MAYOR

Mrs. Claus during the holidays and time working with the Chamber of Commerce, Breitenbach started a rotary satellite club dedicated to and consists of adults who are developmentally disabled.

In addition to being a member of multiple nonpro t organizations and in the Mountain Pine Women’s Club, Breitenbach was active with Marshall re victims following the devastating re in in Boulder County.

“ at’s not Parker, but that’s Kam,” said O’Neill.

Parker Youth Commission

One year ago, the Town of Parker approved the Parker Youth Commission. Since then, nine high schoolers have worked with leaders in the community to represent, engage and advocate for local youth.

Iris Pixler, chairperson of the youth commission and recent Legend High School graduate, spoke about opportunities the commission created, such as a mural project, as well as a partnership with the Parker Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Alliance to communicate internship opportunities.

e commission also toured Douglas County voting center to learn more about ballot counting and local elections. ey even took what they learned to three middle schools to encourage students to get involved in local government.

Another accomplishment is the creation of two awards. e Pride of Parker award, which will gift a $100 gift card to ve middle school students who express what Parker means to them through a visual art piece. e Spirit of Parker award will be a $1,000 scholarship presented to two high school students who have made signi cant contributions to the town.

“I learned that even as a young member of the community, I have the power to make a di erence and enact positive change,” said Pixler. “I hope to continue inspiring young people to recognize the power their voices hold.”

Law enforcement accomplishments

Parker in the past year hired a new school resource o cer to help protect children and teachers.

e town also added a new unit to the Community Response Team to assist in taking care of cases where mental health is a primary concern.

Parker received $75,000 in funding from the Douglas County Commissioners for a new CRT vehicle and $168,000 for sta ng.

According to Toborg, the town’s police o cers also received an increase in compensation this spring, to stay competitive in regional pay. Pay levels helped recruit nine ofcers last year, the mayor said, with four about to graduate from the academy and one o cer sworn in on May 24.

Economic, business and finance development

Late last year, the town took a step to make Parker a hub for activity through an agreement with Conuence Companies to develop six vacant parcels known as the My Mainstreet Project.

e project is a $275-million public-private partnership and is the largest economic development project in downtown Parker history, according to o cials.

“More than 140,000 square feet of commercial o ce space and an estimated 574 residential spaces, including for-sale condos,” said Toborg.

In addition, plans include a parking garage with 250 spaces as well as an outdoor community plaza, a new public park and art installation.

To grow employment opportunities, on the north side of town there will be an industrial space anticipated to bring more than 200 engineering, development, manufacturing and technology jobs.

e town created the Parker Economic Playbook to guide economic e orts by creating policies and programs to help expand employment opportunities and promote economic resiliency.

Several new businesses have opened and more are expected to.

e town council has modi ed the municipal code to no longer require a payment for a business license.

As new businesses like Black Rock Cafe have opened, stores, food chains and other businesses such as Whole Foods, In-N-Out and Chicken N Pickle will be making their way into the town.

“ e stories of local businesses are amazing and as you enter a shop here in Parker, everyone of them has a story to tell,” said Toborg. “Everyone of them has a story of why they chose Parker, why they chose their business and again, why they’re thriving. Nothing fails in Parker.”

Community development and infrastructure

Since the town was incorporated in 1981, the town has undergone its rst modi cation to land development ordinances. According to Toborg, this process provides consistent and predictable ability to the development community.

Following will be an update to the 2035 Master Plan.

With houses being built in the southwest area of town, other projects include several roadway projects meant to provide better connectivity in the community, such as the extension of Chambers Road from Hess to Stroh Road and an extension to Dransfeldt Road.

Engineering and public works are also in the process of updating lighting and sidewalks throughout the town.

“When you see the vacant land being developed and you say ‘remember when Parker’,” said Toborg. “When you see that, what you have to recognize is probably 40% to 50% of what that developer could have built on has been carved out for parks, for open space, for undevelopable land. e town protects what you love.”

Parks, recreation and open space

“For the rst time ever, we have a parks, recreation and open space commission,” said Toborg. “To advise the council on just that, on parks, programs, open space and recreation programs. We’re excited to work with these commission members to continue o ering the very best recreation programs and amenities that our residents have come to expect.” e town recently opened a new 15-acre park for residents at the trails of Crowfoot and has planned a 90-acre expansion of Salisbury Park and the 72-acre Harvey Open Space is planned to be open by the end of the year.

In light of the renovations to O’Brien Park, the recreation department has been re-accredited for the amenities as it is American with Disabilities Act and sensory compliant.

In addition to the High Plains Regional Trail, Toborg thanked other partnerships like the Rueter-Hess Advisory Board and the Parker Water and Sanitation District as they create recreation for the reservoir.

“I am always surprised at what a relatively small group of people, dedicated, can accomplish in a year,” said Toborg.

Thu 6/08

Morning Wave: Beginner to Inter‐mediate and Club Athletes 11-13s @ 8am / $80

Elevation Volleyball Club, 12987 E Adam Aircraft Drive, Englewood. 720-524-4136

Afternoon Wave: 14-18u Club Team

Athletes @ 11:30am / $80

Elevation Volleyball Club, 12987 E Adam Aircraft Drive, Englewood. 720-524-4136

Kids’ Zone: How Does Your Garden Grow? (3-7 yrs) June @ 3pm Parker Recreation Center, 17301 E Lincoln Ave., Parker

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Younger Than Neil @ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Q's Pub @ 7pm Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Littleton

Sun 6/11

SMARTER Goal Setting Class @ 2pm

Jun 11th - Jun 18th

Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr, Parker

High 'N' Dry: A Tribute to Def Leppard @ 6pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 6/10

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Featured

Tue 6/13

Intro to CAD (STEM Camp for middle school students) @ 7am / $125

Jun 13th - Jun 15th

Valor - Academic Building Basement, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303-4713000

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Ghostland Observatory @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Neil Z @ Earls Kitchen @ 6pm

Earls Kitchen + Bar, 8335 Park Meadows Center Dr, Lone Tree

Fri 6/09

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Eric Golden @ 2pm

Downtown Parker, 19501 Main‐street, Parker

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Matt Skinner Band @ 3pm Private Event, Highlands Ranch

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Anavrin's Day: Tailgate Tavern during Parker Days @ 3:30pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Hot Like Wasabi: HLW at Viewhouse @ 7:30pm

ViewHouse Centennial, 7101 S Clinton St, Centennial

Five Iron Frenzy @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Dwight Yoakam: Levitt Pavilion Denver @ 6pm

Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

Mon 6/12

Football Skill Positions Speciality Camp @ 7:30am / $179

Jun 12th - Jun 13th

Valor Athletic Stadium, Fields, and Courts, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303471-3000

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DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Wed 6/14 Thu 6/15

Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts: Lone Tree Summer Concert @ 5pm Sweetwater Park, 8300-1/2 Sweet Water Rd, Lone Tree

Fuego en Concierto @ 8pm / Free Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

This week, our newspaper featured a story reporter Tayler Shaw worked on over several months. is story tells the heartbreaking story of a teenager who died after allegedly buying drugs laced with fentanyl through Snapchat.