The Douglas County Board of Commissioners held a town hall meeting on June 27 to discuss how to invest $350 million they will receive over the next 15 years for parks, trails, historic resources and open space.

In 2022, more than 80% of Douglas County residents voted to renew an increased sales tax to support this initiative.

With a portion of this funding, Commissioner Lora Thomas is leading a proposal to develop Wildcat Regional Park (WRP), a 200-acre plot of open space on the south side of Highlands Ranch, off Griggs Road. WRP has been in consideration since 2001, and the County has resumed conversations with nonprofit private partnership groups to build the park, which would include multi-use sports fields, a covered sports complex and an Olympic-sized pool on the east side.

“When the county invests in land, we believe citizens have the right to be on it,” Thomas expressed to residents at the town hall. “I do not favor buying a piece of property with your tax dollars and not allowing you to use it.”

As an alternate route from sometimes congested Monarch Boulevard, many Castle Pines residents drive the unpaved Griggs Road to and from Rock Canyon High School and to commercial establishments in Highlands Ranch.

Thomas said that the west side of WRP, where The Hearth neighborhood in Highlands Ranch backs up to, will not be directly affected.

Thomas’ proposal was met with strong objections from The Hearth residents, and a petition to stop development is circulating.

Resident Lauren Nobles, a mom and personal trainer, voiced her opposition. “The reason why many people move to Highlands Ranch, myself included, is for the symbiotic relationship this area has with its open spaces and recreational areas,” Lauren explained. Many residents appreciate viewing elk herds, grazing cattle and nesting golden eagles in WRP from their backyards.

“I am concerned about the light, noise and air pollution, wildlife, the amount of time it will take for construction, the emotional stress of my community, and the depreciation of our home values,” added Lauren.

Many in The Hearth community believe developing WRP will destroy the beauty of open spaces that border the area – a cherished feature of many neighborhoods in Douglas County.

Mike Bailey, general manager of Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA), formally submitted a proposal to Douglas County asking that WRP be gifted to HRCA for the use of conservation, passive recreation and wildlife preservation.

The Douglas County Commissioners are also discussing development in other areas of open space, including High Note Regional Park in Lone Tree.

This town hall was the first of many to determine the best use for the influx of money into the county.

For more information about WRP, visit douglas.co.us or call 303-660-7400.

 

By Grace Caroline Roubidoux; photos courtesy of Lauren Nobles