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1. Would the town consider building another incline or two in town? The one at Phillip S. Miller is so popular it’s hard to find a space. Maybe another incline on that same hill or maybe one on the

hill where the fireworks shoot off from in The Meadows?

The Town does not currently have another incline in the works but will keep it in mind. Meanwhile, you may wish to check out the incline at Rueter-Hess, in which the Town is a partner.

Posted on Feb. 11, 2021

2. Town plans to build a recreation center in the 5 year recreation plan. The community surveys show that acquiring more open space/parks and creating more trails are priority while building a

recreation center ranks low priority. Why is this on the plans priority or have we tried to get a private company, like the YMCA, to come and build here? That would save us money and bring another business to town. 

Land dedication requirements and funding sources have been developed to accomplish all of the community’s parks and recreation goals over time. In regard to parks, Castle Rock Municipal Code requires new development to provide 8 acres of land for parks per 1,000 residents. The Town currently meets and will continue to exceed that standard. Impact fees charged for new home development provide funding for new park construction. Deputy Zack S. Parrish III Memorial Park is the latest example of park land dedicated to the Town and developed using impact fees.

All new developments are also required to provide a minimum 20% open space dedication. At this time, approximately 27% of the total land area within Castle Rock Town limits is zoned open space. This percentage will increase to about a third as the community continues to grow. Ridgeline and Memmen Ridge open spaces are good examples of open space dedicated through development. 

Trails are funded through sales and use taxes, as well as grants. The Town continues to construct new paved and unpaved trails each year for recreation and transportation purposes, such as the East Plum Creek Trail or Hangman’s Gulch Trail systems.

Impact fees on new development have also been previously used for the 2006 expansion of the Castle Rock Recreation Center and the development of the Miller Activity Complex. Currently assessed impact fees on new development will also be an essential revenue source for any new indoor recreational development.

Castle Rock is starting a study to determine the feasibility of the next recreation facility. The study will consider potential public / private partnerships and will explore the potential to construct facilities that typically are not provided by the private sector – such as gymnasiums and competitive aquatic facilities. The facility study will begin this fall and will include a community engagement process. 

3. Is Challenge Hill open due to the pandemic?

Challenge Hill at Philip S. Miller Park is open for one-way use. Users should walk up the stairs, then take the half-mile trail back down. Using the trail will alleviate crowding on the stairs to help with social distancing.  

4. With the explosion in development and population. Are there plans for another recreation center? The current facility is already over crowded it appears at most peak times.

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Strategic Plan have identified the need for an additional recreation facility. The timing of a new facility will be dependent on resources and project priority. Town Council will consider a Recreation Facility Feasibility Study in the near future. Stay tuned for Council meeting details and presentation dates at CRgov.com/Agendas. Or, signup for Town Council update emails at CRgov.com/NotifyMe.

5. Are e-bikes and dirt bikes allowed on Castle Rock trails?

Motorized recreation vehicles, such as motorbikes, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are not allowed on trails or open spaces. While the Town does not have a specific ordinance on electric bikes, according to State law, electric bikes or e-bikes that reach 20 mph or less can be ridden on bike, pedestrian or multi-use paths.

6. What are you doing with the land by Sovereign and Cherry?

This undeveloped land is part of the Town’s Mitchell Gulch Park. Someday, the Town would like to expand the park and improve this area. There are no formal plans at this time. Information about active development projects is on the Town's Development Activity Map.

7. Can I climb to the top of Castle Rock?

The Town does not maintain, and has not improved, the rock scramble that is the ascent and descent to and from the top of Castle Rock. If you are a skilled climber or hiker, you can probably make it to the top. Climbing to the top is not generally illegal, but it is not recommended. You are responsible for your own safety and your decision to leave the trail.

The Rock has sheer walls that drop 50 feet or more, and falls have resulted in serious injuries and deaths. The climb down is more difficult than the climb up. Do not risk your life by depending on vegetation to stop a slip.

Climbers can be held responsible if hiking outside the park’s hours of dusk to dawn, if creating a dangerous condition such as kicking rocks off of the summit – even if on accident – or for requiring an emergency response.

8. An ice rink (year round/regulation sized/enclosed) would be a huge deal for the town. There are many skaters and hockey players who now have to drive 30+ minutes one way. Would the town

consider a public ice rink/recreation center, similar to Arvada Apex Center ? What do we need to do to be proactive about this? We seem to be proactive about putting thousands of new homes wherever there is a patch of dirt, but how about something for the community?

An indoor ice rink is something the Town may consider in its upcoming Recreation Facility Feasibility Study. Town Council will consider that study in the near future. Stay tuned for Council meeting details and presentation dates at CRgov.com/Agendas. Or, signup for Town Council update emails at CRgov.com/notifyme. In the meantime, there are two ice rinks currently planned for nearby communities – South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, and the recently announced agreement between the City of Castle Pines and Dawg Nation.

9. Can the Town construct a staircase to the top of the Rock?

Current zoning requires that the Rock remain in a natural condition. The Town does not have any plans to construct a staircase to the top.

10. Why do Town employees go up on the Rock?

The Town maintains the Star, a flagpole and security cameras on top of Castle Rock. Skilled workers from the Fire and Parks and Recreation departments make the climb, using safety gear as necessary, to perform needed maintenance.

11. Are there any plans to construct a full-sized ice rink in Castle Rock?

The Town knows hockey and ice skating are popular in Colorado. Most ice rinks in Colorado have been built through either a public/private partnership or by a dedicated funding source, such as taxes. (Some of that is due to the cost to build and maintain them). While there has been some interest from the private sector in building a new ice rink in Castle Rock, no construction is currently planned. 

One recent idea has been presented through a Preliminary Project Application. The Preliminary Project Application is not a formal application. Instead, it is a way for developers to solicit comments from Town staff regarding the required processes for a proposed project. The proposed idea would have to go through zoning, site development, construction document evaluation and erosion control processes – some of which require public hearings and neighborhood meetings.

Currently, the Downtown Development Authority has its seasonal Rink at the Rock Downtown at Fifth and Perry streets. It’s generally open each year from Starlighting in November through Presidents’ Day. 

12. Are there plans for a year-round simulated snow park at Philip S. Miller Park?

This project was proposed as a public/private partnership in 2015 between the Town of Castle Rock and Snowsports 365. At this time, the Town has not received a request from Snowsports 365 to move forward with development of facility, which is dependent on a private investment. The potential for this project still exists, but we do not have a timeframe for development.

13. What percentage of Castle Rock land is dedicated/protected open space? Is there a map showing these locations?

Overall, 28 percent of Castle Rock is currently dedicated to parks and open space – either public or private. Town planners estimate that more than a third of Castle Rock’s total area will be dedicated to open space when the Town is fully built out. (View our map, which shows both current and planned parks and open space.)

Remember, what looks like open space may not be defined as open space. Some areas of Town may look like open space because there is nothing built there. In fact, many of these “open” areas of land were entitled for development in previous years – some back to the 1980s. Along with market demand, these developers are following through on the use of those entitlements.  

Castle Rock is 34.31 square miles (or 21,958 acres). Here is a breakdown of parks and open space within Town:

• Town-owned open space: 2,934 acres
• HOA or Metro District open space: 1,768 acres
• Douglas County open space: 1,235 acres within Town limits
• Town-managed parks: 619 acres
• Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course: 195 acres
• Castle Rock Recreation Center and pools: 14 acres
• Private parks: 33 acres
• Private recreation facilities: 60 acres
• Douglas County parks within Town limits: 57 acres
• Planned Town-owned parks: 237 acres

Between 2019 and 2020 the Town added:

• 18 acres of open space
• 1 HOA park
• 1 HOA rec/pool site
• 6 miles of paved trail
• 4 miles of unpaved trails

Learn about the Town’s parks and open space at CRgov.com/Parks.

(Updated Feb. 1)