Park Improvements

The Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) identifies the need for improvements through 2023 to many of the Town’s existing parks. Butterfield Crossing, Mitchell Gulch and Plum Creek parks will receive the first upgrades planned for completion in 2021. Additional parks, including Castle Highlands, Metzler and Centennial parks are scheduled to be complete by 2023.

The Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with professional landscape architectural firms to encourage residents to provide feedback before designs are complete. In the upcoming months, surveys, open houses and or on-line forums will be held to help explain proposed improvements and to explore the potential for additional or upgraded amenities. Should you live in one of these neighborhoods, please keep a eye on your mailbox, and on this website, for opportunities to participate.

  1. Butterfield Crossing Park
  2. Mitchell Gulch Park
  3. Plum Creek (South & North) Park

ButterF29Butterfield Crossing Park

Originally constructed more than 30 years ago, Butterfield Crossing Park is in need of several improvements. The asphalt basketball and tennis court surfaces have deteriorated, and the Mateflex tiles that were put in place have reached the end of their life span. The irrigation system also requires significant upgrades and the existing playground needs replacement. The 15-year old synthetic turf has also reached the end of its lifespan. 

The scale of improvements may provide the opportunity to consider relocating or adding amenities. Additionally, accessibility improvements are required.

Next steps

A draft Renovation Plan Concept was prepared by Town staff and the architect and available online for residents to provide feedback through the end of November.  Those survey results have been reviewed and are being incorporated in the final plan to be presented to Town Council in early 2021 with renovations scheduled to begin in a phased approach starting in 2021.

Butterfield Crossing Park map

Project timeline

  • Landscape architect, Design Concepts, was awarded the design contract in February 2020 to work with the community on creating an overall improvement plan
  • An on-site meeting was held with the Parks Maintenance Division and recreation staff to review current programming, maintenance issues, programming suggestions / enhancements (including inclusive playground / potential relocation, new basketball / tennis court, potential pickleball court(s), upgraded LED lighting, new synthetic turf, revised plaza area, upgraded amenities and revised irrigation)
  • Virtual meetings were held to create concept bubble diagrams for discussion purposes.
  •  July 2020 residents were invited to take an accessibility survey regarding possible inclusive playground improvements. The conclusions drawn from the results of this survey were incorporated into the final design.  View the Inclusive Playground survey results
  • October 2020 - A draft park renovation plan was posted online and surveys opened to collect public input on the design. View the results of Park Improvement Survey.
  • November 2020 - Based upon feedback received from the first public survey, a draft Renovation Plan Concept was created. Several of the desired elements were placed into the final concept including but not limited to fitness stairs, an additional paved path, a relocated and expanded playground, new courts, upgraded restrooms and more! Additionally, necessary maintenance work will also be completed as part of the renovation, including: upgrading irrigation, improving ADA accessibility, replacing the synthetic turf field as it’s hit it’s “end of life” cycle and conversion of sod outside of the paved trail to irrigated native grass to aid in water conservation.  The public was asked again to participate in a survey asking for their feedback on the final plan.  The survey closed the end of November, 2020 and those results have been tallied and feedback was taken into account in the final renovation design to be presented to Town Council. View the results of this final survey

Park Improvement Funding

These projects will be funded from the Conservation Trust Fund (Lottery proceeds) and Douglas County Shareback. The Douglas County Shareback tax is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2023. Approximately $4 million will be available through 2023 and will be dedicated to bringing existing parks to current standards.

Additional Conservation Trust funded projects earmarked over the next 5 years

  • Deputy Zack S. Parrish III Memorial Park - enhancements to the new park
  • Metzler Ranch Community Park - replace eight dugouts and perform irrigation renovations
  • Philip S. Miller Park - event and overflow parking from the Wolfensberger Road access, permanent restrooms at The Amphitheater, utility connections and greenroom addition
  • Bison Park - utility extensions for planned restroom / cellular antennae building, irrigation upgrades, park equipment, tree removal and replacement, signs, fencing and site furnishings
  • Castle Highlands - replace developer built playground and court surface
  • Recreation Center playground - replace sun damaged plastic components
  • Founders Park - pavilion and restroom improvements, concrete repair and replacement 
  • Centennial Park - renovate tennis and basketball courts
  • Baldwin Park playground - add swings and replace existing playground

Additional General Long Term Planning funded projects earmarked over the next 5 years

Synthetic Turf replacement at the following parks:

  • Bison Park
  • Gemstone Park
  • Matney Park
  • Rhyolite Regional Park