Sentinel Northglen 5-23-13
Northglenn -Thornton
May 23, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ournorthglennnews.com, ourthorntonnews.com
Adams County, Colorado • Volume 49, Issue 41
Carpenter Park has grand opening Facility named for former mayor sports many new amenities By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@ourcoloradonews.com
Thornton City Manager Jack Ethredge gives opening remarks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Carpenter Park, 112th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, on Saturday. The grand opening of the park coincided with Thorntonfest and featured free carousel and 15-minute paddle boat rides, Battle of the Bands competition at the new amphitheater and learn-to-play demonstrations for bocce ball, shuffleboard and horseshoes. Photo by Tammy Kranz
The grand opening of the Carpenter Park Saturday marked the completion of decades-long plan for the 150-acre site at Colorado Boulevard and 112th Avenue. “What a place!” said former Mayor Margaret Carpenter during the ceremony. “When we first thought of this, believe me, it didn’t look like this.” Carpenter served 26 years on council — as Ward 3 councilwoman from 1973 to 1980 and as the mayor from 1980 to 1999. She said she was humbled by the park being named after her. The recreation center was named after her in 2004. City officials and staff celebrated the ribbon cutting of the new park space, which is adjacent to the Margaret W. Carpenter Rec Center and open space, prior to the kickoff of the 18th Annual Thorntonfest. “This is a rare opportunity,” said City Manager Jack Ethredge. “It’s not often you get to come to an event that is the completion of a community dream.” He said the 150-acre site had three phases — the recreation center, the open space multipurpose fields and the new park
Large employer moving to Thornton site
space. The new 48-acre development on the site features an outdoor amphitheater, a boathouse for pedal boats, an indoor carousel, splash pad and a sports plaza area. “A project of this size and magnitude isn’t completed by just one department in the city — it takes a village to build something this large,” said Mike Soderberg, executive director of community services. Ethredge said the total construction cost was approximately $11.2 million, and paid for primarily by the city’s Parks and Open Space Tax revenue. Funding also came from the Adam’s County Open Space tax revenue distributions, which totaled $375,000. The rest was paid through grants — including two Adams County Open Space Grants in the amount of $1.87 million — a Great Outdoors Colorado Local Government Grant for $200,000 and a Division of Wildlife Fishing is Fun Grant for $21,800. Diane Van Fossen, capital projects and planning manager with the city, described the park as multi-generational, especially the sports plaza area, which has tennis and basketball courts, sand volleyball, bocce ball, shuffleboard and horseshoes. Adjacent to the courts is the multipurpose area where people can fly kites and throw Frisbees and a 14,529-square-foot skate park featuring a street course and bowl. This is located near the corner of 112th and Colorado area of the park. The new amenities include an amphitheater, which can seat between 300-500; Park continues on Page 21
All smiles for Northglenn graduates
Corinthian Colleges fills former T-Mobile space, will hire 500-700 By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@ourcoloradonews.com Thornton City Council unanimously approved an incentive agreement with Corinthian Colleges Inc. that paves the way for more than 500 new jobs in the city. The 8-0 vote came during council’s May 14 regular meeting. Ward 4 Councilman Eric Tade was absent. Corinthian Colleges has signed a lease to occupy space at the North Valley Tech Center for a customer service, marketing and financial support operation, and the city will rebate the company half the use taxes (1.875 percent) for building materials, furniture, fixtures, equipment and operating expenses purchased over a five-year period. Adam Krueger, the city’s manager of business attraction, said although there is no monetary cap on the incentive, staff estimates the cost to be $58,000. Staff also estimated what the city would get in return. “Estimated Thornton revenues are approximately $1.9 million over five years, that takes into account property tax, mill levy, permits and earnings spent on taxable retail from employees,” he said. Corinthian Colleges will hire between
Northglenn graduate Coral Salas celebrates after receiving her diploma during Northglenn High School’s commencement ceremony on May 14 at the CU Events Center. Courtesy photo by Beverly Buster
Northglenn graduate Rory Moore receives his diploma from assistant principal Michael James during Northglenn High School’s commencement ceremony on May 14 at the CU Events Center. Courtesy photo by Beverly Buster
College continues on Page 21 POSTAL ADDRESS
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