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August 21, 2014 VOLU M E 6 9 | I S S UE 41 | 5 0 ¢
WestminsterWindow.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y A N D J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Another look over the lake Contract approved to enhance Standley Lake master plan By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com The Standley Lake Regional Park master plan is getting a makeover. During its July 28 meeting, Westminster City Council voted 6-1 to approve a contract with Matrix Design Group, Inc. for master planning and branding services for the park in an effort, in part, to promote the variety of activities offered at the park. The total cost of the contract is $204,396 with an 8 percent contingency. Councilor Bruce Baker voted against the contract and said he has full confidence the city’s parks, recreation and libraries staff could do an outstanding job working on the plan. “I don’t think there is anyone more highly qualified than our local people and their local knowledge,” he said. “It’s foolish and wasteful to go out of our city and get another consultant on the project.” Mayor Herb Atchison agreed with Baker on the expertise of the city staff, but disagreed on the need for outside assistance. “We have not done a project like this in the city, and I agree we have qualified staff, but when the director says he needs outside help and is looking for a level of expertise, we have to listen to him,” he said.” He knows his staff,
and I continue to support moving forward in hiring a consultant.” The director mentioned by Atchison is Parks, Recreation and Libraries Director Don Tripp. He said he respects Baker’s concern on how the city spends its money, but in this particular case, he is seeking outside help because of the size of the park. “With this type of a park, we can make a major regional impact and have some specialized features,” he said. “We’re hoping to bring in someone with expertise who has experience in working on master plans for areas similar to Standley Lake.” Tripp said the current plan doesn’t fully promote the recreational opportunities at Standley Lake, and the new plan would showcase the park as a more notable regional recreation destination. He said because of the extraordinary views at the lake, the park could serve as a site for events like family reunions, weddings, concerts and even smaller events. Over the past couple years, the city has made a big effort to add more programming at the park, including yoga and environmen-
Standley Lake Regional Park offers over 14 miles of trails, just one of the many activities available at the park. Photos by Ashley Reimers tal classes. New this summer is also the addition of kayak, canoe and paddle-board rentals. The park also offers camping, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing and hiking on more than 14 miles of trails. “I think people who haven’t been to Standley Lake will be shocked at this gateway location between metro Denver and the Front
Range,” Tripp said. “The overall community has changed over the last 20 years, and it’s time we look at a plan that is best for the next 20 years.” It will take about nine months to develop the plan. Throughout the process, the public will have opportunities to give input during community meetings.
LEFT: New this summer at Standley Lake Regional Park is canoe rentals. Work on an updated master plan on the park is currently underway. ABOVE: Recently city council approved a contract to enhance the Standley Lake Regional Park master plan to reflect the many activities at the park, including camping which is offered throughout the summer.
Safety banquet set for Sept. 4 at new location By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia.com POSTAL ADDRESS
WESTMINSTER WINDOW
(ISSN 1072-1576) (USPS 455-250) OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Westminster Window is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SO CIAL WITH US
P L EA S E R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Last year 35 people were honored for their heroism during the annual Westminster Public Safety Recognition Foundation annual awards banquet. People from the police force to the fire department, along with Westminster residents, were recognized for their bravery in a time of need. This year’s event will be no different. The banquet is set for Thursday, Sept. 4, at a new location, the Westminster Marriott. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will include cocktails, dinner and the awards ceremony. Foundation member Betty Whorton helped plan the first banquet 12 years ago after the 9/11 attacks. She said the foundation wanted to find a way to honor Westminster heroes, and the banquet was born. “At that time I kept thinking that there was so much heroism during 9/11. It was a terrible tragedy, but there was also so much to be remembered,” she said. “I thought that there were so many heroes in Westminster that we needed to honor, so that was how the banquet was formed.” During each banquet, honorees’ stories of heroism are told for all to hear. Each story is unique
and many times life-changing. Whorton said over the years she’s heard amazing stories of lives being saved, and people going above and beyond in a time of need. The fire and police departments determine who the honorees are each year. Whorton said if the departments come up with 7,000 names, the foundation will recognize 7,000 people. “We also honor businesses in Westminster because they also perform heroic deeds,” she said. Tickets are $40, and sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and business, which according to Whorton is key in making the banquet happen every year. “The foundation pays for all the medals, the pins, certificates, a photographer who takes photo of each honoree, the pipe band and even complimentary tickets that each honoree receives,” she said. “We pay for everything, and it’s the sponsors who pick up the tab. If it wasn’t for our sponsors, we’d be having sandwiches in my backyard. We are eternally grateful to them.” To purchase tickets, go online to www.wpsrf. org or stop by the Westminster Public Safety Center, 9110 Yates St.
A member of the Colorado Emerald Society Bagpipe and Drums performs during the 2013 Westminster Public Safety Recognition Foundation annual awards banquet. This year’s banquet on Sept. 4 at the Westminster Marriott will also feature a performance from a pipe band. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Fairs help poverty stricken areas Support services in the county under one roof during fairs By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Poverty has grown twice as fast in America’s suburbs as in America’s cities. In fact, 64 percent of the county’s poor reside in the suburbs, according to the Brookings Institution. Adams County, also, has had poverty growth. “The percentage of households living below 100 percent of the poverty level increased from 8.9 percent in 2000 to 14 percent in 2010,” said Herb Covey, Adams County deputy director of human services. “Twenty-three percent of children in Adams County appear to live in poverty.
“We’re not the worst in the state, but we’d like to move that needle so there are fewer people living in poverty.” Adams County District 1 Commissioner Eva Henry said one of the issues in the poverty fight in suburbia is that federal aid is not often available. “A lot of its (federal administration) focus is on Denver or the rural areas, and they forget about suburban areas,” she said. One of the ways the county is working to address the poverty issue is to host three Citizen Assistance Fairs located in areas where the most people are suffering from poverty. The fairs are offering a wide range of support services, including food assistance, Medicaid, housing, childcare, early education, senior services, employment, transportation and veterans services, for which attendees can register. “We have a number of nice organizations that
have been willing to step up to the table and collaborate so we can help these families,” Covey said. “There’s a lot of energy going into helping people in Adams County.” Some participating agencies include Hunger Free Colorado, Adams County Workforce and Business Center, Aspen Family Service, Kids First Healthcare, Tri County Health, CSU Extension Service, The Senior Hub, Thrive Church and 180 Street Outreach. The first fair was Aug. 13 at the STEM Launch School in Thornton, and the second was Aug. 14 at Harris Park Elementary in Westminster. The third and last fair will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Hyland Hills Water World, 1800 W. 89th Ave. To find out what documents residents may need to bring to the assistance fairs, call 303-227-2101 or visit http://adcogov.org/index. aspx?nid=1308.