower speeds, reductions in pollution and energy costs and greater opportunities for aesthetic treatments. Drivers entering roundabouts always should remember to yield to circulating traffic, drive to the right of the center island and signal their exit from the roundabout.
What’s TAP, you ask? It’s the Town of Castle Rock’s Transportation Action Plan OK, but what’s that? The Transportation Action Plan is a bond issue that more than 75 percent of Castle Rock voters approved in April 2005 for three projects:
“The safety benefits of a roundabout can be significant,” said Maria Hagen, the Town’s assistant director of Public Works.
Southwest Arterial Connection – Involves reconstructing the Plum Creek Parkway interchange with Interstate 25; extending Plum Creek Parkway to meet Coachline Road; and constructing a railroad bridge near the interchange to separate rail traffic from vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Southeast Arterial Connection – Involves building a new road to connect Ridge Road to Plum Creek Parkway/Miller Boulevard. North Meadows Extension – Involves building a new road to connect The Meadows to U.S. Highway 85 and possibly I-25. Construction on the Southeast and Southwest connections is under way. All work on both projects is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. The construction of the North Meadows Extension turned out to be more complicated, with Town Council working through issues on the best place for the road. We hope to begin construction in 2010. With the construction comes another recreational amenity. A multiuse path will run along the Southeast and Southwest connections so people can walk and ride their bikes from the west end to the east end of Town. There’s a way to stay on top of all that’s happening with the TAP projects. TAP Update, an electronic newsletter with information about the projects, is published bimonthly on the Town’s Web site, CRgov.com. Click the TAP Update icon on the right side to find all the issues.
New west connection on schedule Excavation and the construction of a railroad bridge – to make way for the Southwest Arterial Connection Road – began in late January. The excavation and bridge construction are expected to be completed this summer, at which time the paving of the road itself will begin. That step – the final one for the Southwest Arterial Connection Road – is expected to be completed by the end of the year. So is the reconstruction of the Plum Creek Parkway interchange with Interstate 25. When completed, the road will be called Plum Creek Parkway and will run from Wolfensberger Road in western Castle Rock all the way to Ridge Road on the east side of Town.
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park
enjoy downtown’s treasure
Festival
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f you’re out Downtown and need somewhere to take a load off or lose your thoughts in a book, try Festival Park at Second and Perry streets.
The park was developed to create an outdoor gathering place Downtown. It’s fulfilling that purpose, as evidenced by the people who visit the park to enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the cool air or take breaks while walking their dogs. Amy Steffen stumbled upon the park one recent afternoon after having lunch at a nearby restaurant. She didn’t have time to drive home before her next engagement, so she used the park’s picnic table to conduct some business. “I just needed a quick place to make some phone calls,” she said. After spending some time there, Steffen said she thought the park was pretty and that she would consider returning. “It’s really nice,” she said. The park’s green space and informal amphitheater – with room for about 400 people – make the park the perfect complement to festivals held on Second Street. Each year the park is home to the Starlight Summer Movie Series, Summer Music Festival, Fido Fest, Creek Clean-ups, Oktober Fest and others. Relaxation and fun aren’t the park’s only purposes, however; it’s also a demonstration area for Water Wise practices. Planting beds throughout the park offer examples of a variety of low-wateruse plants. In addition, the hybrid turf that covers the park requires less water than traditional bluegrass, and a subsurface irrigation system improves watering efficiency. The park also offers recreational opportunities, with easy access to the recently improved Sellars Gulch bike path. Stop by next time you’re Downtown – this park’s a great place to
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a parking garage In disguise
A plan for Downtown A Town welcome center where Wolfensberger Road merges into Wilcox Street. Spacious sidewalks lined with cafes, wide-windowed shops and public art. A live/work neighborhood with street-level businesses and upper-level residences.
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t’s no secret that a lack of parking Downtown has been a sore spot with some residents and business owners. The Town of Castle Rock took a significant step toward solving that problem by partnering with Douglas County to build a parking garage. The County initially wanted to build a parking garage on Third Street for its workforce, but Town officials also saw an opportunity to alleviate parking congestion in the core of the Town. The top two levels of the garage are reserved for County employees, but the main level is open for free public parking. The public level provides parking 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 66 regular parking spots, six compact-only spots, one motorcycle spot and four spots for drivers with handicap permits. Adding to the parking supply is certainly a priority, but also important is making sure that parking fits with the historic environment. The Town and County worked with architects to make the garage’s façade look like a row of quaint shops. In fact, many residents were surprised to learn that the award-winning structure was a garage.
Avoid the possibility of finding a parking ticket on your windshield and keep your car out of the Colorado weather: Park in the garage’s free, all-day parking.
All these visions for Downtown Castle Rock could be a reality in 20 years if the Downtown Master Plan, which Town Council adopted in 2008, comes to fruition. The group of Downtown property and business owners and civic leaders that guided the plan’s creation expressed a desire to create a welcoming, friendly Downtown, to enhance Downtown’s historic character and to provide easy access to open space and trails, among other priorities. “What was so nice to hear was that we all had the same vision – we all had the same dreams and hopes about our little community and preserving it. It was good to hear,” said Judy Crenshaw, chairwoman of the advisory commission that guided the plan’s creation. “This whole plan is so exciting, because it very much focuses the funds that can be generated right Downtown.” The plan defines this vision for Downtown: “Downtown Castle Rock should be the Main Street of Douglas County, providing the region with an authentic Western downtown experience and a central gathering place that unites neighborhoods, families and individuals … ” The Downtown Master Plan suggested a Downtown Development Authority to turn the plan into action. Last November, Downtown voters approved the DDA’s formation. View the entire Downtown Master Plan at CRgov.com by clicking on Downtown Castle Rock Information in the left-side menu. The link to the plan is at the bottom of that page.
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It’s clear: Downtown is the place to Be
10 reasons to Be Downtown Whatever you are looking for, find it in Castle Rock’s historic Downtown
1. E v ent s Downtown is home to family events throughout the year. From the community easter egg hunt and Starlight Summer Movie Series to Artfest and Starlighting, the year is filled with fun for all ages. 2. s hopp i ng Make a fashion statement. Find a gift for a friend or a loved one. Decorate and furnish your home with style. You can do all this and more by supporting Downtown shops and businesses. 3. f ood Downtown is the place for local, unique cuisine. Whether you are looking for a quick bite for lunch, a drink and appetizer after work or a romantic dinner for two, you’ll find plenty of options – from ethnic to American – in Downtown. 4. recreat i on If you are looking for a walk or bike ride, take East Plum Creek Trail from The Meadows, through Downtown, all the way to the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Take a respite in Festival Park at Second and Perry streets, a grassy spot in the middle of Downtown with amphitheater seating. If your dog needs to stretch his legs, there’s an off-leash park at Fairgrounds Regional Park.
5. mu s i c If live music gets your feet tappin’, you’ll need to check out several nightspots Downtown. Jazz, blues, country and rock all can be found Downtown. In addition, there’s the Summer Music Festival featuring several bands, and concerts often are scheduled at the gazebo at the Philip S. Miller Library and at the Douglas County Events Center. There’s even a place Downtown to take music and voice lessons. 6. per s ona l care Need a little personal TLC? Look no further than Downtown. Whether you want to improve your physical fitness, try a new hairstyle, enhance your health and well-being or simply take your four-legged friend in for grooming, Downtown businesses can meet your needs.
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7. en l i ghtenment We often want to learn more about a subject, and an ideal way to do that is through the Philip S. Miller Library. Sure, you can check out books and DVDs, but there’s a lot more: story times; workshops for children, teens and adults; community meetings; and more. 8. h i s tory The Castle Rock Historical Museum on Elbert Street tells the story of our Town from its beginning more than 125 years ago. Another great way to get a sense of our history is by simply walking Downtown. You’ll see interpretive signs along the way as well as markers on our historic buildings. 9. re l a x at i on Enjoying a local cup of coffee is a great way to unwind Downtown. There are several choices for that. There also are several choices if pampering is your style – check out any of several spas Downtown for your next massage or pedicure.
10. s ma l l - town charm Downtown’s the kind of place where people smile as they pass you on the sidewalk. The dining, shopping, professional offices, special events and recreation choices all add up to what residents and visitors love most about Downtown Castle Rock: Small-town charm is found in a big way on every street block.
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Business is the heart of A unique Downtown By Mark Neel, Castle Rock Bicycle Co. In 2000, we were searching all along the Front Range for the perfect place to open up a bike shop. We knew what we wanted to do; we just weren’t sure where we wanted to do it. But after visiting my in-laws, who have lived in the Castle Rock area for over a quarter century, we knew we wanted to live and do business here. The demographics of the Castle Rock area are fantastic, and the small-town environment was enticing. It was easy to see that Castle Rock could sustain another full-service bicycle shop. Families needed a shop they could count on to be around as their kids grew up and needed new bikes and gear. And enthusiasts needed the kind of expertise and products we could provide. It was the perfect recipe: small-town feel in a growing community.
DDA: Downtown receives adrenaline shot Downtown always has been a special place where residents and visitors shop, dine and gather for special events. The historic charm certainly is a draw, but the area has not kept pace with its neighbors. Too often, businesses choose to open their doors elsewhere. That’s one thing the Downtown Development Authority hopes to change. Downtown Castle Rock voters said yes to four questions in a special election that asked whether a DDA should be formed and whether additional funding should be approved for its mission. Of the 206 ballots returned, more than 65 percent voted to form a Downtown Development Authority. In addition, 55 percent voted in favor of a 3-mill property tax levy to enhance the DDA’s ability to effect economic development, incentives and other initiatives designed to enhance the vibrancy of Downtown. “I have a strong sense of community, and it gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction to be involved in the shaping and building of our wonderful community,” said Mark Williams, the first DDA Board chairman. “The formation of the DDA and the financial ballots that were passed with voter approval are enormous tools to encourage significant investment in our Downtown historical community.” The current DDA Board is Williams as chairman; Rick Stucy, vice chairman; Darrell Gubbels, secretary; K.C. Neel, treasurer; and members Brad Brown, Lori Weinstein and Chip Wilson. The public is invited to the Board meetings, which are the first and third Thursdays each month at 4 p.m. While the DDA eventually will have its own Web site, in the interim agendas and meeting minutes will be posted at CRgov.com. Click on Downtown Castle Rock Information in the left-side menu. The same link also provides more information about the DDA.
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The key for us was the Downtown area. We could tell immediately it was the type of surroundings we wanted to operate in. We felt the unique character of the Downtown area was, and remains, better suited to independent and locally owned businesses than the new developments on the outskirts of Town, which are heavily skewed toward national retail and restaurant chains. Being located Downtown also allowed us to cater to the entire community rather than one specific neighborhood or master development. We knew the Downtown area should be the heart and hub of the whole area, and the potential for revitalization was inevitable as consumers yearn to connect with their communities and neighbors. Downtowns by their very nature are gathering places, and Castle Rock’s rich history and historic feel are perfect for fostering an ecosystem of connectivity among all residents here. There is also a collegial atmosphere in Downtown Castle Rock that is difficult to find, but cherished when you do. The Downtown business owners tend to support each other every day. We shop at each other’s stores; we eat at the local restaurants; we do as much business with Downtown businesses as possible. It’s that kind of unity that will ensure the area’s success going forward. The passage of the Downtown Master Plan and the appointment of a Downtown Development Authority will guarantee that Downtown Castle Rock lives up to its potential as a local and regional draw for shopping, dining, entertainment and professional services. The area is on the verge of becoming the next, new hot spot along the Front Range, and it’s exciting to be part of that logical transformation. The area continues to develop a unique character that consumers, residents and businesses are increasingly looking for. While developers around the country are creating town centers that mimic towns of old, Castle Rock already has its own distinctive and historic Downtown. It’s what makes this place exceptional and one-of-a-kind. Castle Rock has been a great place to live and do business, and we look forward to continue being part of the revitalized Downtown area and growing with the community.
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Local laws. The annual budget. Land-use decisions. Direction and policy. That’s just the beginning of the responsibilities of the seven members of the Castle Rock Town Council.
Residents of Castle Rock adopted a charter in 1987, establishing a Council/Manager form of government. Under this system, the Council elects the Mayor, who presides over meetings and, like other Council members, casts one vote. Council also appoints the Town Manager, Town Attorney and Municipal Judge. Each member serves a two-year term in his/her respective district. Council is not a full-time job, and the members don’t have offices at Town Hall. Contact your Town Council representative using the contact information listed in each member profile. The newest members of Town Council are profiled in the blue columns.
mayor
District
Randy Reed, Mayor The Woodlands, Metzler Ranch and Diamond Ridge
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Randy first elected to Council in 2004. His current term ends April 2010. Randy Reed moved to Castle Rock in 1987, when his youngest daughter was 1 year old, his oldest was 13 and the Town was, by all accounts, tiny. Drawn by the family-friendly atmosphere, Randy and his wife of almost 40 years, Hattie, instinctively knew Castle Rock would be a great place to call home. Fast forward 22 years to 2009. The girls are grown, the Town has grown and Randy has grown along with it. He now sits as Castle Rock’s Mayor and Councilman for District 2. Reed says he “wanted to be involved … to have a voice and to be a part of building this community in the best possible manner.” Randy was re-elected to his third term on Town Council and recently appointed to his third term as Mayor. He is also a proud business owner of two FastFrame stores, one in the shopping center at Interstate 25 and Founders Parkway, and the other in Greenwood Village. But his public and professional service to the Colorado community doesn’t stop there. Reed also is proud of his appointment by former Gov. Bill Owens to the Governor’s Commission on Civil Rights. He continues serving on that commission under Gov. Bill Ritter. The two stores and serving on Town Council keep him busy, but when the Mayor gets some free time, he says he likes to spend it on the golf course, especially Red Hawk Ridge. Contact Randy at rreed@CRgov.com.
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Paul Donahue The Meadows
District
Donahue spends a lot of time on the sidelines and running his three boys to practices – they all are involved in competitive soccer – and has been heavily involved with Town Parks and Recreation activities for the last four years as a baseball and basketball coach. Now, he’s stepped onto a new court as the District 1 Town Council representative. Paul, 43, was raised on a farm in southcentral Nebraska. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Trinity University in San Antonio. He moved to Colorado in 1990, when he started work toward his master’s in business administration at the University of Colorado. Paul, his wife, Jennifer, and sons, Tanner, 15, Aidan, 13, and Mac, 11, moved to Castle Rock seven years ago to be closer to the boys’ grandparents, who live here. “We love the small-town atmosphere,” Donahue said. He worked in regional sales for Verizon for a number of years before becoming a financial adviser. He currently works for Edward Jones in Castle Rock. When he’s not busy with work or his sports – he’s also been president of the Colorado Elite Soccer Club – he’s working with ministries at The Rock church. He also enjoys skiing when he can get away. Two areas he plans to focus on while he’s on Council are the Town’s finances and long-term water issues. “I just want to find some solutions to that,” he said. Contact Paul at pdonahue@CRgov.com.
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The small-town atmosphere is something that drew Paul Donahue and his family to Castle Rock. Maintaining that feeling is one of the reasons Donahue ran for Town Council.
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Paul first elected in 2008. His current term ends April 2010.
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District
Ryan Reilly Red Hawk and parts of The Meadows Ryan first elected to Council in 2005. His current term ends in April 2011. Ryan Reilly has traveled the world, but the place he’s chosen to call home is a tiny hamlet that sits on the border between the foothills of the Rockies and the sweeping Eastern Plains of Colorado. Ryan is serving his third term as a Castle Rock Town Council member for District 3. He and his wife, Emily, welcomed their second child, a daughter, last March. Ryan, a software developer, loves the outdoors, and it was on a visit to Colorado from Virginia that he and Emily “stumbled” upon Castle Rock and decided it was where they wanted to live and raise a family. So they pulled up stakes and relocated to Colorado in 2002. Before settling in Castle Rock and raising a family, Ryan and Emily traveled the world. In the last five years alone, the couple has visited Hong Kong, Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Greece. Ryan dreams of traveling again, but with a 2½-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, his software business and Town Council, the 37-year-old is content to stay put and concentrate on the more important things closer to home. Ryan said his first six months on Council was “like drinking out of a fire hose!” He had to learn about the Town’s system of government, digest mountains of information, learn local ordinances and become educated about many longterm issues, including transportation and water. “It was a fascinating learning experience,” said Reilly, chuckling as he thought back to his first year in office. Contact Ryan at rreilly@CRgov.com.
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Mitch Dulleck Founders Village and part of The Woodlands, Escavera
After serving as an appointed Councilman to fill a vacancy, Mitch first elected in 2007. His current term ends in April 2011. Mitch Dulleck wears many hats. When he isn’t sitting at the dais at Town Council meetings, pouring over budget information and long-term water use designs, or working as a senior telecom analyst, you can find him on Castle View High School’s athletic field, coaching his son’s lacrosse team. Mitch used to coach youth lacrosse and accepted the invitation when Castle View’s administration offered him the job of head coach. The fact that his son, Tyler, a sophomore, plays on the team made the decision easy. What he found difficult was learning to balance the 15 to 20 hours per week coaching requires with the 15 to 20 hours per week working as District 5’s Councilman – plus his full-time job. He is quick to credit his stay-at-home wife, Kristal, for her support and “keeping the household running.” When the Dullecks relocated to the south metro Denver area from California in the late 1990s, it didn’t take long for them to find their way to Castle Rock. Shortly after moving to Aurora, Mitch and Kristal began exploring the area, looking for just the right place to raise their two children, Tyler and Mackenzie, who’s among the first complete class to attend Mesa Middle School, which opened last August in Founders Village. “You come over that hill and you look down into the valley driving through all those pine trees ... just that was appealing,” said the Councilman. “That view, combined with the small-town atmosphere, we knew it would be a great place to live.” The Dulleck family has lived in the same house in Founders Village for about 10 years, and Mitch says sometimes neighbors and acquaintances are surprised to learn that he’s serving on Town Council. Mitch says Castle Rock’s topography is a great asset, with the peaks and valleys an advantage – it doesn’t have the look of other metro areas that appear to sprawl. That as well as the small-town charm of its people are just two more reasons Mitch Dulleck is happy to call Castle Rock home. Contact Mitch at mdulleck@CRgov.com.
District
Chip Wilson Downtown core area, Castle Highlands and Castle North
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Chip first elected to Council in 2008. His current term ends April 2010. Chip Wilson has lived in Castle Rock since 1995, but his family’s roots here run much deeper. His wife, Terry’s, family helped homestead Castle Rock and owned the Ford dealership here from 1940 to 1987. Terry is a third-generation Castle Rock resident, and the couple’s children – Emily, 11, and Will, 8 – are fourthgeneration Castle Rock residents. The family lives in Terry’s childhood home just outside Craig and Gould, in the area Chip now represents on Town Council. His District 4 seat includes the downtown core area, Castle Highlands and Castle North. Chip, 41, was born and raised in western Massachusetts. He joined the military after graduating high school in 1985 and moved within the Army to Colorado in 1988. Chip studied military law and served in the United States and abroad, including two years in Germany. He left the Army after the Gulf War and since has worked for United Airlines, where he’s currently a manager. Before being elected to Town Council, Chip was appointed to Castle Rock’s Downtown Advisory Commission when it formed and served as the commission’s vice chair. As a Councilman, he will continue working to make Downtown Castle Rock a walkable, vibrant “destination location.” On a personal note, Chip loves golfing, camping and boating. Contact Chip at chipwilson@CRgov.com.
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Douglas Lehnen Southeast Castle Rock
District
Doug first served on Council from 2003 to 2005, representing District 3, and was elected in 2006 from District 6. His current term ends April 2010. When some people retire, they choose to spend more time fishing. That’s not the case with Douglas Lehnen. After working about 30 years with Lockheed Martin as an engineer and business development program manager, the Montana native has become even more active in local and regional politics. Along with his wife, Karen, and daughters Amber and Rachel, Douglas moved from California in 1995 with Lockheed. After researching the Front Range, they chose Castle Rock for its schools and family-friendly atmosphere. Retirement has afforded Douglas the opportunity to throw himself into his two loves – local government and golf. He not only sits on Castle Rock Town Council but also the Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Partnership of Douglas County Governments and the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority, where he hopes to make high-speed rail a reality for commuters from Pueblo to Wyoming. When he does manage to eke out some free time, Douglas enjoys gardening, home improvement projects and golf. And in 2007, after nearly 35 years on the links, he hit his first hole in one while golfing at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course. With his daughters no longer little kids, Douglas said he thought the time was right to serve on Town Council. His wife supported his decision so he could “give back to the community and get involved.” Contact Douglas at dlehnen@CRgov.com.
Joe Procopio – Castlewood Ranch and part of Founders
District
Joe first elected in 2008. His current term expires April 2011. Joe Procopio is “one of those guys that gets by on four hours’ sleep a night.”
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The retired Navy officer, corporate executive and attorney doesn’t live a life of leisure. He works as a substitute teacher and coaches junior varsity lacrosse at Castle View High School, along with Councilman Mitch Dulleck. He also remains active with the Navy, as president of the Navy League of Colorado and New Mexico, president of the Navy Reserve Association of Kansas and a Navy recruiting adviser for Colorado and surrounding states. The 68-year-old doesn’t stop there – he’s also active in jail ministry, as a mentor to a Christian teen group and as a middle school Sunday school teacher. Joe moved to Castle Rock about 10 years ago from Fairfax County, Va. He chose Castle Rock because it’s midway between his son’s home in Highlands Ranch and a good friend’s home in Monument. The Town also has the same “warm, comfortable feeling” of Joe’s hometown in New Jersey. Joe spent 21 years in the Navy, including as the Navy’s head of strategy in Europe. He’s attended seven colleges and earned four degrees – a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, a master’s in operations research and two law degrees. He ran three small consulting companies in Virginia before coming to Castle Rock to be close to his son, who has three children. Joe also has a daughter who lives in the Chicago area. She has three children, too. Since moving to Town, Joe has served on the Board of Adjustment, a budget reconciliation committee, the Transportation Advisory Board and the Planning, Public Works and Utilities commissions. His hope for his time on Council is to do the best job he can for the people of his district and the Town. Contact Joe at joepro@CRgov.com.
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Connected New ways to connect to Council and the Town
Neighborhood meetings, open houses and regular Town Council sessions are a few of the ways through which residents have been able to express their opinions to Town leadership. These face-to-face meetings are important tools, but not every Castle Rock resident has the time or desire to attend a public meeting. Yet, all residents potentially have input that’s important to Town Council and staff. It’s with that in mind that the Town has launched two programs aimed at improving communication with residents and the local business community. In late November, the Town created accounts on Facebook and Twitter. Both sites are free, and anyone can join. Facebook is a social networking Web site that allows millions of people to interact and gather information online. It also allows businesses, public figures, nonprofits and other organizations to create pages via which the entities can share information and interact with their customers. The Town has been using its Facebook page to share photos and videos of Town happenings, post notice of upcoming meetings and provide links to Town news releases. The Town also hopes to engage residents in discussions on important topics via a discussion board feature. Those with Facebook accounts can become a fan of the Town by searching Facebook for “Town of Castle Rock.” Those without an account can create one at facebook.com and then do the same. Twitter is a Web-based service that allows for the rapid exchange of short messages. Twitter users can view messages on Twitter.com and other Web sites as well as receive them via e-mail and cell phone text message (standard text messaging fees apply). Through Twitter, the Town has been putting out two or three messages a week. Examples include information on the Town’s 2009 budget and updated snow-removal policy. The Town also could use Twitter to disseminate news during an emergency. Residents also could use the service to notify the Town that a traffic signal is out by sending a message from their cell phone, for example. Anyone can view the messages the Town puts out by visiting twitter.com/crgov. Those who wish to receive the Town’s updates via text message or to communicate with the Town via the service must sign up for an account at twitter.com.
Both the Facebook and Twitter pages can be reached by following links on the Town Web site homepage, www.CRgov.com.
CRgov.com – More than just information The Town’s Web site is your gateway to all things related to the Town of Castle Rock. At CRgov.com, you’ll find e-mail addresses and phone numbers to staff members. You’ll find pages for each Town service – CATCO shuttle, Community Relations, Development Services (planning and building), Finance, Fire, IT/GIS, Human Resources, Municipal Court, Parks, Police, Recreation, Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, Town Attorney, Town Manager, Utilities (water and stormwater) and, of course, Town Council. While at the Town’s Web site, you’ll also find helpful links to other governmental entities, area nonprofits, homeowners associations and much more. You’ll find calendars that help you stay in-the-know of what is going on around Town. But there’s a lot more to the Web site than information. At CRgov.com you also can pay your water bill online. You can schedule your next tee time at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course. Sign up for Recreation and Water Wiser classes. Download interactive Town maps. See the status of development projects under way through Town. Print out a license to register your pets. Even pay your Municipal Court fines. The Web site now features In Your Backyard, keeping you informed of the latest development projects around Town. Plus, there are new interactive GIS maps that enable you to see property zoning, determine distance from your house to a fire hydrant, print maps and more. Check the site regularly for new improvements to help residents, business owners and visitors. Subscribe to the site so that you can be e-mailed whenever the site is updated. Click on Subscribe to Our Site just above the left-side menu.
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project rethink
astle Rock is a natural beauty, and the Town is doing what it can to keep it that way for generations to come. All Town departments are finding ways to conduct their business in ways that reduce the impact on our planet. All of these efforts – as well as those encouraging eco-consciousness among residents – are part of the Town’s Project Green program. “All things green is really coming to the forefront lately – not just with governments but with individuals and corporations,” said Town Councilman Ryan Reilly. “Not only is it good for the environment, but it can ultimately save money if it’s done right.”
• The Town has purchased several hybrid vehicles as well as vehicles that run on E-85 ethanol fuel.
• Sand and street sweepings are cleaned and filtered by Waste Management to remove environmental toxins, and the sand is recycled.
• Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course and Town parks have sophisticated water systems with weather stations that read the wind, temperature, humidity and evapotranspiration rates and transmit that information to centralized controllers that water each station only as much as is called for by real-time conditions.
• Many traffic lights in Town have been converted to LED lights, which save money and electricity.
• The Recreation Guide, this publication you are reading and many other Town publications use recycled paper and soy-based inks.
• The Police firing range recycles its brass bullet casings as well as bulletproof vests.
• Firefighter bunker gear, which gets replaced every three years, is kept as a spare rather than being dumped in a landfill.
• Branches and leaves collected by Parks’ cleanup are often re-used in slope stabilization to prevent water runoff.
• The Town used eco-friendly measures when remodeling Town Hall last year.
So keep your eyes open – You’ll be seeing the Project Green logo around Town. And when you do, you’ll know that Your Town is working toward “greener” pastures for everyone! Bronze Environmental Achievement The Town was awarded the Bronze Award from the State of Colorado for its leadership in environmental efforts.
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How long does it take
Town exceeds paper reduction goal
to biodegrade?
When Town Council requested Town departments to reduce paper use by 10 percent in six months, staff formed a Project Green paper reduction committee and went to work. One of the heaviest uses of paper was found to be the weekly Town Council agenda packets. On average, 29 copies of the agenda packet, each containing roughly 250 pages, were being printed each week. By switching to electronic copies of the packet for Town Council and reducing the number of packets printed to five, the committee was able to accomplish the 10 percent paper reduction goal. Not wanting to stop there, additional practices were put into place to use less paper. Town staff is encouraged to print double-sided documents and share documents electronically whenever possible. These and other good practices have enabled the Town to reduce its paper consumption by almost 20 percent.
Dirt recycled for a new purpose About 850,000 cubic yards of dirt will be hauled off to make way for the Southwest Arterial Road Connection, which will connect the existing Plum Creek Parkway and Coachline Road. This is equivalent to an entire football field being covered with about 400 feet of material. Some of the excavated dirt will be taken to the future regional park site southwest of the road project. This excess material will be used in the park site to fill in low spots, establish drainageways and create level pads for future planned activities. Using the material in the park not only will substantially reduce the cost of the roadway project, but it also could reduce future park development costs.
The Town rethought how to choose vehicles Last year, when it came time to replace outdated vehicles, instead of buying standard gas vehicles, the Town purchased four Ford Escape hybrids for the Utilities and IT departments. The Town also purchased four “flex fuel” Crown Victorias – which can run on gasoline or E-85 ethanol fuel – for the Police Department. The Escapes get 27 to 34 mpg in Town – a 32 percent improvement over their gas-powered counterparts.
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• Brown paper bag – one to five months • Cigarette butts and filters – approximately 12 years • Plastic bags, caps and lids – decades • Aluminum cans – 200 to 500 years • S tyrofoam clamshell for restaurant leftovers – virtually forever i
Project Green starts at Town Hall Cleaning chemicals used are environmentally friendly. The paper towels and the toilet paper in the restrooms are made of 100 percent recycled materials, and the new dispensers use roll towels, which save 20 to 30 percent in paper compared to individual towels. The new hand soap is environmentally friendly, dispenses as foam to reduce the amount of soap needed to wash hands. Town Council banned the purchase of bottled and canned beverages as well as Styrofoam products in Town Hall or at Town-sponsored events. Not only does Styrofoam not biodegrade, but it also releases chlorine gas when incinerated. So Town employees use their own coffee cups and reusable water bottles and eat from compostable paper plates and plastic cups. These products – along with disposable spoons, knives and forks – are made from corn and sugar derivatives that compost quickly in landfills. Some rooms in Town Hall have been painted with an environmentally friendly low volatile-organiccompound paint. F uture plans include installing motion-controlled lighting, which will automatically turn off lights in conference rooms when no motion is detected. The Town is investigating an energy policy for all Town facilities. These changes are just the start. The Town will continue to find ways to be more green.
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relax
Castle Rock trail connections beckon you to come and explore
outdoors Connections around Town The final puzzle piece is now in place, completing the eastwest connection of the East Plum Creek Trail. Opening as part of National Trails Day activities June 6, this important trail is now unbroken from The Meadows to Downtown. Another trail opened late 2008, where bikers and hikers can travel through valleys and ridgelines surrounded by grassland and Gambel oak while taking in views of the Front Range – Stewart Trail in the Red Hawk/Meadows South area. Stewart Trail is named for George Stewart, who owned about 1,700 acres of land in what is now The Meadows. Stewart served as the County treasurer and surveyor for 20 years. The Australian immigrant and his wife, Amelia, had five children. Some of the couple’s descendents still live in Douglas County. The 8 miles of soft-surface, single-track trail and the surrounding 400 acres of open space – Ridgeline Open Space – now is open. All are accessible via Coachline Road and throughout the existing Meadows neighborhood trails system and from points within the Red Hawk development. With their addition, the Town has about 70 miles of soft-surface and paved trails (45 of which are managed by the Town) and 5,415 acres of open space. “Our residents have asked for more trail connections, and we are committed to making that happen,” said Town Councilman Mitch Dulleck. So get out there, explore and enjoy!
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Bison Park
Rhyolite
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Newest parks use less water Residents have been asked to reduce their water consumption, and it’s important the Town practices what it preaches. Bison Park and Rhyolite Regional Park, which both opened in 2008, save millions of gallons of water each year by using synthetic turf instead of traditional grass. Bison Park in The Meadows features two synthetic turf fields and other landscaping that requires minimal irrigation. The 20-acre park has only 3 acres of irrigated turf, and that is hybrid turf that uses less water.
“It will have the same look as a traditional park,” said Jeff Smullen, superintendent of park planning and construction. “It’s got a lot of green to it.” Rhyolite Regional Park, which opened May 2008 in Crystal Valley Ranch, also includes the Town’s first full-sized synthetic turf field that can accommodate all athletic uses. Each synthetic field installed saves about 1.25 million gallons of water per year. Including the synthetic fields at Bison and Rhyolite Regional parks, the Town is saving more than 7.5 million gallons of water annually with its synthetic fields. “We’re trying to reduce our impact on our precious water resource, so synthetic turf just makes sense,” said Councilman Paul Donahue. “Our parks are a huge part of our family-friendly atmosphere, so we need to provide these amenities without depleting that resource.”
Be a partner with parks and open spaces Help beautify the Town’s parks, open space and trails – with or without getting your hands dirty – through the POST Partners program (formerly Adopt-A-Park/Trail/Open Space). POST Partners is for individuals or groups wishing to donate time or money to improve the Town’s parks, open space and trails. Participation levels run the gamut, from monetary donations and one-day projects to one- and two-year park adoptions. “We often acknowledge the many hours volunteers give to the Town, but they add so much more,” said Ron Claussen, chairman of the Town Parks and Recreation Commission. “Volunteers add spark and fire to any project they tackle. Their life experiences, coupled with their unfailing enthusiasm, add that little extra something to help create a sense of community.” POST Partners is an especially good fit for high school students looking to complete community service hours. Volunteers don’t just pick up trash; they also help plant trees, monitor wildlife, build and repair trails and increase awareness of the Town’s parks, open space and trails and the activities held at them. “It’s very fulfilling and gratifying,” said Jon Haase, who with Castle Rock’s 6202 Cycling Club, has worked to restore trails at Memmen Ridge Open Space, “especially after you’ve talked to people who went and used the new trails that you built.” Those who can’t donate their time are encouraged to participate by purchasing or making a contribution toward the purchase of items from the Parks and Recreation Department’s purchase list, which includes playground equipment, picnic tables, grills, recycling carts, bulletin boards, plants and other improvements. Donors also may purchase park benches, trees and interpretive signs in honor of loved ones. Interested in becoming a POST Partner? Call 303-814-7444 or e-mail postpartners@CRgov.com for more information.
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Town is part of the
Chatfield Reservoir team
Clean water is something we all cherish, and the Chatfield Reservoir is a favorite place to recreate in Douglas County. Fortunately, the Town of Castle Rock is part of a group whose mission is to keep the reservoir and its watershed clean so everyone can enjoy it. The mission of the Chatfield Watershed Authority is “... to promote protection of water quality in the Chatfield Watershed for recreation, fisheries, drinking water supplies and other beneficial uses by protecting water quality.” Formed in 1984, the Chatfield Watershed Authority is made up of about 28 members and associates. Authority members include representatives of counties, municipalities, special districts and federal and state agencies – as diverse as the more than 300-square-mile watershed and its varied land uses. They accomplish this mission by making sure the reservoir and its watershed have limited pollution. A challenge for lakes, especially man-made lakes, is algae blooms. Too many nutrients in the water – algae bloom – make the water green and unappealing. The nutrient usually associated with algae blooms is phosphorus. Just like lawns, algae need phosphorus to grow. Phosphorus comes from agricultural fields, fertilizers that wash off lawns, treated wastewater and exposed earth associated with land-grading activities. The Chatfield Watershed Authority identifies programs to limit the amount of phosphorus entering Chatfield Reservoir. Residents pay for those programs through wastewater treatment fees. The Chatfield Watershed Authority will continue working hard to protect water quality while balancing the costs of keeping the water clean. For more information about the issues in this article, contact Amy Conklin, Authority manager, 303-795-5925, or visit the Authority’s Web page, www.chatfieldwatershedauthority.org.
environment? Are you a good neighbor to your
Everyone plays a part in protecting water quality. Washing and dumping of wastes into storm drains is a direct threat to our lakes and streams. By keeping a neighborhood watch on your streets and shopping areas, you play a big part in keeping our lakes and streams clean and healthy. Please report illegal and accidental dumping to your local authorities. Local stormwater agencies, including participants of the Douglas County Stormwater Co-op Group, SPLASH and SEMSWA, are teaming together to bring you this message. Together with your help, we can make a difference in keeping our waterways clean. Contact your local agency to find out how to properly discard your household chemicals.
This message brought to you by the Douglas County sTORMWATER Co-Op group Visit www.dcstormwater.org to get more information that will help you preserve our water quality. Please report accidental and illegal dumping to the Town of Castle Rock. 26
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So many things to do & places to go
June
Events
August
6 National Trails Day, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Trail Dedication at Meadows trailhead at 11 a.m. or try the 5k Fun run at Rhyolite Regional Park 6:30 - 11 a.m. 6 Starlight Summer Movie Series, 6 - 9 p.m., Festival Park. Kung Fu Panda. Street festival at 6 p.m.; movie at dusk 6 Your Town Connection, 6 – 8 p.m., in conjunction with Movie Series, Festival Park. Meet your Town Council representative and ask the questions important to you! 7
Elephant Rock Bike race, 5:30 a.m.- 3 p.m., Douglas County Events Center.
10 FREE Water Wiser workshop, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Town Hall. 13 Art Walk, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., starts at the County building lawn on Wilcox Street. 13 Castle Rock Classic Cruise-in Car Show, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wilcox and Fourth streets. 20 Basement Finish seminar, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Town Hall 20 Summer Heritage Walking Tour, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tours start at Courtyard on Perry Street every hour. 24 Colorado Bike to Work Day, 7:30 – 9 a.m., Festival Park at Second and Perry streets. July
4 Rockin’ the Fourth: Red, White & Boom! 5 - 11 p.m., Metzler Ranch Community Park. 9 FREE Water Wiser Workshop, 1 - 4 p.m., Municipal Court Building, 100 Perry St. 11 Starlight Summer Movie Series, 6 - 9 p.m., Festival Park. Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D! Street festival at 6 p.m.; movie at dusk.
1 Summer Music Festival, 5 - 9 p.m., Festival Park. 1 - 9 Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. Douglas County Fairgrounds. 8 Douglas County Fair Parade, 9 a.m. - noon, Downtown Castle Rock. 10 Summer Heritage Walking Tour, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tours start at the Courtyard on Perry Street. 12 Business Plan Basics, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Philip S. Miller Library. 15 Mothers-of-Multiples, M.O.M.S. Everything Sale, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Douglas County Events Center. Admission, $1. 16 Ride the Ridge Kids Bike Race, 6:30 - 11 a.m., Memmen Ridge Open Space. 22 Crop-a-latte’, all day at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, Kirk Hall. 23
Fido Fest, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Festival Park.
September
5 Starlight Summer Movie Series, 6 - 9 p.m., Festival Park. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Street festival at 6 p.m.; movie at dusk. 12 Fifth Annual Pooch Plunge, 10a.m. - 2 p.m. Butterfield Crossing Pool. 12 - 13 ArtFest, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., starts at the County building lawn on Wilcox Street. 17 Conversations in Art, 6 - 8:30 p.m., Philip S. Miller Library. 18 Sassy Soiree Fashion Show & Auction, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Douglas County Events Center.
11 Miniature Donkey sale, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Douglas County Fairgrounds, multipurpose barn.
19 Summer Heritage Walking Tour, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tours start at the Courtyard on Perry Street.
18 Summer Heritage Walking Tour, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tours start at the Courtyard on Perry Street.
19 Good Samaritan, 5k, Walk/Run, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., Douglas County Events Center.
18-19 AARP Driving Safety Class, noon - 4 p.m., Philip S. Miller Library.
20 Rhyolite Downhill Challenge, kids downhill bike race, 6:30 - 11 a.m., Rhyolite Regional Park.
23-25 Cowboy Fast-draw Championship, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. log on to www.coloradopistoleros.com.
more information
25 Castle Rock Winefest, noon - 6 p.m., The Grange in The Meadows.
in Castle Rock
Farmers Market is back! Saturdays from July 11 through Sept. 12, 8 a.m. - noon. Buy the region’s freshest produce, sample great homemade salsas and sauces, honey and herbs!
Check out these calendar sources on the Web: CRgov.com CastleRock.org DowntownCastleRock.com DCLibraries.org Douglas.co.us/eventscenter
w w w . C R g o v. c o m 2 0 0 9
27
PRSRT STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID CASTLE ROCK, CO PERMIT NO. 26
Town of Castle Rock 100 North Wilcox St. Castle Rock, CO 80104
July 4, 2009 5-10 p.m.
Metzler Ranch Community Park 4175 Trail Boss Road
Free Admission Free PArking Activities for All Ages Food & Beverages
Live Music
Apple Pie Bakeoff
Crafts & Merchandise
Vendors
Spectacular Fireworks Show 5:30 Opening Ceremonies and Military Jet Flyover Fireworks at Dusk
For more information and updates, visit www.CRgov.com