douglas county guide 2013

D O U G L A S C O U N T YD O U G L A S C O U N T YD O U G L A S C O U N T YD O U G L A S C O U N T YD O U G L A S C O U N T Y

2 0 1 3 C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E

A S U P P L E M E N T T OA S U P P L E M E N T T O

ourColoradoNews.com

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WELCOME TODOUGLAS COUNTY! From the mid 300s

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2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E 3

Conveniently located in the Safeway Center SW corner, I-25 & Castle Pines Pkwy | Visit our website for information about clinic and special promotions

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A special publication of

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.

9137 Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | 303-566-4100 | OurColoradoNews.com | ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

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

C O U N T Y F O C U S

H E A LT H C A R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

H O U S I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

R E C R E AT I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

S E N I O R L I V I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

E D U C AT I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

C O M M U N I T I E S

C O U N T Y O V E R V I E W . . . . . . . . . . 4

C A S T L E P I N E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

C A S T L E R O C K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

H I G H L A N D S R A N C H . . . . . . . . . . 9

L O N E T R E E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

P A R K E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

P L A C E S O F I N T E R E S T

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

Douglas County keeps ongrowingWealth is crucial factorin area’s standing

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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 in-clude Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree to the north and rural expans-es such as Franktown and Perry Park farther south, the county’s boundaries include the incorporat-ed 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 popula-tion increased 62.4 percent, mak-ing it the fastest-growing county in Colorado and the 16th fastest-growing county in the nation.

According to the 2010 American Community Survey, the median

household income in Douglas County was $94,909, sixth in the na-

tion among counties with popula-tions 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 be-low the poverty level.

County commissioners in 2012 conducted a countywide survey, which showed residents want the county to invest in a safe, effi cient and affordable transportation sys-tem; protect the area’s economic future; and secure residents’ per-sonal safety and security.

Based on those survey results, the county is poised in 2013 to spend more than $95 million on road im-provement 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-

By Rhonda Moore Map by Scott Andrews

D O U G L A S C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T I E S

HIGHLANDSRANCH

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CASTLE ROCK

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LARKSPUR

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2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E

ity and a conservative fi nancial en-vironment are cornerstones of the county’s spending priorities.

“One of the most important things to ensure to continue healthy eco-nomic growth is to invest in our infrastructure,” said Commissioner Jack Hilbert, District 1. “To ensure that our economic development vi-ability continues.”

Healthy economic growth placed the county among those recover-ing from the 2008 recession in fi ne form. Douglas County saw a 133.9 percent increase in building per-mits between 2011 and 2012; in 2012 experienced a nearly $295 million increase in total valuation of new construction, including $91 million in unincorporated com-mercial construction; and thanks to companies relocating to and ex-panding in the area, experienced between 2000 and 2011 a 58.6 per-cent increase in jobs. The increase resulted in a ranking by CNN Mon-ey as number fi ve in the nation for job growth.

A B O U T D O U G L A S C O U N T Y

C O U N T Y C O M M I S S I O N E R SJack Hilbert, District 1, representing

residents of Parker and Lone [email protected]; 303-660-7401

Roger Partridge, District 2, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Larkspur, Sedalia,Roxborough. [email protected];303-660-7401

Jill Repella, District 3, Highlands [email protected]; 303-660-7401

O T H E R E L E C T E D O F F I C I A L STeri Cox, assessor, [email protected],

303-660-7450Jack Arrowsmith, clerk and recorder,

[email protected], 303-660-7469Lora Thomas, coroner,

[email protected], 303-814-7150David A. Weaver, sheriff,

[email protected], 303-660-7505Delmer H. Hamilton, surveyor,

[email protected], 303-681-3725Diane Holbert, treasurer,

[email protected], 303-660-7455

George J. Kennedy (appointed by governor), public trustee, [email protected], 303-660-7417

Mark Scheffel, state senator, District 4, [email protected],303-866-4869

Ted Harvey, state senator, District 30,[email protected],303-866-4881

Frank McNulty, state representative,House District 43,[email protected],303-866-2346

Chris Holbert, state representative,House District 44,[email protected],303-866-2933

Carole R. Murray, state representative, House District 45,[email protected],303-866-2948

George Brauchler, 18th Judicial DistrictAttorney, [email protected],720-733-4500


303-903-9256Email: [email protected]

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2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E6 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T I E S

Young Castle Pinesgrowing fastCity was incorporated in 2008

Castle Pines, Colorado’s new-est city, incorporated in 2008. The decision was spurred by residents who in 2006 became concerned about protecting and controlling the commu-nity’s future.

There is plenty to protect. Castle Pines ranks among Col-orado’s wealthiest communi-ties. 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 affl uent communities.

Though it’s still just a tod-dler, Castle Pines already has seen signifi cant growth. Ini-tially, 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 De-velopment, a 3,344-acre com-munity under development east of Interstate 25.

In March 2012, the city grew again. Its newest neighbor-hood is the Castle Pines Town Center, northwest of I-25 and Happy Canyon Road. The 354-acre planned development is slated to someday have more than 300 single-family homes and some commercial devel-opment.

The city also has expanded its staff. Initially, Castle Pines contracted for its municipal services, but in 2011, it hired its fi rst 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 boundar-ies 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.

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City of Castle Pines7501 Village Square Drive

Incorporated: 2008 Population: 10,000

Median household income: $134,000

Number of schools: 4

City manager: Ted Soltis, [email protected]

Mayor: Jeffrey Huff, [email protected]

City council members:

Tera Radloff, [email protected]

Kathy DesRosiers, [email protected]

Kim Hoffman, [email protected]

James Einolf, [email protected]

John Ewing, [email protected]

Marc Towne, [email protected]

Castle Pines’ location and scenery make for picturesquerecreation opportunities.

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2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E 7D O U G L A S C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T I E S

Castle Rock began to take shape in 1874, when home-steader Jeremiah Gould do-nated 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 commu-nity to commerce north and south of town, opening the Front Range market for ship-ments from the rhyolite quar-ries and dairy farms that sur-rounded Castle Rock.

By 2012, the town had grown past the 50,000 mark and town leaders were fi nding 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

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 reputa-tion as a family-friendly com-

munity. Building upon traditions

such as Starlighting, the holi-day lighting of the star that sits

atop the town’s rock monu-ment, the town partnered with downtown economic devel-opment leaders to debut the Rink at the Rock. The town’s fi rst outdoor ice rink opened

at the 2012 Starlighting cel-ebration and merchants say it has “fl ipped 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 destina-tions 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 play-ground with zip lines, snow sports, hiking trails and an outdoor amphitheater, as well as traditional park features.

Before they saw the fi rst day of 2013, councilmembers bumped construction of the park’s $8.9 million fi eldhouse a year ahead of schedule to ensure the 50,000-square-foot sports facility opened in tan-dem with the park.

Once fi nished, it will become the town’s 20th developed

Castle Rock is rising star

By Rhonda Moore

Town of Castle Rock100 N. Wilcox Street | www.crgov.com | 303-660-1015

Incorporated: May 17, 1881

Population: 50,028(as of Jan. 1, 2012)



Town Manager: Mark Stevens, [email protected],303-660-1386

Town council members:Paul Donahue, Mayor, District 1, [email protected],720-733-3585

Joe Procopio, Mayor Pro Tem, District 7, [email protected], 303-660-1372

Mark P. Heath, District 2, [email protected],303-660-1396

Jennifer Green, District 3, [email protected],303-660-1366

Chip Wilson, District 4,[email protected],303-660-1384

Renee Valentine, District 5, [email protected],303-660-1383

Clark Hammelman, District 6,[email protected],303-660-1371

Town expands opportunities to work, play

Continued page 8

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.

File photos

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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 refl ects the com-mitment to quality of life from the town’s parks and recre-ation department, which earned the National Recre-ation and Parks Administra-tion’s 2012 Gold Medal Award. The award is a distinction among the nation’s top parks

and rec departments for ex-cellence in parks and recre-ation planning and manage-ment.

“We are excited to be the recipient of (the 2012) Gold Medal Award – the most pres-tigious award in the parks and rec industry,” said Council-member Jennifer Green, Dis-trict 3. “The award refl ects our staff’s dedication and effort in providing fantastic amenities as well as the continued sup-port we receive from our resi-dents.”

CASTLE ROCK: Continued from page 7

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5 star facilityPerson centered care

Exceptional activities program

The Castle Cafe in downtown Castle Rock is one of 20 historical loca-tions designated with new QR code markers that reveal the stories and histories of the buildings.

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R E A L E S T A T E D I R E C T O R YD O U G L A S C O U N T Y

Douglas CountyReal Estate Expert & Resident.Real Estate Expert & Resident.

Kathy GrimesCertified Residential Specialist, REALTOR®

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H2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E 9D O U G L A S C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T I E S

The renovated Highlands Ranch Mansion offi cially opened its gates to the public in 2012.

Highlands Ranch not too young for history

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 Law-rence 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 prop-erty to us,” said Rick Owens, chairman of the Metro Dis-trict board of directors. “This

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 un-dergone major transforma-tions under fi ve of its seven owners since it was built in 1891, is nine decades older than the community it calls home.

Highlands Ranch, one of the nation’s largest planned com-munities, saw its fi rst homes built in 1981 under the direc-tion of Mission Viejo, which later sold off to Shea Prop-erties. The unincorporated enclave sits on 23.5 square miles in the northwest corner of Douglas County. Nearing build-out, at which the com-munity is expected to have a

population of around 105,000, Highlands Ranch currently has 92,848 residents who all belong to the Highlands Ranch Community Associa-tion.

Assessment dollars pay for access to four state-of-the-art recreation centers and the 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area, along with a slew of community-oriented

By Ryan Boldrey

Community nears build-out, has third of county’s population

Highlands Ranch

Established: 1981

Population: 92,848



Websites: www.hrcaonline.org, www.highlandsranch.org

HRCA offi cials: Jerry Flannery, CEO, [email protected]

Board of Directors:Scott Lemmon, board chairman, [email protected]

Christina Caputo,[email protected]

Jeff Suntken,[email protected]

Brock Norris,[email protected]

Craig Ziesman,[email protected]

Metro District offi cials: Terry Nolan, general manager,

[email protected]

Jeff Case, director of public works,[email protected]

Carrie Ward, director of parks, recreation and open space, [email protected]

Rick Owens, board chairman, [email protected]

Vicky Starkey, vice chair,[email protected]

Allen Dreher, board treasurer, [email protected]

Kelly O’Sullivan, board member,[email protected]

Nick Robinson, board member, [email protected]

Carolyn Schierholz, board member,[email protected]

Nancy Smith, board member, [email protected]

Continued page 10

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Lone Tree getshigh marks

Like a perennial teenager,

Lone Tree is on a seemingly

endless growth spurt.

At 18, it’s a relative newcom-

er to south suburban Den-

ver, 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 devel-

opers say they’re in no hurry

to build out the 3,500-acre

property. Nevertheless, Ridge-

Gate is responding to eco-

nomic 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 de-

velopments 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 con-

stantly evolving regional draw

that is Park Meadows shop-

ping center.

The forecast for this upscale,

well-organized city — where

scandal is rare and news typi-

cally 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 refl ect this sense

of well-being. During a 2012

survey, 98 percent of the re-

spondents rated overall qual-

ity of life “excellent” or “good,”

with suggestions for change

mostly limited to desires for

more amenities and less traf-

fi c congestion.

By Jane Reuter

City of Lone Tree9220 Kimmer Drive, Suite 100 | cityofl onetree.com

Incorporated: 1995

Population: 11,331



City council members:

Jim Gunning, Mayor, jim.gunning@cityofl onetree.com

Jackie Millet, Mayor Pro Tem, jackie.millet@cityofl onetree.com

Harold Anderson, harold.anderson@cityofl onetree.com

Susan Squyer, susan.squyer@cityofl onetree.com

Kim Monson, kim.monson@cityofl onetree.com

City manager: Jack Hidahl, jack.hidahl@cityofl onetree.com

Lone Tree, with downtown Denver in the background.

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 commu-nity direction and both bodies are run by a board of directors and CEO. The HRCA also has

91 district delegates that rep-

resent their individual neigh-

borhoods and voice their

opinions to the HRCA’s board

of directors.

The HRCA’s mission is to “en-

hance property values and

create quality of life through

recreation, community events

and leadership.”

HIGHLANDS RANCH: Continued from page 9

Highlands Ranch’s Town Center is one hub for retail, dining andcommunity activity. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen

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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, undevel-oped pockets of land are be-ing fi lled in, and start-ups and national chains alike are fi ll-ing in vacant storefronts.

Parker stands at the begin-ning of a business-centric era. Mike Waid, who was elected mayor in November, has promised to run the town like a corporation, with resi-dents being the “sharehold-ers.” Likewise, all three coun-cil 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

beefed up its economic de-velopment department and is actively advertising itself as

a place for employers to relo-cate. Decision-makers have long pledged to make the

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 res-urrecting projects delayed by a lack of funding. Hous-ing permits continue to sky-rocket, 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 fulfi ll future needs. Two new senior living centers opened in Parker in 2012, and recreation programming is frequently expanded to ac-commodate the growing ac-tive senior population.

Parker takes planned approach to change Town aims to bring in more employment

By Chris Michlewicz

Town of Parkerwww.parkeronline.org | 303-841-0353

Incorporated: 1981

Population: 45,758

Area: 20.8 square miles



Mayor: Mike Waid, [email protected]

Town administrator: Randy Young, [email protected]

Town council members:Scott Jackson, [email protected] John Diak, [email protected] Martin, [email protected] Holland, [email protected] Rivero, [email protected] Lewis, [email protected]

Parker Days Festival drawslarge crowds to downtownParker every summer.

File photo

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Situated among the rolling hills of ru-ral Douglas County, the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center offers comfort and hope to abused and ne-glected horses, donkeys and mules.

The new 168-acre facility is one of only a few in the nation that accom-modate 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 fi eld and equine services for the Dumb Friends League. “We were basically looking to see where we could make the big-gest 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-dol-lar 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

are among the worst — victims of pro-longed 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 in-creasing number of neglect cases, nor the number of cases that may come in at one time.

“We actually took in our fi rst horses in November (2011), before the facil-ity 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 specifi c mission to allevi-ate suffering in the most severe cases of neglect.

The center is open to potential adopt-ers 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. Col-orado 86, Franktown. For more in-formation about the DFL Harmony Equine Center and how you can help, visit ddfl .org/equine or call 303-751-5772.

A volunteer works to re-socialize a horse at the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center. Photo by Deborah Grigsby

Equine center focuses on rehab, adoptionDumb Friends League provides help, hope

By Deborah Grigsby

L A R K S P U R

F R A N K T O W N

Centenarian refl ects onLarkspur landmarkFormer owner of original ‘Spur’ turns 100

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 re-main 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 fi rst 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

By Rhonda Moore

Residents of Larkspur enjoy the scenic landscapes that surround the town.

File photo


R O X B O R O U G H

In one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, there remains land virtually un-changed for millennia — ex-cept that it’s no longer under an ocean.

Roxborough State Park, creat-ed 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 de-velopment.

Roxborough has strict rules to maintain its passive and pristine character — no pets, no rock climbing, no straying from marked trails, no night-time hours.

“Animals get really comfort-able 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 north-ern 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 pic-tures.

“My feeling is that not every park should be everything to everybody,” said Farrow, not-ing that Chatfi eld is just min-utes 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 Rox-borough, as well. Because it’s uniquely situated between mountain and plain, and fea-tures awesome rock forma-tions that are older than the Rocky Mountains, an abun-dance of wildlife is supported. Common critters include rep-tiles, 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 cre-ated the awesome rock for-mations. Lodged inside one 87.5 million-year-old rock is a shark’s tooth; on others, alliga-tor prints are evident.

The more recent past is rep-resented 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 jew-el,” said Farrow.

A gem from beneath long-ago wavesRoxborough could see development pressure

By Jennifer Smith

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 de-fi ned 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 remem-bers things.”

When Cockrum and her hus-band bought the bar, they resided in living quarters at-tached 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 fi rst presi-dential 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 wa-ter service to town. She never served food at “the Spur,” but was the fi rst 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 fi rst mayor.

“I fi gured she was the most logical person I knew,” Cut-birth said. “She knew exactly what to do.”

Cockrum was born in Weed, N.M., on Jan. 8, 1913, and

worked from the time she grad-uated 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 fi re department – “I just started cleaning it one day and pretty soon they were pay-ing 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 cen-tury 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 un-til she was 96,” Cutbirth said. “She’s amazing.”

Cockrum was the one who was amazed the day she real-ized 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 fi lls 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 peo-ple like me. I won’t be around another 100 years.”

The Roxborough Visitor Center offers information about the park and the history of the land formations. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen

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S2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E14 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y F O C U S

H E A LT H C A R E

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 fi rst hospitals, giving residents of each of the four major Douglas County communi-ties a place to receive convenient treatment.

Castle Rock Adventist, which broke ground in September 2011, has plans to open its 212,000-square-foot facility in the Meadows in the summer of 2013. The 50-bed hos-pital will be four stories tall and will feature an intensive-care unit, pharmacy, laboratory, three operat-ing rooms, two dedicated cesarean-section operating suites, nuclear medicine, a women’s imaging cen-ter, cardiology and radiology.

“We’ve needed health-care servic-es 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 popula-tion nearing 100,000 and children spread between 31 different schools within its boundaries, Highlands Ranch is ecstatic to welcome Chil-dren’s Hospital to the intersection of Lucent and Plaza.

On target to open in December, Children’s Hospital Colorado’s

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 Chil-dren’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 fi rst year alone.”

Other medical development in-cludes Kaiser Permanente’s fi rst Douglas County Behavioral Health Clinic, opening in Highlands Ranch in 2012, which complements Kai-ser’s Castle Rock, Parker and High-lands 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.

Health care expanding in 2013Hospitals scheduled to open in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch

By Ryan Boldrey

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 fi rst full-service hospital in Douglas County.

File photos

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N2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E 15

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D O U G L A S C O U N T Y F O C U S

Have roads, will travel. That could be the mantra for Douglas County residents who in 2013 will see more than $95 million in road improve-ment projects take shape among the county’s 2,363 lane miles of road-ways.

It is an investment that has been long in the making.

The county opted for road improve-ment projects in the 2013 budget af-ter 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 reduc-tions 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 fi nancial 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 refl ect a desire among residents for a reliable transportation system, and consulted with a panel made up of representatives from the develop-ment community, corporate execu-tives and economic development ex-perts to prioritize Douglas County’s

capital improvement investments.The list of priorities refl ects the com-

missioners’ goal to keep the county’s economic engine running.

Among the road projects for 2013 are investments in Castle Rock’s North Meadows extension; reconstruction along Santa Fe Drive from Titan Road to Sedalia; partnering with CDOT to widen Interstate 25 from RidgeGate Parkway to County Line Road; and accelerated pavement restoration in Highlands Ranch.

“One of the most important things to ensure continued healthy eco-nomic growth is to invest in our infra-structure,” said Commissioner Jack Hilbert, District 1. “Businesses that see problems in those areas are hesi-tant to invest in Douglas County. We need to ensure that our economic de-

velopment viability continues; that is why we have some of the fastest job growth in the state.”

Travelers in Highlands Ranch will likely see the most cone activity, with road resurfacing projects at Lincoln Avenue and Quebec Street, on Broad-way and along Highlands Ranch Parkway, Hilbert said.

With an eye on the future, the coun-ty dedicated $10 million to help with design and preliminary studies for the C-470 project, to reduce conges-tion from Interstate 25 to Interstate 70.

“There are times when it’s just a mess over there,” Hilbert said. “One of our primary goals is to create an environment that would allow for job growth.”

Road improvements on horizonCounty’s goal is job growth

By Rhonda Moore

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.

File photos

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2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E16 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y F O C U S

Housing permit fi gures 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 na-tion. That all changed when the hous-ing market bottomed out in 2008. Apartment and townhome projects in Highlands Ranch and Parker were abandoned, and major developers were placing indefi nite holds on new single-family home construction.

Numbers climbed nominally in 2011, providing the fi rst glimmers of hope for a recovery. In 2012, local of-fi cials became more convinced that it was not cautious optimism that was prompting a steady increase in per-mit applications, but rather a shift in attitude and fi nancial stability.

It became apparent that develop-ment in Highlands Ranch was on the uptick. Residents saw progress on Tresana, a Shea Homes commu-nity of “luxury attached residences,” townhomes and fl ats. Further to the northwest, near County Line Road

and Erickson Boulevard, work con-tinued on Verona, an over-55, active-adult community. The Backcountry, a gated community of higher-end homes, also received renewed atten-tion.

This year promises much of the same. Even in the fi rst two months of 2012, Parker offi cials saw vast im-provements 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 fi rst quarter of 2011.

The year fi nished 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 ap-plication to subdivide 360 acres into 381 lots for single-family homes, the latest phase of the Meridian Village neighborhood southwest of Main-street and Chambers Road. Heir-

loom, a 160-home subdivision, is now being built west of Chambers Road by Standard Pacifi c Homes.

In Castle Rock, an application was submitted for a 60-unit multi-fam-ily 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 certifi cates of occupancy were issued for single-family attached and de-tached homes in Castle Rock.

Lone Tree has also seen its share of activity, with the 281-unit Vue Apart-ments under construction on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Inter-state 25. Just to the south, the 142 single-family-home Montecito de-velopment was started. The 31-home Parkside at RidgeGate is under con-struction just east of the Lone Tree Recreation Center, and Regency at RidgeGate, a 208-unit multi-family development, is under construction nearby.

Housing shows signs of lifePermit numbers rise in all communities

By Chris Michlewicz

Housing construction permits in Douglas County have been on the rise. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen

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N2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E 17D O U G L A S C O U N T Y F O C U S

A world away from Interstate 25 and C-470, a more pasto-ral throughway links Douglas County. The East-West Re-gional Trail extends 20 miles from the west end of High-lands Ranch to Lone Tree. The wide, unpaved trail meanders through suburban neighbor-hoods and across high, wind-swept 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, con-necting the community of nearly 93,000 people as well as the 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness area — a commu-nity-owned area along Mon-arch Boulevard laced with trails that tie into the East-West Regional Trail. Highlands Ranch homeowners also have access to four recreation cen-ters, each offering athletic and cultural programs, a public golf course and four off-leash

dog parks.In Parker, residents can

choose from the Parker Rec-reation 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 recre-ation 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, Doug-las County’s parks depart-ment oversees a vast network of parks and trails, including large, regional parks and dog off-leash areas. And South Suburban Parks and Recre-ation oversees 3,700 acres of parks, 100 miles of trails, sev-eral recreation centers, ice arenas, Frisbee and regular golf courses and other ameni-ties in the south metro area.

For more information on Douglas County facilities, visit www.douglas.co.us/park-sandtrails.

To learn more about South Suburban facilities, visit www.ssprd.org.

County boasts ample recreation optionsBy Jane Reuter

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.

Evan Sharp, 2, of Castle Rock, splashes through the water at H2O’Brien Pool last summer.

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G2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E18 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y F O C U S

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 fast-est-growing senior populations.

With 25 assisted living and retire-ment communities and nursing homes scattered throughout the county, there is no shortage of op-tions for older residents when it comes to living in comfort — regard-less of individual health.

Of the four major communities, only Lone Tree doesn’t offer any se-nior 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 se-nior 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 special-ized memory-care unit, two fl oors of assisted living and a skilled nurs-

ing fl oor, 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 in-home support it just got to be too dif-fi cult,” said Craig Erickson, executive director at Wind Crest, who sees the new addition as a way to prevent se-niors 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 special-izes 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 resi-dents said they are either very likely or somewhat likely to remain in the community through their golden years. As the baby boomer genera-tion ages, this has created more of a need to take care of the county’s se-niors.

“People like the quality of life here and they want to remain,” said Den-ver 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.”

Senior population spurs changes

The Douglas County School Dis-trict, which long has enjoyed a ster-ling 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, provid-ing a world-class education and school choice model for other dis-tricts to follow.

“Our system needs to change,” Su-perintendent 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 law-suit 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 teach-ers’ 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 swell-ing class sizes, the board also imple-mented 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 con-tinue to post some of the highest standardized test scores in the state on average and the overwhelming majority go on to attend college.

School district pushes for reformE D U C AT I O N

By Ryan Boldrey

No shortage of living facilities in county

By Jane Reuter

Residents take Zumba at Wind Crest in Highlands Ranch, one of the senior living facilities in the county.

File photo

2 0 1 3 D O U G L A S C O U N T Y G U I D E 19

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New Thought… Ancient Wisdom

Looking For a New Beginning?

Sunday School for all ages -‐ 9:00AM Coffee and Fellowship -‐ 10:00AM Praise and Worship -‐ 10:30AM Wed Eve Youth Group -‐ 7:00PM

Small Groups Meeting throughout the Week AWANA for the Children during school year

NEW BeginningCommunity Church

10550 S. Progress WayParker, CO 80134-4029

You are welcome to join usA Friendly Place to Worship

[email protected][303]-495-2949 • www.nbccparker.com

Holy Cross LutheranChurch

Missouri Synod

Worship 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.Sunday School 9:15 a.m.Early Learning Center

303-683-13119770 Foothills Canyon Blvd. Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Please see our website forholiday service times 2013-14

Missouri Synodwww.HolyCrossHRCO.org

303-683-1300

holiday service times 2013-14

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

Saturday 5:30pm

Sunday 8:00 & 10:3Oam

Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-37707051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO

303-841-3739www.joylutheran-parker.org

E d u C a t i O n Sunday 9:15am

S E r v i C E S :

JoyLUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA

D O U G L A S C O U N T Y F O C U S

W H E R E T O W O R S H I PI N D O U G L A S C O U N T Y

W H E R E T O W O R S H I PW H E R E T O W O R S H I PI N D O U G L A S C O U N T Y

D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y D O U G L A S C O U N T Y S E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SS E R V I C E SHardwood FloorsHardwood FloorsHardwood FloorsDecksDecksDecks LandscapingLandscapingLandscaping PaintingPaintingPainting

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Great Ministries for the Whole Family2180 S. Interstate 25, Castle Rock CO 80104

(1 ½ miles south of the Medved Autoplex)(303) 688-3745 • www.CreeksideBible.net

douglas county guide 2013

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