News-Press DCCR 5-23-13
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 9
May 23, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
Roadwork to impact drivers Alternate routes advised during summer projects By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com The Meadows developer started a road expansion project that will impact hundreds of commuters and last most of the summer. The Castle Rock Development Co. began work on a road project at Meadows Parkway and Prairie Hawk Drive that will add new median curbs, replace pavement, widen the roads and add a new turn lane into Limelight Avenue. Construction began May 15 as part of an agreement between the Town of Castle Rock and the development company, according to the town. The increased traffic and new businesses near the AMC Castle Rock 12 theater warranted the improvements, said Bob Goebel, director of public works. Work on Prairie Hawk Drive began first,
with plans to widen the road and add new turn lanes for northbound traffic at the Meadows Parkway intersection. During construction, the northbound left-hand turn lane on Prairie Hawk Drive will be closed. Travelers who want to turn left from northbound Prairie Hawk Drive at Meadows Parkway or New Hope Way will be detoured to Low Meadow Boulevard. Once completed, northbound Prairie Hawk Drive will have two left turn lanes at Meadows Parkway, two through lanes and a separate right-turn lane. Work is expected to last until late June and work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. When Prairie Hawk Drive is completed, crews will begin work to provide a new right-turn lane from eastbound Meadows Parkway onto Limelight Avenue. During construction, the eastbound and westbound lanes closest to the medians could be closed and no left turns will be allowed at the Limelight Avenue and Meadows Roadwork continues on Page 13
Construction began May 15 at the intersection of Meadows Parkway and Prairie Hawk Drive. Crews are expected to be on site for most of the summer. Photo by Rhonda Moore
County urges preparation for disaster
Fire danger still predicted to be high this summer By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
“We’re looking forward to the final project.” Phase one of the final project coincides with construction of a $9 million fieldhouse — a 50,000 square-foot building to feature indoor synthetic turfs — a play adventure area and swimming pools. The start of construction of the fieldhouse was accelerated to coincide with the park’s groundbreaking in hopes of celebrating a 2014 grand opening of the park and the fieldhouse. “This (groundbreaking) is a culmination of over two years of hard work by the community and town staff,” said Rob Hanna, director of parks and recreation. “I’m looking forward to the enjoyment (of the park by) the community and visitors for generations
As Colorado braces for what — despite the recent moisture — experts are still predicting to be a severe fire season, officials are asking people to take caution. “Without trying to be too dramatic, we want the point to be hard-hitting,” said Tim Johnson, Douglas County Director of Emergency Management. “We want to be in people’s faces a little bit and say: `Look, this is real, people can die, so pay attention. Take notice of what is going on around you.’ ” In a concerted effort to do just that, the county is preparing to launch a series of public service commercials with footage of a family driving out of last year’s Lower North Fork Fire as well as homes burning during the Waldo Canyon Fire. The message of the videos, which can be viewed at www.ourcoloradonews.com, is not just to show how real and scary wildfire can be, said Douglas County spokeswoman Wendy Holmes, but to prepare residents for disaster by getting them to sign up for Code Red, the county’s emergency notification system. In the spot that features a young family driving out of the flames and smoke of the Lower North Fork Fire, the viewer hears the voiceover say: “You may think this is the one call you never want to get, `Your area is being evacuated due to wildfire, leave immediately’; actually, it’s the one call you do want to get.” In another commercial, the viewer catches a glimpse of homes burning during the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, while statistics appear on the screen demonstrating the number of homes lost in
Park continues on Page 13
Disaster continues on Page 13
Jeff Smullen, Castle Rock’s superintendent of parks planning and construction, points out some features planned at Philip S. Miller Park west of Castle Rock. Photos by Rhonda Moore
Town breaks ground on regional park 225-acre site set to be showcase investment By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com The day they broke ground on the Philip S. Miller Park, town leaders called it the crown jewel of Castle Rock. With the promise of a 225-acre park that includes a 60,000-square-foot fieldhouse, water features, amphitheater and up to five miles of trails, the town on May 15 hosted a ceremony among the park’s peaks to celebrate the start of construction. The ceremony marked day one of what
philip S. miller park planS • Fieldhouse and indoor pool • Core plaza with spray pad • Synthetic turf athletic fields • Adventure playground • Outdoor amphitheater • The Millhouse, an indoor/ outdoor events pavilion at the amphitheater
• Pond • Concrete trails and pathways • Four to five miles of softsurface trails • Irrigated turf and landscaping • Hillside step challenge • Picnic pavilions • Restrooms
is a multi-year project, said Mayor Paul Donahue. “Philip S. Miller Park will be a crown jewel in our inventory of parks,” Donahue said.