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October 30, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 2 | I S S UE 52 | 7 5 ¢
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Holiday display gets OK Festival Park will be site of 30-foot artificial tree By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Ben Barnett and son Oliver climb the challenge staircase Oct. 25 at the new Philip S. Miller Park. “It’s great!” Oliver said. Photo by Jane Reuter
Park opens to fanfare in Castle Rock 240-acre Philip S. Miller Park cost an estimated $30 million By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
POSTAL ADDRESS
Castle Rock celebrated the grand opening of the new 240-acre Philip S. Miller Park and Miller Activity Complex Oct. 25 by inviting the town to a party. Thousands explored the new park and fieldhouse, played on the freshly laid fields and climbed to the top of the 200-foot challenge staircase to take in the view of the park and town from above. “This is a fabulous opportunity for us to show what Castle Rock has to offer. Not only in terms of the physical amenities and the terrain that God has blessed us with, but the community and the turnout and the support,” Mayor Paul Donahue said during the celebration. Park continues on Page 16
Mayor Paul Donahue leads the ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the new Philip S. Miller Park Oct. 25 in Castle Rock. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
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(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the NewsPress is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G E T SO CIAL WITH U S
P L EA SE RECYC L E T H I S C OPY
People wait in line for a free lunch Oct. 25 during the grand opening of the new Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Castle Rock Town Council approved the necessary funds for this year’s Starlighting at the group’s Oct. 21 meeting, and preparations are underway for the annual holiday celebration. “This is one of those projects where I really do see the community coming together to try and make Starlighting something memorable,” Mayor Paul Donahue said. The Holiday Lighting Committee, which discussed and designed the plan and theme, was made up of representatives from the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Alliance, town residents and Douglas County. The group met to review options available to increase the level of holiday lighting and decorations in the downtown area. The company they decided to go with for the project is Swingle. The company proposed to place lights, garlands and other decorations on various public properties including buildings, trees, street poles and bridges all the way from Fifth Street to First Street on Wilcox and Perry Streets, including Festival Park, town hall and the Wilcox Building. According to the town, the goal is to also incorporate the new theme of Castle Rock, “Your Hometown in the West,” with the lighting along the lines of a “Norman Rockwell classic Christmas,” using mainly white lights, snowflake light accents, and traditional garlands and wreaths. Castle Rock has decided to buy an artificial Christmas tree instead of renting one. The cost of the 30-foot-tall artificial tree, with a metal framework that can be added to for even more height, is $32,995. The tree will be placed in Festival Park. In order to have the tree available in time for the Nov. 22 Starlighting, it had to be ordered in advance and the town has already fronted funds to the chamber of commerce for its purchase. The cost of the tree includes white lights, installation, maintenance and storage for the first year. After the first year, the cost to store and maintain the tree is $10,000 if this is done through the current contractor. The cost of the ornament package is $7,000 for “light decorations” or $14,000 for “full” decorations. Donahue advocated for the more expensive package of decorations, saying that he hoped the tree would be the centerpiece for downtown and something the town could get use out of for many years. The 2014 total cost of the proposed lease for the complete lighting program recommended by the committee is approximately $59,000, not including the funds already committed for purchase of the tree, and also not including any funding for additional decoration of the tree this year. Castle Rock will not foot the bill for the holiday celebration alone. Douglas County has committed to contribute $20,000, the Downtown Alliance $5,000, and the chamber $2,500. This leaves a balance of approximately $31,500 for the town, plus the costs of any necessary electrical upgrades. The mayor was already in the holiday mood as he joked with council. “You know me, I’m not big on spending extra money, but it is Christmas time, people, and it’s something that will be around for years to come for the children of Castle Rock.”