TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK
VOL. 11, ISSUE 2
Spring • Summer 2014
A magazine for everyone who calls Castle Rock home
North Meadows Extension Moving ahead at a steady pace on this historic roadway project
Weighing wildfire risk The science that saves lives Learn more about fire restrictions
Bounce and splash into indoor fun Get a sneak peek inside the future fieldhouse at Philip S. Miller Park
Castle Rock Recreation Center 2301 Woodlands Blvd. Castle Rock, CO 80104
ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER CASTLE ROCK, CO
PRESRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CASTLE ROCK, CO PERMIT NO. 26
Big dreams Lately, when I think about Castle Rock, the word “possibility” comes to mind.
There’s Philip S. Miller Park, under construction along Plum Creek Parkway. Read all about the new family activities and entertainment it will offer our community on Pages 12 and 13.
In this issue
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North Meadows Extension
Historic project a valuable learning experience for students
6
Water conservation season
Workshops give Water Wiser tips
10
In Your Backyard
Discover proposed new amenities
12
Philip S. Miller Park update
Look inside the newest place to play
16
Safety is a priority
New technology, strategic plan help CRPD keep pace as Castle Rock thrives
But what that article doesn’t tell you is there are even bigger possibilities for the park – dreams of zip lines, an amphitheater and a year-round synthetic snow park that’s only the second of its kind in the country. What a great way for Castle Rock families to spend an afternoon together, if and when the plans come to fruition. Dreams are percolating elsewhere in Town, too. Ground was broken in November on the Town Center at the Meadows. New shops, businesses and restaurants are expected when that long-awaited project is completed by early 2015. Just down the road is the proposed site of the Promenade at Castle Rock project. That certainly would enhance our options for exciting things to do, right here in our own community. Learn more on Page 10. It’s great that Castle Rock is a place that attracts such dreams. The Town makes it easy for you to stay up-to-date on developments with these and other planned projects – look under Good to Know on Page 3, or learn about the In Your Backyard feature on our website on Page 11. Also, please feel free to contact your Councilmember to let him or her know how to serve you better. Your opinion matters! Stay blessed,
Mayor Paul Donahue
where to call community resources at a glance Animal control/nonemergency Police Building permits Business licenses Chamber of Commerce Code enforcement Douglas County government Douglas County Libraries Elections/voter information Fire Department nonemergency Main Town number Municipal Court Park rentals
303-663-6100 720-733-3527 720-733-2227 303-688-4597 720-733-3559 303-660-7400 303-791-7323 303-660-1367 303-660-1066 303-660-1015 303-663-6133 720-733-2260
Public Works/snow removal Recreation Center Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course Town Council information Town employment Transit-dependent services Utility/water billing Water conservation
720-733-2462 303-660-1036 720-733-3500 303-660-1367 720-733-2218 720-733-2477 303-660-1373 720-733-6000
E mergency Mass Notification Life can change with just a moment’s notice. Make sure you are connected to emergency personnel. To register, visit CRgov.com/CodeRED.
A publication of the Castle Rock Community Relations Division Design Karen McGrath, Community Relations Creative Services Supervisor Lisa Edgar, Imagine Design Executive Editor
Fritz Sprague, Deputy Town Manager
Editors Caroline Kipp, Community Relations Specialist Karen McGrath, Community Relations Creative Services Supervisor KerriAnne Mukhopadhyay, Community Relations Specialist Kristin Zagurski, Management Analyst
Photography Karen McGrath, Katie Russell, Mark Sims, Jeff Smullen, Lisa Sorbo and Tim Tonge On the cover Spring has sprung! Get out and enjoy beautiful Castle Rock.
It’s easy to connect with your local government. The Town’s online hub for information is CRgov.com, where you can find information on anything Town-related. Or, have the updates come to you. Subscribe to receive Town news, events and more at CRgov.com/notifyme. We’re also quite social. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, where we share news and answer your questions.
Be involved
Are you interested in helping the Town plan for the future, or guiding Town Council on a variety of decisions? Consider joining a Town board or commission. The boards and commissions study information on specific topics and make recommendations to Town Council. Council plans to appoint new members to the 12 boards in May. Learn more at CRgov.com/boards.
Council election results
By the time this magazine reaches your mailbox, this year’s Town Council election results should be finalized. View those results online at CRgov.com/April2014Vote. Then, keep up with Council discussion items at CRgov.com/agendas.
GOOD TO KNOW
Connect with Your Town
Service and dedication
Your Town Clerk, Sally Misare, is the best of the best. The Colorado Municipal Clerks Association named her Clerk of the Year in 2013. As Town Clerk for more than 25 years, Misare is in charge of elections, special events, public records and more.
CRgov.com
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NORTH MEADOWS EXTENSION CONSTRUCTION
Current progress and the road ahead
The largest transportation project in Town history officially began in October with eight golden shovels and contagious excitement for the road ahead.
U.S. 85, a weekend closure of the highway will be required. Sign up for notifications at CRgov.com/notifyme. Or, Like the Town on Facebook, facebook.com/CRgov.
Today, progress is clear behind Castle View High School, where this new 2-mile road begins.
Once complete, this new road will extend from The Meadows, behind Castle View High School, to U.S. 85 and I-25, improving traffic in northern Castle Rock. It will cross a creek and two railroads and have a total grade change of more than 20 stories.
Residents in the area have likely seen trucks hauling dirt from Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, less than a mile away. That back-and-forth of moving trucks may not seem like much, but it’s a vital first piece of this project. In sum, more than 194,000 cubic yards of dirt are to necessary for the first phase of this project, which starts near the school. That’s enough dirt to fill the Recreation Center’s Lap Pool nearly 70 times. In addition, crews in February used two 300-ton cranes to place 15 girders to form the support structures for the bridge over the BNSF Railway. There will be two more bridges as part of this project. About 200 additional girders will be needed before the entire project is complete. If placed end-to-end, all of the girders for the whole project would stretch 4.5 miles. By the time this magazine prints, concrete will have been poured on the first bridge, and all of the necessary dirt will have been hauled from the Castle Rock Adventist site. Over the summer, crews will start working on the portions of the road you’re most likely to see – the connections with U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 25. Some of this construction will require significant road closures. In order to complete some of the work near the interchange with 4
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Real-life learning experience The North Meadows Extension is truly a historic project that requires specialists in a variety of areas, such as design, robotics, construction and more. In late February, students at Castle View High School who are interested in these specialized careers got close to the site for an extraordinary learning experience. Nearly 100 students from four different engineering classes watched as crews placed the girders. Castle Rock Public Works Director Bob Goebel explained the project, and answered the students’ thoughtful questions. “We’re proud of the work that has already been completed on this historic project,” said Goebel, who tailored his talk to each class’s focus. “For the past few months, students and staff at Castle View High School have been so patient as we work near their school. It was exciting to be able to share with students not only the engineering behind a project of this magnitude, but also how community involvement, engineering and construction all come together as career choices.” Learn more about the roadway at CRgov.com/nme.
CRgov.com
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Every drop counts Town workshop helps you become water wise It seemed like it couldn’t come soon enough, but spring is finally here. Temperatures are warming up, and soon, we will all be spending more time outdoors. It’s wonderful to enjoy the summer with a nice lawn and colorful flowers. But before you plant that first seed, make sure your plants are appropriate for our semi-arid high desert climate. Over the past seven years, Castle Rock residents have reduced their water consumption by more than 20 percent. You can enjoy a beautiful yard while conserving water. Learn how with the Town’s popular Water Wiser program. A Water Wiser workshop will teach you what plants are appropriate for our climate and how you can have the most attractive, and water smart, lawn possible. The interactive workshop focuses on several key areas to save water in your yard. The most important is the “7 Steps of Xeriscape.” Xeriscape is a type of landscaping that reduces water use. On average, about 50 percent of a homeowner’s water consumption is used on landscape irrigation. You can save between 50 and 75 percent of that water by following the xeriscape principles.
You will earn a “Water Wiser” designation just for completing the course. This designation exempts you from the Town’s every-third-day watering schedule. And, it’s transferable. That means if you move, your designation goes with you. Water Wiser workshops are free, but spaces are limited. Classes fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up for one at CRgov.com/waterwiser.
OUTLOOK
Even if you don’t have a yard, there are some things you can do to be wiser about your water use. Turn your attention indoors. A small change at home can mean a big change for our community.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: DAY DATE HOURS LOCATION Thursday April 10 6-9 p.m. Castle Rock Adventist Hospital Tuesday April 22 9 a.m.-noon The Grange in The Meadows Wednesday April 30 6-9 p.m. Town Hall Thursday May 8 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Grange in The Meadows Saturday May 10 9 a.m.-noon Castle Rock Adventist Hospital Thursday May 22 5:30-8:30 p.m. Philip S. Miller Library Saturday June 7 9 a.m.-noon Town Hall Wednesday June 18 9 a.m.-noon Philip S. Miller Library Wednesday July 16 6-9 p.m. Town Hall Monday July 28 6-9 p.m. Town Hall Monday Aug. 11 6-9 p.m. Town Hall Due to popularity, class availability may change. Visit CRgov.com/waterwiser for registration.
Additionally, the workshop will teach you how to detect water waste in your yard and home and how to improve your irrigation system. Did you know many plants actually do better if you water longer but less often?
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Being wise about water
Spring • Summer 2014
Make sure to turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Leaky faucets, toilets and shower heads can waste thousands of gallons of water a year and cost you money. Make sure your fixtures are water conscious. Consider installing a low-flow toilet. Also, you can get dye tablets from Castle Rock Water to check if your toilet tank is leaking into the bowl. Food coloring works great, too. Put a few drops of dye in the toilet tank. Wait a few hours. If the water in the toilet bowl stays clear, there is no leak. If you’re in the market for a new toilet, faucet or shower head, look for the “WaterSense” logo on products in your local hardware store. These are products the EPA says help conserve water. Head to CRconserve.com for more tips.
Sprinklers can stay up late Did you know the best time to water your lawn is at night? Castle Rock Water is using that information to the community’s advantage. The Town has made changes to watering restrictions to help make sure water is used efficiently this summer. Last year, Castle Rock residents were only allowed to water during specific times, 5-10 a.m. and 6-11 p.m. To be even more efficient, Town Council recently decided to open that window, allowing residents to water their lawns overnight. This is the best time to water, since temperatures and evaporation are lowest during the overnight hours. New guidelines will allow residents to water between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. However, the every-third-day watering schedule will remain in effect for June, July and August. Keep in mind, watering season is May through September. But, every lawn is different and may not require watering on all three days. Keep an eye out for your watering schedule. It should be arriving in your mailbox at the beginning of May.
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Data drives fire We laugh, because it’s often true. If you don’t like the weather in Colorado, just wait 5 minutes. Our climate, plus the beauty that surrounds us, is a lot of what makes Colorado, and especially Castle Rock, so desirable. But this breathtaking landscape and rapidly changing weather have challenges, too. That quick shift from cold and snowy to warm and sunny increases the risk for wildfires. Since 2002, more than 17,000 individual wildfires have burned nearly 1.8 million acres of Colorado land. Last year, those statistics hit close to home, with several significant wildfires near our area.
To help prevent fires – and, therefore, save homes and lives – the Town of Castle Rock, along with other local governments, will implement fire restrictions when necessary. But what determines the timing and level of restrictions? Fire restrictions are scientific, said Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Chief Art Morales, who has more than 35 years of experience fighting fires. Every day, firefighters in Castle Rock get weather station data measuring things like relative humidity, fire risk factors, energy released in fire fuel and how quickly natural fire fuels would burn. The pace of a potential fire is measured with thousand-hour fuels. Think of a large log found in a forest. Typically, those logs take 1,000 hours to burn. If weather conditions are warmer or dryer, the time it takes the log to burn could change. In fire-risk terms, if the log contains
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OUTLOOK
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less than 12 percent moisture, fire risk is higher and restrictions could be necessary. When the seasonal risk of fires is higher, such as in the summer months, firefighters evaluate even more data. The Douglas County Office of Emergency Management collects various pieces of fuel, such as a tree branch, to test. They bake the sample in an oven to see how quickly it catches on fire, determining the level of moisture. If that level is low, higher fire restrictions may be implemented. Castle Rock uses this same data to determine its restrictions.
restrictions
A REMINDER OF RESTRICTIONS STAGE 1: No open burning of any kind, except in developed or residential areas on private property.
STAGE 2:
“Determining fire restrictions is not arbitrary,” Morales said. “As we study the fuel models, we evaluate how quickly a fire will start and how fast it could burn. The drier the fuels, the more extreme the fire behavior.” Still, Morales said, it’s a balance. The fuel data is weighed with available firefighting resources to determine overall risk. If fuel models indicate the risk is relatively low, but fire fighting resources are unavailable due to other fires throughout the state, restrictions may be higher.
“We know these restrictions impact our community,” Morales said. “So we have to weigh all of the factors with a keen focus on keeping our community safe.” As the weather warms and conditions increase the risk of fire, the Town will announce fire restrictions on CRgov.com. Check CRgov.com/firebans for current information, or sign up to receive Town news on this and other topics at CRgov.com/notifyme.
In addition to restrictions under Stage 1, there shall be no use of charcoal grills; no fires in chimineas, portable fireplaces or patio fire pits; and no campfires at developed campgrounds or picnic areas. Use or sale of fireworks is also prohibited. People found to be in violation of these restrictions are subject to a $1,000 fine, 180 days in jail or both. If the Town implements fire restrictions, our priority is to inform you. Look for a news release posted on CRgov.com and on social media: Facebook.com/CRgov, Twitter (@CRgov).
CRgov.com
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A strong mix of retail, restaurants and entertainment is expected, bringing new options closer to home for residents.
Promenade AT CAS TLE ROCK
There’s a lot that goes into creating a world-class community like Castle Rock. Here, residents seek scenic trails, unique parks, family friendly activities, a vibrant Downtown and access to a variety of amenities. As Castle Rock strives to be the community you crave, Town leaders look for economic opportunities that make sense. Earlier this year, Town Council took a significant first step in increasing the variety of shopping, dining and entertainment here in Castle Rock. Alberta Development Partners LLC – a Colorado-based real estate, development and investment firm – is designing a master-planned development on the north end of Town, between Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 85. Spanning 200 acres, the proposal has the potential for 900,000 square feet of commercial space and 350 multifamily units. It would be the largest commercial development in Castle Rock.
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OUTLOOK
Town Council in January approved a financial agreement with Alberta to help make this project feasible. The financial agreement is advantageous to the Town, because the Town assumes little risk and yet will be able to help provide residents a variety of new amenities. Of the $180 million it would take to fully fund this project, the Town has agreed to contribute about $24.48 million, or about Spring • Summer 2014
13.6 percent, in shared sales tax and reimbursements of development fees. The actual amount of sales tax revenuesharing would be a function of what the future development brings in. The development fee reimbursements mean the developer would pay a building fee to the Town and then get a portion of that fee back when each business opens. The new businesses will bring in new sales tax revenue for the Town, funding the Town’s investment in this project, along with other Townwide services. Once Alberta buys the land, Town Council must still consider various other pieces of the proposed project such as signage and zoning. Through these processes, there will be opportunity for public input. (Sign up for notifications at CRgov.com/notifyme by selecting “News and Announcements” under News Flash.) Now, you may be wondering what amenities are planned for the proposed project. These decisions are market-based, and Alberta will ultimately decide which businesses come to Town. However, a strong mix is expected to bring new goods and services to Castle Rock. Learn more about this project, including more details on the financial agreement, at CRgov.com/promenadeproposal.
IN YOUR BACKYARD:
Your key to tomorrow’s construction As a resident, you know Castle Rock is a desirable place for families and businesses, which is why you see various new housing and commercial amenities being constructed throughout Town.
Each purple dot on the map represents an ongoing project. When you click the dot, a project sheet will download, giving you the information you need to know about what’s going on in your backyard.
Keep up with the progress online at CRgov.com/InYourBackyard. This interactive map shows what is under construction and what’s included in each project. When you visit the site, you will be asked to accept some simple terms. Just click “I agree,” and you will have access to a wealth of development information.
When new businesses are up and running, they are included in the Town’s online business directory. It’s like a phone book just for Town-licensed businesses, and it’s easily accessible online at CRgov.com/411.
Interactive map An interactive map at CRgov.com/InYourBackyard helps you keep up with the growing variety of amenities around Town. When you visit the site, you will be asked to accept some simple terms. Just click “I agree,” and you will have access to a wealth of information. What’s being built at that corner? Each purple dot on the map represents an ongoing project. When you click a dot, a project sheet of fast facts will download.
Fast facts Development can be a detailed process, but these fast-fact sheets give you just the information you want – a brief description of the project and a timeline.
CRgov.com
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more than just a fieldhouse Miller Park will appeal to families and athletes alike Spending time with family close to home is important for many Castle Rock residents. Soon, a new iconic park in Town will make that even easier. The new Philip S. Miller Park is set to officially open this fall. Among its many features will be a fieldhouse packed with fun. The foundation is poured, and the walls are coming up, but the formal name for the fieldhouse is still in the works. This exciting
facility will offer great new amenities for Castle Rock sports teams and residents of all ages. To help decide on these new features, Castle Rock Parks and Recreation reached out to the community. They took the wish list from residents and made sure the more than 65,000-square-foot building will have something for everyone.
The fieldhouse will feature year-round synthetic turf fields. Parks and Recreation is still working on program details, but the full indoor field could feature activities such as soccer, flag football, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee. A half-sized synthetic turf field is also included in the project. The second indoor field will hold boot camp-like exercise classes. With drop-down batting cages, the half-sized field will also be available for baseball and softball coaching clinics and practice sessions. Both the full and half fields will be available for rent, but pricing and details are not finalized. Don’t play a field sport? Bring your swimsuit. An indoor leisure and four-lane lap pool will be another great feature in the facility. A tot swim area, waterslide and vortex whirlpool will round out the aquatics opportunities inside the facility. The fun doesn’t stop there. A 3,000-square-foot indoor play structure and a 5,000-square-foot trampoline area will provide tons of activities for the entire family. With two meeting/party rooms, the fieldhouse will be the perfect place to hold your child’s next birthday party.
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f ie l dhou se
pool
Raising funds to support park programs “We’re really excited to bring this new park feature to the residents of Castle Rock. There’ll be activities in the fieldhouse that we don’t have anywhere else in Town,” said Recreation Manager Eileen Matheson. Over time, Miller Park will cover more than 230 acres. In addition to the indoor fields, there will be another lighted synthetic turf athletic field outside. The park is being constructed in several phases. The $21 million first phase will include the fieldhouse and outdoor turf field, as well as infrastructure for further expansion at the park. There were no tax increases to fund this project. The fieldhouse is funded by certificates of participation, which the Town will pay back using Parks and Recreation fees collected on new development. Also as part of the first phase, Castle Rock residents will be able to explore more than 6 miles of natural surface trails, hang out at picnic pavilions, play at an outdoor kids’
adventure playground, see amazing views of Downtown, and get a great workout, with the built-in challenge staircase.
The Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation was started by community leaders last year and is off to a great start.
Town Superintendent of Park Planning and Construction Jeff Smullen said this is the largest park construction project in Town history.
So far, it has raised nearly $15,000 for a pavilion fire pit project at the new Philip S. Miller Park. The foundation is excited about the progress but hasn’t reached its goal quite yet. In a grassroots effort to get local businesses and the community involved, there are two giving opportunities available right now.
“It is really rewarding to be a part of something that will have such a big impact on the residents of Castle Rock,” said Smullen. “We’re looking forward to opening the fieldhouse and having the park ready for residents to really enjoy all year long.” Keep a look out for next season’s Recreation Guide. The park’s opening will bring new classes and activities for residents. Also, keep up with construction progress by heading to CRgov.com/PSMpark.
The Legacy Brick and Park Stone programs offer opportunities to contribute to projects at the park. Residents and business owners who donate will receive an engraved brick or stone at the park pavilion site. The bricks and stones will be used during construction of a fire pit and community seating at the Miller Park pavilion. The personalized additions to the pavilion will be there for generations to see and create a legacy of community spirit. More information can be found at the foundation’s website, CRPTFoundation.org. CRgov.com
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explore
D owntown Much of Castle Rock’s celebrated small-town character relates to its historic Downtown. Special shops and remarkable restaurants, combined with a backdrop of breathtaking scenery, make for a don’t-miss destination. Hop into the car – or onto a trail – to enjoy shopping and dining Downtown, along with these amenities:
Emerging Arts Downtown is a great place to enjoy the arts, especially since the Greater Castle Rock Art Guild opened its Art on the Edge gallery on Wilcox Street. Across the street, you’ll find the new Douglas County Veterans Monument Plaza, and around the corner is the new do-it-yourself Arts on Fire studio. There’s plenty of public art peppered throughout Downtown, from the permanent and rotating pieces in Festival Park to the longstanding “paper clips” and “yellow train” sculptures on the north end. All public art is funded by the Philip S. Miller Trust Fund, not taxpayer dollars. Download a map of public art pieces at CRgov.com/publicart and an indoor art-walking map from the Art Guild at downtowncastlerock.com/explore.*
Vibrant Atmosphere For years, the entities that comprise the Downtown Alliance have focused on making Downtown a place people want to be. Now, lights twinkle over Wilcox Street each night, and beautified buildings help give businesses better curb appeal. Flowerboxes filled with beautiful blooms add color and charm to Downtown during spring and summer, and street patios outside restaurants and other outfits entice people to linger in Castle Rock’s fresh air and abundant sunshine. The icing on the cake is even when Downtown is bustling, you’ll still find plenty of free parking. Try the parking garage on Third Street if you don’t see space on the street.
Active Options Make Downtown your playground, and learn about the Town’s history while also burning calories. The Castle Rock Historical Society and the Town’s Historic Preservation Board developed a 20-stop walking tour of historic Castle Rock sites. Steel markers containing QR codes allow smartphone users to pull up Web pages with information about each site’s significance. Visit downtowncastlerock.org/explore for a map. The Historical Society will also offer walking/bicycle tours of downtown on June 28, July 26, Aug. 23 and Sept. 27. Don’t have a bike? No problem. During the warmer months, you can borrow one from a Castle Rock Free Cycle station – there’s one Downtown at Castle Rock Bike & Ski, 411 Fourth St. Learn more and rent the bikes at CastleRockFreeCycle.com. 14
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Family-Friendly Events Castle Rock is a Town for families, and the annual Downtown Event Series fits that bill. The Downtown Alliance has a goal of making this year’s events the biggest and best ever. Below is a quick event listing. While marking your calendar, be sure to also add the Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock on Sept. 6 and 7. Starlight Summer Movies – June 7, July 5, Aug. 2 and Sept. 6 Classic Rock Cruise In Car Show – June 14 Splash in the Park – July 9, 16, 23 and 30 Oktoberfest – Oct. 4 Trick or Treat Street – Oct. 31 * Special thanks to Castle Rock artist and illustrator Jeanne Trueax for allowing the Town to feature her piece on this page.
Targeted approach to roadwork increases efficiency PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM There are more than 560 lane miles of concrete and asphalt roads within Castle Rock’s 33 square miles, and the Town’s Public Works team knows what maintenance is needed along every inch. As part of the Town’s Pavement Maintenance Program, Public Works staff regularly evaluate and monitor the condition of all Town-owned thoroughfares and residential streets.
Since 2011, maintenance has been targeted annually to one of five regions throughout Town to increase efficiency. This year, many residential streets throughout The Meadows will be repaired or get preventive maintenance. In addition, portions of main roads like Wolfensberger Road, Perry Street, Plum Creek Parkway, Front Street and Ridge Road will also be repaired.
While main thoroughfares are repaired as needed, the Town has a five-year plan for evaluating street maintenance needs in neighborhoods.
Work on these main roads will require short lane closures. Visit CRgov.com/roadwork for updated information on these and other
roadwork-related closures. Neighborhood work will require lane closures; affected residents will be informed with a letter about two weeks prior to the work and a note on their doors about 48-72 hours before. Properly maintained roads have longer lives and are less likely to need expensive repairs. The five-year plan also incorporates work on curbs and gutters along with the roadwork, saving time and money. Plus, residents can know, generally, when to expect repairs. Next year, work will focus on the central part of Town and then in 2016, the focus will be on the north. In 2017, the work will return to the south end of Town. Last year, work was completed on the east side of Town, including the reconstruction of Enderud Boulevard. For more information on the Pavement Maintenance Program and to view a project map, visit CRgov.com/pmp.
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Castle Rock Police Department thrives with the community Our community is a sought-out place to call home. More and more businesses are coming into Town, and more than 50,000 residents now realize what a great place Castle Rock is to live. With all the growth, the Castle Rock Police Department has a focused plan to continue to ensure the safety of our Town. The Police Department’s strategic plan outlines well-defined goals for how to keep the department moving forward. It focuses on maintaining professionalism, meeting levels of service, efficiently budgeting and using resources, and encouraging teamwork within the department. The plan’s goals and six priorities challenge police to achieve high levels of public service while maintaining the small-town character of Castle Rock. One of those priorities is crime prevention. Now, the department has a new tool to help allocate resources to prevent crime, and even target known repeat offenders. The department’s new crime analyst evaluates statistics and looks for patterns of crime in our community. Spending time reading call logs and documenting trends to help predict where in Town crime may occur, the analyst works hand-in-hand with officers to detect trends so police know what areas need the most attention. In addition to crime prevention, other strategic priorities include traffic safety, maintaining a well-trained and well-equipped staff, preparing for future growth and supporting community policing
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to help with early identification of issues. Our Police Department knows partnering with residents, community groups, and public and private organizations only helps make our community even safer. The final strategic priority to help reduce crime and increase efficiency within the department is technology. Over the last two years, the department has implemented new technologies like in-car cameras, online crime reporting and crime mapping software. The next technology on the horizon is electronic tickets. In 2013, the department received a state grant to purchase a new paperless ticketing system. The system will allow officers to print tickets from a hand-held device or in-car computer.
Before now, officers had to handwrite citations. This caused challenges with records retention, and sometimes even confusion for residents receiving tickets. The new system will allow officers to swipe someone’s driver’s license, or type in the information manually, and then print the ticket on scene. Once back at the station, officers will upload the information directly into Castle Rock Municipal Court’s computer system – an efficient and streamlined process. Eventually, organizations around the state will share data using this solution.
With help from the grant, the department has purchased 27 e-Citation units. We hope you never get a ticket, but if you do, the program is expected to be seamless, efficient, and up and running in August. For more information about the Castle Rock Police Department, visit CRgov.com/police.
Go to CRgov.com/police and select Five-Year Strategic Plan under “Community Resources” to download a PDF.
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Fire Headquarters, 300 Perry St.
Fire Station 154, 3801 Prairie Hawk Drive
Fire Station 155, 3833 N. Crowfoot Valley Road
Police/Municipal Court building, 100 Perry St.
Recreation Center, 2301 Woodlands Blvd.
Service Center, 4175 N. Castleton Court
Town Hall, 100 N. Wilcox St.
Castle Rock Water/Utilities building, 175 Kellogg Court
Keeping you informed on open carry in
Town-owned buildings & parks Your Town Government is your objective and transparent source for Town-related topics. One of those issues is the open carry of firearms.
Many of the places you shop, dine and enjoy in Castle Rock are not governed by the Town’s open-carry ordinance. Only Town-owned buildings and property are regulated by the 2003 ordinance. That ordinance allows open carry on many Town-owned properties, including Town-owned open spaces, trails and parks not posted with a prohibition sign. Open carry is also allowed on all Town-owned streets, rights of way, parking lots and other Town-owned facilities not posted to prohibit.
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The Town knows there are a variety of opinions about this issue and a lot of interest in Town Council’s decisions on this topic, so it’s important the Town keeps you up-to-date. That’s why the Town created a Web page on CRgov.com specifically to inform residents about open carry. Visit CRgov.com/opencarry for a brief history and current information on the process. A 2003 ordinance, approved by Town Council at that time, gave the Town Manager authority to restrict open carry in Town-owned buildings and Town-owned parks. Under that ordinance, the Town Manager has posted some Town-owned buildings and some Town-owned parks to prohibit open carry of firearms in those facilities. Town Council since September has been evaluating this ordinance and decided with a 4-3 vote in late-January 2014 to repeal it. If residents disagree with an ordinance passed by Council, they can follow a referendum process outlined by state statute and by Town Charter. In accordance with this process, a group of Castle Rock residents in February submitted a petition in attempt to reverse Council’s decision, putting that decision on hold. As this process moves forward, possibly to a public vote, stay up-to-date at CRgov.com/opencarry. It’s a local government’s role to work closely with residents on a variety of issues. In Castle Rock, public safety and transparency have always been, and will continue to be, at the forefront, as we work together through any topic.
Town-owned parks posted to prohibit open carry Bison Park, 1390 Clear Sky Way
Matney Park, 5790 Lantern Circle
Butterfield Crossing Park, 3952 W. Butterfield Crossing Drive
Metzler Ranch Community Park, 4175 Trail Boss Drive
Centennial Park, 22 N. Gilbert St.
Mitchell Gulch Park, 200 Mikelson Blvd.
Founders Park, 4671 Enderud Blvd.
Paintbrush Park, 3492 Meadows Blvd.
Gemstone Park, 6145 Sapphire Pointe Blvd.
Rhyolite Regional Park, 1701 Crystal Valley Parkway
Spring • Summer 2014
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What’s your sign? Study solicits preferences for sign guidelines
Interstate 25 is vital to commerce, your commute and your community. As development along this corridor continues, it’s important that the community has a unified vision for that development – including signs. That’s why a study is underway to engage residents and business owners in a dialogue to develop aesthetic guidelines for signs along the I-25 corridor that are acceptable to the community as a whole. For the study, the corridor is defined as areas visible to those traveling on I-25 at high speeds. Because of Castle Rock’s topography, that ranges from areas right up next to the highway to those set back as much as a quarter-mile away. What should signs in the corridor look like in terms of sizes, shapes, materials, fonts, colors, placement and more? The Town is seeking input to help develop some guidelines. An interactive, visual sign preferences survey is available during April at CRgov.com/i25signs. Feedback provided through the survey will be considered, along with other inputs, to draft sign guidelines for the corridor, called the I-25 Sign Plan. The plan will not be law, but rather a tool for developers and property owners to use to understand the sign design elements that are compatible with the community’s vision for the corridor. Other feedback for the plan will include focus groups with key stakeholders, such as representatives of the business community, as well as suggestions heard at an open house that’s scheduled for April 16. I-25 Sign Plan open house
Once all inputs have been collected, the study team will compile visual sign concepts for incorporation into the plan. The concepts will be posted on the above Web page by mid-May for the community to view.
4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16
The Town’s Planning Commission is expected to consider the Sign Plan in June, followed by Town Council in July.
Keypad polling sessions on sign concepts, similar to the online survey, will begin at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Stay up-to-date on this and other agenda items at CRgov.com/agendas.
Town Hall, 100 N. Wilcox St.
CRgov.com
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giving back to
your community
Lending a hand made easy
Volunteers are vital to the Castle Rock community. They give more than 30,000 hours every year to help maintain Town roads and trails, coach sports teams, elevate the fun at a variety of Town events and so much more. That’s why in 2013, the nine entities that comprise the Partnership of Douglas County Governments set out to make volunteering even easier. The partnership, of which the Town of Castle Rock is a part, launched VolunteerConnectDC.com earlier this year. This interactive website is a one-stop-shop for volunteers. On the new site, those seeking to give their time can find a variety of volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can search by interest, schedule, location or organization. Once they find an opportunity, they can create a profile and sign up to volunteer. With that profile, they can then access information about service opportunities; upload required forms; track hours and mileage; read news about local volunteerism; and sign up for disaster response. In this first phase of the project, only the nine partners will advertise their volunteer opportunities. Later this year, area nonprofits will be able to use the site to recruit people wanting to pitch in. In Castle Rock, the Town offers a variety of opportunities. The Town needs volunteers for athletics, community safety, road adoption, the Recreation Center’s Teen Advisory Group, Teen Court and more. Visit CRgov.com/volunteer to find out more and access a link to Volunteer Connect.
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OUTLOOK
Spring • Summer 2014
Partnership of Douglas County Governments The partnership of Douglas County Governments was established in 2002 to strengthen intergovernmental relationships, promote greater understanding of individual community needs and generate opportunities to produce regional solutions.
Member agencies:
City of Castle Pines
City of Lone Tree
Douglas County
Douglas County Libraries
Douglas County School District
Highlands Ranch Metro District
Town of Castle Rock
Town of Parker
Town of Larkspur
CRgov.com
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ROCKIN’ SUMMER
Downtown events
When was the last time you went Downtown? From movies in the park to car shows and the popular Splash in the Park, there’s a lot going on in Downtown Castle Rock. Visit downtowncastlerock.com for a complete list.
Five ways to rock your summer in Castle Rock The Town of Castle Rock is all about helping you have fun this summer. From fitness events – like Tri the Rock and the Castle Rock Half Marathon– to service days, educational programs and more, visit CRgov.com/events for a complete list. Outdoor pools
If you’ve been itching to make a splash outside, the wait is almost over. Castle Rock’s two outdoor pools – Burgess Memorial and Butterfield Crossing – open for the season Saturday, May 25. Pool hours and more information are online at CRgov.com/OutdoorSwim.
Outdoor shopping
Maybe you like to be outdoors but aren’t up for roughing it. There’s plenty of outdoor shopping in Castle Rock. The Outlets at Castle Rock boasts more than 100 name-brand stores. Or, walk Wilcox or Perry streets Downtown for more unique shopping.
Miles and miles of trails
There are more than 50 miles of trails to explore in Castle Rock. Whether you seek a quick, yet beautiful, walk or an intense daylong hike, there is a trail for you. Visit CRgov.com/trails for information, or pick up a trail map at either Town Hall or the Recreation Center. 22
OUTLOOK
Spring • Summer 2014