Aerial photography by Bob Wiebold and Jeff Lewis

By Terri Wiebold

For the past eight years, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents have been digging into their wallets and contributing $151.20* per household, per year to the Master Association to fund the Castle Pines Parks Authority and to bring a new park to CPN. That digging has paid off, and approximately $3.7 million later, the other digging has officially started.

Citizens and community leaders gathered in August to break ground and begin the over lot grading work on the approximately 28-acre park site, located on the southwest corner of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway, adjacent to HOA 1.

According to Parks Authority President Anna Mallinson, the Board anticipates actual construction of the park to start late spring/early summer 2010 with full completion and opening full amenities of the park at Lagae Ranch by 2011. Some items will be in place sooner and depending on safety issues, the park could be used before then.

“We’re looking forward to having the community use the all weather pitch [synthetic turf], and being able to play sports nearly year round. There’ll be new places to stop and have a picnic, great walking paths, and of course playground equipment,” said Mallinson.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all who have – and continue to put in so many volunteer hours to the benefit of CPN,” she stated. “It has truly been a joint effort working with the City, Metro District, Master Association and the community to get to this stage to bring a much needed new park to the city.”

The developer of Lagae Ranch, HF Holdings, donated the bulk of the land for the park to the city as part of its land use requirement, and the remaining portion is under easement and will be deeded by HOA 1, the homeowner’s association representing the homes that back to the park.

“By giving this land, we give our homeowners certain protections [height restrictions on the school and proposed church, no thru traffic, set backs, etc.],” said Eva Mitchell, HOA1 board vice president. “I think this is a great event, and it [the land] will be used well…it will connect the community,” she said.

The Parks Authority continues to work with Design Concepts Community Landscape Architects on the final design and amenities of the park. These tentatively include a synthetic multi-use green, picnic shelters and shelter/restroom facilities, low-use water features, plaza areas, playground areas, and walks and trails.

The Castle Pines Parks Authority is a quasi-governmental alliance formed in 2000 to plan, fund, and build parks and recreation facilities for the CPN community. The six-member board of directors is comprised of representatives from the City of Castle Pines North, the CPN Metropolitan District, the CPN Master Association, Douglas County, the Castle Pines Foundation, and a resident at large.

The Parks Authority Board of Directors meets at 9 a.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the CPN Community Center, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. Meetings are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend. The Parks Authority is requesting the community’s assistance in naming the new park. Please send any suggestions to contact by e-mail.

*Effective 1/1/09, Master Association dues contributions to the Parks Authority decreased to $133 per household, per year.