Douglas County residents give opinion on how parks and open space funds should be used

As development surges in Douglas County, neighbors are weighing in on the future they want for the county's parks and open spaces.

In 2022, Douglas County voters voted to extend a 0.17% sales tax benefiting parks, open spaces, trails and historic preservation. The fund now has accrued about $40 million.

"The nice part about growth here in the county is it's allowed us to accrue those funds faster," Douglas County Commissioner George Teal said.

While nearly half of the funds are earmarked for open space, county commissioners are deciding how to use the rest.

"We figured, well, let's ask, let's ask the public," Teal said. They're doing so with a survey.

More Douglas County residents than ever before have responded to the online survey, conducted by an independent consultant. The survey is open from Aug. 20 through Aug. 27.

The survey takes into account location and demographics. It was sent to a sample size representative of the county's demographics, but any county resident can fill it out.

"We're gonna pay special attention to localities around the county and what those answers by localities are telling us," Teal said.

The survey asks residents to rank potential uses of funds and gauges public interest in special projects, such as a botanic garden, Cherokee Castle arts venue and bike park.

For Neil Alvarado, the top priority was clear.

"Open spaces and trails for sure," Alvarado said.

Alvarado runs the Castle Pines Cycling Club and frequently bikes on county roads and trails.

"You're finding less and less places to ride that are relatively safe, so I think it's hugely important to devote some resources to better trails for cyclists," Alvarado said.

He also wants to see more trails connecting towns.

"There's no easy way to get from Castle Pines to Castle Rock. We have Santa Fe, and that's incredibly dangerous. It would be nice to have a way to get from Castle Pines to Littleton; it would be nice to have something from Castle Pines to Sterling Ranch," Alvarado said.

Some parents and coaches in the county have another top priority.

"The sports facilities for youth. We're really underserved in this area," Mark Steinke said.

Steinke runs Raptors Athletics and has been vocal about the need for more ballfields, ever since learning that proposed fairground renovations may get rid of the fields there.

"The loss of even one of those is a serious blow to the participants in our programs," Steinke said.

"We're pretty committed that we're not gonna displace any ballfields until we have replacements for them immediately," Teal said.

Commissioner Teal says a $12 million indoor sports complex in the incoming Dawson Trails development is one option to replace fields. Similar options are proposed in Lone Tree and the Inverness area.

Steinke hopes not-for-profit sports facilities are prioritized but is glad the county is listening.

"I was really happy to see it on there. Actually, it was neat to see it," Steinke said.

Teal says the fund will help keep Douglas County's "small-town feel."

For more information on the survey, click here. To take the survey, click here.

Next month, county commissioners will hear the results of the survey at a public meeting.