HRCA NEWS
August 2023
TORNADO RENEWAL IN THE RANCH An unprecedented tornado and devastating storm hit Highlands Ranch on June 22. This fast moving storm surprised us all and damaged homes, vehicles, fences and toppled over 16,000 trees in the community. The Highlands Ranch Community Association, in partnership with the Highlands Ranch Metro District and Douglas County, came together to create and provide homeowners with answers and resources for cleaning up our neighborhoods. While volunteer groups, churches and homeowners joined together in mass efforts to help support each other in the clean-up effort. We remain grateful for our amazing community that has come together during this time of need. We met our neighbors for the first time, helped those we didn't know, and all without a second thought. Highlands Ranch became stronger and better, we took care and supported each other. Our residents remain a top priority and the Highlands Ranch Community Association is dedicated to working with individuals as we continue to clean-up and rebuild. We will continue to provide you with resources that may be helpful in the coming days.
REBUILDING YOUR YARD AFTER THE STORM As we continue our clean-up, we are creating new programs to help you rebuild your landscaping. So where that tree stump was, or where the tree landed and damaged the grass, might become a beautiful new Xeriscape (ColoradoScape) garden. The HRCA is partnering with Centennial Water to help provide information on creating your new garden and yard. We will have a seminar on August 15 to provide you information on how to start your new landscaping. A live workshop will also be held with staff from Centennial Water and the HRCA on Thursday, August 24, to work one-on-one with you to help you throught the process.
FREE MULCH - COME AND GET IT! As a result of the storm, Eastridge Recreation Center alone lost over 80 trees on our property, so we have several large piles of shredded mulch in the back parking lot of Eastridge. Please grab your bags, buckets, and wheelbarrels, and help yourself.
METRO DISTRICT RECOVERY The Highlands Ranch Metro District staff continues to clean-up from the June 22 tornado that damaged more than 1,000 trees on public lands and impacted fences adjacent to 350 homes. The collaboration among local agencies, organizations, volunteers, and residents has been gratifying. We appreciate the partnerships and support from local governments around the Denver Metro area that jumped in to assist in the community clean-up. You can see a list of the agencies and organizations who contributed to the tornado response, as well as storm information, at highlandsranch.org/stormdamage. Your patience is appreciated as work proceeds to replace Metro District owned fence and trees on our public lands in the coming months. While the new trees will not initially stand as tall as the trees taken out by the tornado, be assured that Highlands Ranch will live up to the Tree City USA recognition we have received over the past 35 years. If you have questions about this work, please contact the Metro District at info@highlandsranch.org.
STAY CONNECTED We want to connect with you. Go to HRCAonline.org to sign-up for our mailing lists to learn the latest.