June 5, 2015 VO LUM E 1 3 | IS S U E 31 | FREE
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TITAN UP! Legend High School was one of the few high schools in Douglas County to enjoy nice weather for its commencement ceremony May 29 at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker. The 441 graduates in Legend’s class of 2015 were brimming with energy and excitement. Hugs and high-fives capped off the ceremony, and the grads strode triumphantly off the field to great applause from their loved ones.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MICHLEWICZ
Parker OKs incentives for Gander Mountain Agreement will bring jobs, revenue to Parker By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com
A sales-tax incentive package helped lure sporting goods retailer Gander Mountain to Parker. Parker Town Council approved a tax-incentive agreement worth $700,000 during a meeting in May. Here is a breakdown of how the approval will impact the town.
What it means
Legend High School graduate Michaela Sloan waves to her cheering section.
Legend High School graduate Zachary Zanger acknowledges the applause from his family after receiving his diploma.
Legend High School graduate Caitlen Stobbe is swarmed with congratulatory hugs after the ceremony.
Sales-tax incentives are authorized by town council to encourage the recruitment of businesses and employers that generate retail sales-tax revenue. The incentives provide employment opportunities and expand and diversify the goods and services to the residents, while “increasing the inflow of revenue from outside of the town,” said Elise Penington, town spokeswoman. Annual sales are estimated to be $12 million annually and the new store will employ about 60 full-time individuals when fully operational.
Why do it
Tax incentives are used to sweeten the deal; Gander Mountain had been considering other locations to build in the south metro area. “In this environment, which is highly competitive, it’s important for us to be able to target certain kinds of enterprises,” said John Hall, economic development director for the Town of Parker. “But incentives alone are not going to cause a business to locate somewhere that otherwise doesn’t work for them.” There are other factors involved: it “has to be the right market for them, with good location and demographics. We are that right market,” Hall said.
How it works
Gander Mountain filed an application to participate in the Town of Parker Tax and Fee Gander continues on Page 9
Parker Days: A sensational summer soiree Annual festival now in its 38th year By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Swirling, twirling carnival rides. Goopy, gloppy science experiments. Dance-inducing tunes. Food on a stick. That’s merely a fraction of the fun at the Parker Days Festival, the beloved annual summer kickoff that’s now in its 38th year. There is something different every year, but it’s the tried-and-true tradition that keeps the people coming back. Last year’s fete brought approximately 150,000 people to downtown Parker over 3 1/2 days, and this year’s event — June 11-14 — could be even bigger. According to early sales figures, people from more than 40 cities are coming to Parker for a concert by 1980s heartthrob Rick Springfield on June 11. The Thursday night prior to Parker Days is nor-
mally reserved for a sneak preview of the amusement rides, but the Parker Chamber of Commerce, the organization that puts the festival together, wanted to attract more attention at the beginning of the festivities in the hopes that people will come back to enjoy the rest of the weekend. “It’s a great tool for pulling people into the area,” said Sara Crowe, director of special projects for the chamber. While Parker Days is a massive regional draw, it’s the people who have been in town for a while who keep the festival thriving. Kathryn France, a mother of three who has lived in Parker for her entire life, is one of those devoted fans. She has missed the festival once. Ever. And she remembers exactly why that happened: When she was a teenager, her dad accidently scheduled the family vacation for the second weekend in June. It won’t happen again, if France can help it. The date is clearly marked on her calendar each year. “I get the entire weekend off of work and we don’t Festival continues on Page 9
Cameron Rowles, 2, of Kiowa, takes a hair-raising trip down an inflatable slide during last year’s Parker Days Festival. Photo by Chris Michlewicz