April 8, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | SPORTS: PAGE 17
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 9
Public input sought for Lone Tree regional Future public space will span 80 acres east of Interstate 25 BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
behavioral health expert in Highlands Ranch, said the pandemic created a lot of fear in adults, especially regarding health care. Messaging to stay home and avoid medical facilities went too far, causing fear, panic and anxiety, she said. When it comes to general health care, family-care physicians said the pandemic was a tough year. Because general care is sometimes considered non-emergent, many patients figured 2020 was a good time to take the year off from seeing the family doctor.
Planning is underway for a whopping new regional park in Lone Tree, and the public can help shape its design. The 80-acre park will be located east of Interstate 25 and south of RidgeGate Parkway. The project will take several years to complete and it’s unclear when work might begin, but some features such as a playground, gathering spaces, trails and sports fields are already planned. South Suburban Parks and Recreation and the City of Lone Tree are asking people to suggest what else should be built there. An amphitheater? A water feature? People have until April 9 to weigh in at ssprd. org/public-input. “Listening and learning from our residents allows us to deliver better projects,” Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet said in a news release. “This community engagement effort, led by our great partner and recreation provider South Suburban, will elevate the development of Lone Tree’s centerpiece park.” The regional park will sit next to
SEE CARE, P5
SEE PARK, P4
Doctors across the Denver metro area are encouraging residents to catch up on medical care.
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Patients skipping care worries physicians It could take years to catch up on screenings, immunizations and fallout from pandemic delays BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Scientists, doctors, and the world are starting to come to grips with the direct and indirect impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on the healthcare system. That impact is not being measured by the number
DESIGNS ON EASTER EGGS
Family celebrates years of decorating eggs P8
of COVID cases, but instead, the consequences of a large percentage of society skipping preventive screenings and general health care in 2020. To assess the consequences of delayed care, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention commissioned a web-based survey last year. Of the adults surveyed, 40.9% admitted to delaying medical care for fear of being infected with COVID. An added 12% admitted they avoided urgent-care clinics and emergency rooms. An estimated 31.5% avoided general health care altogether. Kristin Orlowski, a UCHealth
A PROFILE OF PREP SPORTS ATHLETE
Volleyball player brings passion to the game P17