The CPN community will vote this November to decide whether CPN should build an indoor recreation center. A CPN citizen's committee has been working with the recreation consultant on design of a scientific poll of CPN residents, and a feasibility study for the project, and will present a "proposal" early this fall. Once the proposal is defined, then residents will have answers to many questions that are being asked today, such as the specific amenities that would be in the facility, and the amount of each homeowner's current taxes and/or homeowner dues that would be allocated toward the recreation center.

In July, an independent research firm conducted a scientific poll of CPN residents. Leisure Vision, a division of the ETC Institute in Olathe, Kansas, has designed and administered more than 600 research studies across the United States for a wide variety of public facilities.

The goal of the CPN survey is to have an independent, statistically valid public opinion survey which the Recreation Center Committee can use to formulate a proposal that matches the CPN community's interests, and to identify questions and concerns that should be addressed. The poll is not intended to serve as a referendum on the project itself; this will take place during the November election.

The professionals at Leisure Vision determined the methodology for the survey. A telephone survey was conducted that reached 300 homes in CPN, which were randomly selected in accordance with methodologies used for statistically valid surveys. Leisure Vision will tabulate the results and produce an independent report of the findings. The Recreation Center Committee will use the results in formulating the proposal.

The Recreation Center Committee is also busy this summer working with the recreation consultant, evaluating demographics, recreation trends, the costs and revenues that would be associated with an indoor recreation center, and financing options, and the taxes and/or homeowner dues that would be allocated to the recreation center. Virtually all of the public recreation facilities throughout Colorado receive a portion of funding from taxes and/or dues (the exception is the Apex Center in Arvada, a large facility which draws attendees from throughout the state, and is subsidized with revenues from their ice arena). The committee will work with a detailed analysis of the CPN community's tax base, including the tax revenues from the commercial properties; until these complex calculations are completed, no one can calculate an accurate "cost per home."

By September, the committee will use these facts and the results of the community survey to develop a definitive "proposal" that the CPN community will have a chance to vote on in November. This will give us answers to many of the specific questions that are being asked today, such as what would be in the facility, and what the costs would be. Specifics about the proposal will be covered in the October newsletter.

How do I get more information on CPN parks and recreation planning?

• Read the next CPN Connection newsletter, due out in early October
• Send an email to recreation@castlepinesnorth.org
• Call Judy Dahl at (303) 688-8550

Coyote Ridge Park is nearing completion. The baseball field should be ready for play in August. The bridge is in, and the sidewalks connecting the ball fields are expected to be done before the end of summer.

South Park. A new park will be built in the area north of Castle Pines Parkway, from the CPN Community Center east to the Montessori School. The access road will be from the new intersection of the Parkway and the new LaGae Road (next to the King Soopers). Funding for the park will come partially from developer fees that have been paid to CPN's Parks Authority, and partially from Master HOA dues. Currently, the Parks Authority is working on acquiring the land for the park. One parcel, north of the Community Center, has been purchased from the church that owned the land. Work is currently underway to transfer the balance of the park land. Some of the parcels currently belong to Douglas County, and there are is also two parcels that are currently zonedsome "commercial" land that the developer has an agreements to deed over to CPN. Once the land transfer work is completed, then a citizen's committee will begin formed to help plan the park, including decisions about what activities and amenities should be in the park. The goal is to begin working on the park in 2003.

County parks & trails. Douglas County has opened the new "Bluffs Regional Park," a "natural" park with hiking trails, located south of Lincoln on Yosemite.

Douglas County is also finalizing plans for the new Wildcat Regional Park north of CPN, near the new middle school/ high school complex at Monarch and McArthur Ranch Road. This will be a large, 200-acre park with league-play ball fields (6 baseball fields and several multipurpose fields for soccer, football, lacrosse, etc.), as well as many other amenities such as walking and biking trails, a garden and observation area, a lake, and dog-park areas. Funding of this park will come from Douglas County Parks funds, plus additional funds from the Highlands Ranch Metro District (if Highlands Ranch voters approve bond money for the park in the November election). The County plans to begin construction in 2003.

Douglas County is beginning work this year on the East-West Regional Trail, which will go in the open space area north of CPN, and eventually continue west to Chatfield Reservoir, north to the new Bluffs Park, and and east to the Cherry Creek trail system.

An 855-acre parcel critical to wildlife as a corridor was donated by DuPont and preserved as open space. It creates a link all the way from Pike National Forest, through Roxborough State Park and other protected lands across US 85.

The land will be divided into two pieces: 505 acres will be deeded to Douglas County and could provide future trail access, and 350 acres will be permanently off limits as a conservation easement.

Plans along the southern border of HR

Douglas County is hosting two public meetings regarding the future "Wildcat Regional Park" that the County will build along the southern border of Highlands Ranch, southwest of the new middle school/high school site, between Monarch and Daniels Park Road. This will be a large (202 acres) "active park" that will have league-play ball fields and other amenities.

The April 29 meeting will have two draft concept plans for the public to give input on, and then a proposed plan will be shown at the June 17 meeting. The county will then will finalize the design.

Construction could begin in 2004.

When and Where: Monday, April 29, 2002, and 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Arrowwood Elementary School, Highlands Ranch.

For questions on this County meeting, call Douglas County Parks Dept. at 303-660-7495, or email Parks Director Ron Benson.

Kids and Teens Focus-Group Meeting on April 22nd at the Community Center to discuss features and amenities in our newest park.

Calling all CPN teenagers - what would you like to see in CPN's newest park? Last year, the younger kids helped pick the great playground equipment that is in Coyote Ridge Park. Now it is the teens' turn to speak up.

Come to the Focus Group meeting.
There will be separate time periods by age group:

6:00-7:00pm: ages 9-12
7:00-8:00pm: ages 13-15
8:00-9:00pm: ages 16 and up.

Come let us know what you think would improve our neighborhood parks.

Teens, take the April 2002 Survey - we need your input.

Public meetings have been scheduled to keep CPN residents informed and involved in planning for our community's recreation needs, including trails, parks, and a potential recreation center. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 23, with a follow-up meeting on Wednesday, May 22. Both of these sessions will start with an Open House at 6:00 p.m., followed by the formal meeting at 7:00 p.m. Both meetings will be at the CPN Community Center, 7404 Yorkshire Drive.

The "Open House," scheduled frem 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., will give CPN residents a chance to take a look at maps of new trails that are planned around our area, and see some early "concept plans" for CPN's new park, which will be located north of Castle Pines Parkway, between Yorkshire and the Montessori School. (Road access for the new park will be from the Parkway, using the new traffic signal that will be installed for the King Soopers.)

The formal meeting, which starts at 7:00 pm., will start with a brief overview on the planned trails and parks, and then will focus on the feasibility study for the indoor community recreation facility that could be built as part of the new park. The recreation-planning consultant who is currently working on the study will present his findings and take public feedback.

The feasibility study is being conducted by a nationally recognized recreation consulting firm, Ballard*King and Associates (www.ballardking.com). Ken Ballard, our primary Consultant, has more than 15 years experience as a recreation center manager and consultant on recreation facility operation and planning. He is a long-time Colorado resident who has worked with many of Colorado's public recreation centers.

The Bailard*King study will answer many questions about the recreation center, including our service area; other recreation centers near our area (including possible new facilities such as the one that Castle Rock is considering); our demographics; the types of recreational facilities and programs that would best fit our demographic profile; expected capital costs; the full range of operating and maintenance coats (such as staffing, utilities, insurance, and repairs); expected fees and program revenues; and financing options.

Ballard's preliminary indications are that communities with demographics such as ours have high participation rates for recreation facilities, and that it is not out of the question for CPN to consider a recreational center. He will need to complete the study, however, before we can have firm figures to evaluate the costs and fees that would be associated with the center,

At the April 23 meeting, Ballard will present findings from his feasibility study, answer public questions on the study results, and take public feedback on the amenities and programs that the community would expect to have in the Center.

A separate "kids and teenagers" focus group will be held on April 22, (more about the Kids and Teens focus group) to make sure that we know what types of things that our kids would most want te see in our new park and in the potential recreation center (after all, one of the reasons we're building another park, and looking at a recreation center, is to make sure that our community has good places for our kids).

Public feedback will be incorporated into revisions to the recreation-center feasibility study that will be presented at the May 22 meeting, and also into revisions to the plans for the new park. That meeting also is scheduled to have an Open House at 6:00pm and then start the formal meeting at 7:00 pm.

These meetings are a part of the open process to involve CPN residents in evaluating whether our community should build a recreation center. The process started with the feasibility study and other research, to gather the fcts that are needed to guide our discussions. In addition to the public meetings, residents will also be able to join a committee that will work on various aspects of the evaluation. Later an independent polling company will conduct a scientific survey to measure the extent of homeowner support. The outcome of these activities will drive the next steps.

Residents will be able to volunteer for committees to follow up on trails and parks' planning, and additional public meetins will be held on these topics in the future.

If you have questions prior to the meeting, or are interested in working on a committee, send an e-mail to recreation@CastlePinesNorth.org, or contact Parks Authority President and Metro District Manager Judy Dahl at (303) 688-8550, or Master Association President Linda Nuzum, at (303) 482-3078.

Homebuilder DR Horton last year contributed more than $400,000 toward building Coyote Ridge Park, and this year they will provide the sod for the baseball field.

All the builders in our area are required to pay a "parks fee". However, DR Horton has already exceeded their required contribution by almost $280,000. CPN residents are grateful for DR Horton's financial assistance as we work to meet our goals of more parks for the neighborhood.

CPN is located next to a huge amount of designated open space - land that will never have housing or business development, and will always be there as a visual escape from urbanized landscape.

To our west, we have Daniels Park and Cherokee Ranch.

To our north, we will always have a 2-mile buffer-zone between our community and Highlands Ranch, as part of the 8,000 acre "Open Space Conservation Area" (OSCA) that was included in the Highlands Ranch Master Plan. The area between Monarch and Daniels Park Road could have some "public or recreational" uses, such as schools, churches, or a golf course. The rest of these areas will be preserved for wildlife and ranching. Eventually, there will be trails (link to Trails) and other areas that are open to the public for wildlife observation and outdoor education.

To our East, more than 500 acres will be preserved as permanent open space in the area east of I-25, from Exit 188 to Happy Canyon.

Retreat Park
CPN's first park was built in the early years of CPN's development. It has one baseball field, a playground, and picnic tables. This park is maintained by the CPN Metro District, which plans some maintenance upgrades for the park in 2002.

Coyote Ridge Park
Located northwest of Monarch Blvd. and Hidden Pointe Drive
This park opened in August 2001, as the first new part built by CPN's Parks Authority.

This park has a picnic pavilion, a kids playground (with equipment chosen by a kids focus group), two multipurpose ball fields - a soccer field that was completed in 2001, and a second field to be completed in 2002. Other items to be completed in 2002 include building the bridge between the park and the ball field; building the path between the ball fields; planting of trees; and other miscellaneous items.

Picnic pavilions may be reserved by calling the Metro District office (303-688-8550).

Construction of his park was funded with developer fees, more than $400,000 worth of services donated builder DR Horton (who will also donate the sodding for the 2nd ballfield), and some homeowner funds (through your Master Association dues).

South Park
The second park to be developed by the Parks Authority is called simply "South Park" for now. It will be built in the area just east of CPN's homes, north of the Parkway between the Community Center and the Montessori School. CPN already owns portions of the site. This year, the Parks Authority is working on acquiring additional parcels, and starting the design work. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

New park in Daniels Gate area
Another small park, with one ball field, will be built by developers in the Daniels Gate area.

Douglas County will soon begin work on a new regional trail that will connect our area to Chatfield Reservoir, and eventually to other regional trails.

An updated map showing current and future trails in our area will be available to residents later this year.

Trails have always been an important part of the plans for the CPN area, and as reported in the January 2001 newsletter, were a high priority for CPN residents in the recreation survey. Since the trail system was already planned, the Parks Authority was able to focus funds on other community needs.

Trails in CPN
An extensive network of trails had already been included in the master plan for CPN, to be built by the developer of each area. An older map of CPN-area trails is available on the web site now. Judy Dahl, the new Manager of CPN's Metro District and President of CPN's Parks Authority, is creating an updated map showing current and future trails in our area. This map will be available to residents later this year.

Regional trails
The County will build regional trails with connections to our area. Work will begin this year on the East-West Regional Trail, which will go through the open space to the north of us, over to Chatfield; eventually it will also tie in to the Cherry Creek regional trail near Parker. Another regional trail is planned along Daniels Park Road. See our map for the approximate location of these trails.

Someday, there will also be trails in the Open Space just north of CPN - the area east of Monarch, near the Wildcat Mountain, will eventually have "interpretative/ educational" trails, and there will also be limited trail access into the "wildlife" areas west of Daniels Park Road. (our map of area)

Update: The decision about whether CPN should build a recreation center will not be made until a professional feasibility study has been done, and an independent survey conducted.

A professional recreation-planning consultant has been selected to conduct a formal feasibility study that will answer questions, such as operating and maintenance costs, market area analysis, and expected fees and revenues.

Once this information is available, public meetings will be held, and an independent survey will measure the extent of homeowner support.

The Master Association will not vote on dues for financing the potential recreation center until these steps have been completed. The Association's dues for 2002 are currently set at $115. Later in 2002, the Master Association may vote for a supplemental assessment, after a decision is made on the rec center and more is known about the specific funds that the Parks Authority will need.

Full Article: Last Fall's news that CPN was taking steps to learn if we should build a community recreation center was greeted with a combination of excitement from many residents, fervent arguments from others, and a lot of good questions. This article aims to dispel any rumors and misunderstandings that may exist, and to clarify where we stand now:

The idea of a CPN Rec Center is not a "done deal." No decision will be made until questions such as the ones raised by board members and by residents have been answered, a professional feasibility study has been done, and an independent survey conducted

A professional recreation-planning consultant has been selected to conduct a formal feasibility study that will answer our questions, such as operating and maintenance costs, market area analysis, and expected fees and revenues. The study will be conducted by Ballard*King and Associates (link to http://www.ballardking.com/general.htm) a Denver-based firm which is one of the foremost authorities on public recreation facility planning in the United States. Results are expected in the next few months. More information on this will be available once the consultant completes the initial stages of the project.

Residents will have a voice in the process, through public meetings that the recreation planner will conduct, and a national firm that specializes in recreation-planning surveys will conduct an independent survey that will measure the extent of homeowner support. More information on public meetings and the survey will be available once the recreation-planning consultant completes the initial stages of the project, so that answers are available for many of the questions that will be asked. Where last year's survey indicated much interest in the general idea of a recreation center, this year's survey will allow residents to say whether they support a rec center, based on the specific type of facility and likely programs, and what the costs would be.

The decision will consider the total picture of CPN's recreation needs. In addition to the community's preferences regarding a Rec Center, the planning also will look at what is needed for completion of Coyote Ridge Park, construction of the new South Park, and maintenance costs for CPN's parks and trails. (link to Parks article). Construction of new trails is also a top priority; most of these will be built by developers and the county without using our Parks Authority's funds (link to Trails article).

Additional information and updates will be available via the CPN website www.cpnhoa.org as well as the CPN Connection, which will now be published every other month.

Read the Fall Newsletter article from Linda Nuzum, Master Association President regarding this proposal.

Take the 'CPN Asks' September Survey and let us know what you think.

Read the comments you sent in from this survey, see what your neighbors think.

Read the Forum Topic "Life in CPN: rec center" for more resident feedback.

Review the vote stats on amenities. This listing reflects the voting gathered to-date.

Castle Pines North Homeowners Association
Copyright © 2001-2002 Castle Pines North Homeowners Association
All rights reserved.

Telephone and Fax:
303-482-3078

Address:
CPN Association, Inc.
7402 Yorkshire Drive
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104

Contact the Castle Pines North Homeowners Association (CPNHOA) by e-mail.