The CPN Metro District and various Homeowner Associations continue to make plans to improve landscaping in various portions of Castle Pines North.

After moving into CPN, residents often have questions about landscape maintenance in the open spaces throughout the community. Who should mow the weeds in the open space behind new homes? Who is responsible for completing and maintaining the landscaping along the roadways and other open spaces?

The first step in answering these questions is to determine who owns the land, and who is responsible for its landscaping and maintenance. Some open spaces in our community are owned by the CPN Metro District, while other spaces are owned by one of the 30 individual Homeowner Associations. In some instances, Douglas County owns and maintains certain portions of land in CPN. So, how can you determine who owns what?

Thanks to the efforts of the CPN Metro District, residents can now pinpoint who owns a particular open space area. “We have identified all of the open space areas within the CPN boundaries,” said Charlie Fagan, Metro District Parks and Open Space Manger. “We have maps of the entire community that determine what areas belong to the District, and what areas belong to the HOA or to Douglas County.”

The CPN Metro District owns, and maintains, more than 560 acres of open space and 13.5 miles of trails within the community.

“We want to continue to be good land owners of our valuable open space areas that make the community so unique,” said Fagan. “We recognize that many of our open space areas need weed abatement and we are working to get native grasses growing in some of the areas, and have a master plan for completing more extensive landscaping in other areas. It will take time, especially in the newer neighborhoods, and work is being planned to improve many open space areas.”

Open space areas within the individual neighborhoods are the responsibility of the individual Homeowner Association. In many newer neighborhoods in CPN, landscaping is still not complete and residents have voiced their concerns.

One of the newer neighborhoods working on improving open spaces is the Romar HOA in the Daniel’s Gate area. Jason Gibb, President of the Romar HOA said, “Our neighborhood has some major landscaping concerns. The Romar HOA Board has allocated increased funds to our 2005 budget specifically for landscaping improvements throughout the entire Romar area. We are also working with the Metro District regarding parcels that need improving.”

The Role of the CPN Master Association

The CPN Master Association does NOT own or maintain any land in our community; however, the Master Association Board is dedicated to improving our community-wide open space areas. “Part of our mission is to make sure that CPN remains one of the most attractive communities in the South Metro area,” said Linda Nuzum, Master Association President.

“We have designated a portion of the annual Master Association dues to improve the landscaping along major roadways that serve as gateways to CPN. The Metro District stepped up to create a plan and provide the additional funds for the community project.”

Roadway Landscaping Plans Finalized

A master landscaping plan has been completed for landscape improvements that will occur along major roadways, for areas outside the boundaries of individual neighborhood HOAs. The multi-year landscape project is funded by the CPN Metro District with a portion of the funds contributed by the CPN Master Association.

The first phase of the Roadway landscaping in Castle Pines North is expected to begin this winter and, weather permitting, should be completed by the summer of 2005. The CPN Metro District Board recently approved the landscaping contract and Charlie Fagan is overseeing the project.

Fagan said this year’s phase of this “on-going multi-year improvement project,” will include areas along Monarch Blvd., from Briardale Drive north to Hidden Pointe Blvd. Along the east side of Monarch Blvd., more than 75 trees and 150 shrubs will be planted, along with low-water-use grasses and irrigation systems. Thirty-three trees will be planted in the area between Briardale Drive and Stonemont Drive, which also will be irrigated.

This year’s project will also repair and replace more than 600 evergreen shrubs in the median of Castle Pines Parkway. Shorter evergreen shrubs will replace aging and dying shrubs that currently obstruct drivers’ views. “Many of these shrubs are about 20 years old and need to be replaced,” said Fagan. “We will use low growing shrubs so that we do not block views for roadway entry.”

This year’s project is estimated to cost $250,000. Dues contributions from the CPN Master Association will fund $60,000 of the total project.

For more information about open space maintenance issues, please contact Charlie Fagan at the CPN Metro District at 303-688-8550, ext. 20, or e-mail charlie@cpnmd.org.