TOWN PROFILE

Community

Located 20 miles south of Denver, the Town of Parker offers the perfect balance of a full-service community with a hometown feel. A community that is highly rated for safety, Parker provides nearly 62,000 residents with an unmatched quality of life, spectacular parks and recreation amenities, a great business mix, world-class cultural facilities and a wide variety of community events. With a highly-educated population and average household income that exceeds much of the Denver Metro area, Parker is well positioned for the future.

Parker operates under a Town Council/Manager form of government. The Mayor and Town Council, who are elected at large, make policy decisions, approve the Town budget and enact and provide for the enforcement of Town ordinances (laws). Town Council hires and directs the Town Manager, who oversees Town staff and the day-to-day operations of the organization.

The Town employs 313 full-time and 542 part-time employees who are dedicated to providing services to our residents, with the highest number of staff employed by the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department. Parker’s Arts, Culture and Events (PACE) Center also bustles with activity year round. 2022 continued to be a year of adaptation with unique events, classes and programs designed to engage the community and keep the arts alive in Parker.

The Town continues to grow quickly and works diligently to provide and maintain the necessary community infrastructure, including 630 lane miles of roadway, 94 traffic signals, 7,615 storm drains/inlets and manholes, 147 miles of storm pipe, 381 ponds and 30 Town-owned buildings. Our Police Department is an accredited industry leader and has implemented a wide variety of innovative initiatives, including a nationally-recognized body-worn camera program.

In addition to the many services offered by the Town, we strive to engage our community through social media, opportunities for involvement and a wide range of activities and events. We encourage community engagement in all we do, especially through our online engagement platform, www.LetsTalkParker.org. Even through Parker’s growth, we’ve managed to maintain a palpable feeling of community.

Parker is a well-planned community that offers excellent opportunities for investors, retailers and developers to relocate or expand. Both businesses and residents enjoy the open space and trails, recreational amenities, opportunities for community involvement and great schools. They also enjoy a wide range of shopping venues, access to many modes of transportation and quality services.

History

When the Town incorporated in 1981, it was one square mile and had a population of 285. Since then, Parker has transformed from a rural equestrian community to an exciting town with nearly 60,000 residents, beautiful open spaces and well-planned residential and commercial developments. The municipalities of Lone Tree and Aurora are directly adjacent to Parker, while Castle Rock is located just to the south.

Governance

The Town is a home-rule municipality governed by a Council-Manager form of government. Six Councilmembers and the Mayor are elected to staggered four-year terms, so no more than three Councilmember terms expire every two years. Councilmembers and the Mayor are limited to four, four-year terms of office. Town Council is given the power by the Town Charter to enact and provide for the enforcement of ordinances, make policy decisions and approve the Town budget. They also hire, supervise and direct the Town Manager, Town Attorney and Municipal Court Judge. The Town Manager carries out the Council’s directives and is responsible for all other Town staff and day-to-day activities.

PARKER AMENITIES Housing

Parker’s residential communities include a variety of well-planned housing opportunities, ranging from entry level homes to luxury executive housing to multi-family townhomes, condos and apartments. Mixed-use neighborhoods are being developed in Parker, as well as a variety of homes along golf courses, parks and open space. The median home value in Parker is $665,000.

Water

Three special districts serve the greater Parker area’s water needs: Parker Water and Sanitation District, Cottonwood Water and Sanitation District and Stonegate Village Metropolitan District.

Healthcare

Parker Adventist Hospital is located in Parker and offers a wide array of specialists and services, including a branch of The Children’s Hospital. New medical offices and practices continue to locate near this facility and the surrounding area, attracting a high-quality workforce to the community. In addition, the Skyridge Medical Center is located in Lone Tree, just 10 miles west of Parker. Both hospitals have recently added new facilities to accommodate the growth that Parker and Douglas County have experienced in recent years.

Parker is also home to the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Rocky Vista University campus includes leading-edge technology, AV capabilities and educational support which are evident throughout the approximately 145,000 square feet of campus and buildings of the University.

Education

Parker is served by the Douglas County School District Re. 1 (DCSD). The third largest school district in the state, DCSD serves more than 64,000 students and is one of the highest performing districts in Colorado. In addition to the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker is also home to the Arapahoe Community College Parker Campus, which provides a convenient location for educational opportunities for higher education to those living or working in and around Douglas County.