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Centennial CELEBRATE

COMMEMORATING THE CITY’S 20 th ANNIVERSARY YEAR

SUMMER 2021

PROUDLY SERVING OUR

COMMUNITY FOR 20 YEARS The City of Centennial is excited to be celebrating its 20th anniversary. This milestone would not have been possible without the leadership and support of dedicated City Council members, City staff, community partners, residents, local businesses and volunteers over the last two decades.

CONTENTS Message from the Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Why I Love Centennial: Randy Pye and Cathy Noon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Centennial Center Park: A Centerpiece for the Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Green Horizons: Centennial’s Many Parks and Trails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

City Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Our Past How We Got Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Centennial’s Growth Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

#CelebrateCentennial

Parks and Trails by the Numbers. . . . . . . . . 17

#WhyILoveCentennial

Why I Love Centennial: Rebecca Mannie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Why I Love Centennial: Kent Gaccetta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

CONNECT: centennialco.gov @CentennialGov @CentennialGov @CentennialGov city-of-centennial 24/7 Citizen Response Center: 303-325-8000 ii

Founder Reflections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Our Future Centennial’s Strong Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Why I Love Centennial: Sue Rosser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Our Present Centennial by the Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Centennial Ranks Among the Best of the Best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Centennial: A Future-Forward City . . . . . . 22 Why I Love Centennial: Tom Brook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Celebrate Together. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Center Pullout:

City Information and City Map 1

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR As Centennial turns 20, I appreciate the opportunity to serve the City for the last 10 years. Looking back, there are many achievements for the City and its citizens to be proud of – most notably, the success of creating a unique form of government utilizing the public and private sectors to meet the needs of the community. By embracing our City’s Mission, Vision and Values, Centennial continues to provide excellent service to our citizens with our private-sector partners like Jacobs and Terracare and our publicsector partners like the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and our special districts.

The City continues to maintain and construct infrastructure that keeps Centennial prepared for the future. While remaining debt-free, the City has successfully invested in our Civic Center, our Public Works facility, building FiberWorks and creating the award-winning Centennial Center Park, bringing our community together. Centennial continues to operate with a lean staff that has a high level of commitment to our City, exemplified by being the first and only municipality to be listed as one of Gallup’s “Best Places to Work.” Not only is Centennial a great place to work, but Centennial residents enjoy unmatched access to parks, trails and open space, great schools and diverse employment opportunities. All of this has come together to create a city that is consistently recognized for being a “Best Place to Live,” one of Colorado’s safest cities, and a municipality regarded for its innovation.

There are so many things we have to look forward to, from the development of The District-Centennial along I-25 to the revitalization of our retail centers, continuing to connect our trails and sidewalks and the expansion of Centennial Center Park, to name a few. We are a young and mighty city, and I am so proud to be a part of it. Centennial residents created this City, and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. Thank you for being a part of Centennial and making us who we are. We’re looking forward to what’s next for our great City. MAYOR

Stephanie Piko 303-754-3350 spiko@centennialco.gov

CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 4

Candace Moon

Tammy Maurer

Richard Holt

Marlo Alston

303-754-3354 cmoon@centennialco.gov

303-754-3346 tmaurer@centennialco.gov

303-754-3367 rholt@centennialco.gov

303-754-3412 malston@centennialco.gov

Kathy Turley

Christine Sweetland

Mike Sutherland

Don Sheehan

303-754-3451 kturley@centennialco.gov

303-754-3359 csweetland@centennialco.gov

303-754-3407 msutherland@centennialco.gov

303-754-3311 dsheehan@centennialco.gov

CONGRATULATIONS

why i love centennial Former Mayors’ Perspective

CITY

VOICES FROM THE PAST

CENTENNIAL

Randy Pye

ANNIVERSARY

Cathy Noon

Centennial’s first and second Mayors, Randy Pye and Cathy Noon, respectively, reminisce about setting a solid foundation for the City’s future. What was your proudest moment as Mayor of Centennial? PYE: I have thousands of proud moments from when I was Mayor that I still enjoy reflecting on today. To begin, we spent much of my first administration putting the foundation together for Centennial’s long-term success. I often refer to Centennial as a city of miracles because, in those first four years, we overcame numerous obstacles and had many miracles.

Has your vision for Centennial been realized? PYE: Yes! The vision we always talked about during the formation was a small, non-intrusive government with low taxes. We’ve maintained the first two, and the last one (non-intrusive) has evolved to be slightly more intrusive, but that has been requested in most aspects by our residents.

We were intentional about the plans we put in place and created a vision that would lead us for years to come. I was proud of our achievements during those first years, but it was the vision we established in 2008 that I am the most proud of. I had told the City Manager beginning that year that it was time to put Centennial on the map, and her reply was, “I can do that.” At the end of what became known as the Centennial “Great ‘08,” we had accomplished 55 major milestones! That year put us on the map in Colorado and across the country.

What’s one word you’d use to describe Centennial? PYE: Unique.

How has Centennial evolved over the years? NOON: Prior to becoming Mayor and initially during my term, most Centennial residents identified with their neighborhood when asked, “Where do you live?” Around the time I left office, it was “Centennial” when asked. This is an indication that our City has evolved from not only being recognized as a “best place to live” and “safest city” but also one that is innovative in how it does business and what it offers, such as our wonderful Centennial Center Park. People are proud to be a Centennial resident or business. 4

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is proud to be your law enforcement partner for the past 20 years. We look forward to a wonderful future. We are better together!

NOON: Yes! So far, with dedicated leadership following our core principles, I believe it should continue.

Congratulations

NOON: Extraordinary. What are Centennial’s best assets? PYE: Our schools, our libraries, our neighborhoods and our residents. NOON: Its people. Residents, business owners and City staff – they keep us on track and make the magic happen. What’s your favorite thing to do in Centennial? PYE: It’s a toss-up between enjoying a concert or some other type of event at Centennial Center Park and gathering with my neighbors in our cul-de-sac for some music, conversation and a beer or glass of wine.

HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY, CENTENNIAL! South Metro Fire Rescue is a proud city partner and we look forward to serving the community by your side for many years to come.

NOON: Enjoying the variety of open spaces and parks.

to Centennial on your 20th anniversary!

From all of us at Arapahoe County, thank you for being such a creative, constructive and generous municipal partner. From Open Spaces, to Community Resources, to Public Works and more, we look forward to many more decades of collaboration and enhancing our treasured quality of life.

southmetro.org 5

CITY OPERATIONS

Effective Performance Through a Unique Partnership Model Centennial’s founding began with a vision to create a cost-efficient and resourceful city. Operating through a blend of public and private services, that initial idea has manifested into Centennial’s contract model. This unique framework of both in-house and outsourced services ranging from public works to public safety enables Centennial to serve the community efficiently and effectively.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The City of Centennial is part of a team of professional service providers that are supported through taxpayer funding. We all work together to help make the community a safe and desirable place for residents, businesses and visitors. Whether building or maintaining recreation amenities, educating our students or keeping our neighborhoods safe, these partners are an integral part of the community.

Centennial maintains its “contract city” approach through partnerships with industry-leading organizations and community titans that provide distinct and dedicated services to the community. Centennial’s unique model enables efficient delivery and effective services to the community while maintaining lean operations, which further maximizes taxpayer dollars. Take Jacobs Engineering. The professional services firm has been a premier City partner providing public works, code compliance and a 24/7 resident call center (known as the Citizen Response Center) to residents since 2008. These services were formerly supported by Arapahoe County until the contract was awarded to Jacobs, which was thought to be the most sizeable public-to-private transfer of its kind in the United States at the time. The City also contracts with various other organizations such as SAFEbuilt, the City’s building services provider, and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, which oversees animal services. Further demonstrating the value of the City’s unique contract model is its partnership with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). They provide Centennial residents, families and neighbors with first-rate public safety, distinguishing Centennial as one of the safest cities in Colorado and across the United States.

Curious to learn more about the City’s contract city model? Explore how these partners are providing residents and businesses with exceptional services by visiting centennialco.gov/performance. 6

ARAPAHOE COUNTY arapahoegov.com Centennial is one of 13 cities and towns located within Arapahoe County. The county provides various services to Centennial residents, including law enforcement, recreation and open space management, workforce development and health and human services.

ARAPAHOE LIBRARIES arapahoelibraries.org Arapahoe Libraries serves a diverse population covering the rural areas of Byers and Deer Trail, the cities of Bow Mar, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine, Glendale, Greenwood Village and Sheridan, and the unincorporated areas of Arapahoe County. Eight library locations serve more than 250,000 people, including a library within the Arapahoe County Detention Center and a Library on Wheels that visits apartment buildings, assisted living centers, area businesses, schools and local events.

SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE southmetro.org South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) is committed to helping the community it serves, including 287 square miles in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties. With 30 stations, SMFR provides emergency and prevention services to approximately 540,000 residents and thousands more who come to the area for work.

PARKS AND RECREATION aprd.org • ssprd.org Centennial residents enjoy highquality parks and recreation amenities from several partners, including Arapahoe Park and Recreation District and South Suburban Parks and Recreation District. Through these partners, residents have access to parks, trails, recreation and sports centers, open space areas, fitness classes, health and nutrition services, special events and more.

SCHOOLS cherrycreekschools.org • littletonpublicschools.net Centennial is home to two of the highest-achieving school districts in the state. Cherry Creek School District and Littleton Public Schools consistently score above state averages on standardized assessments and above state and national averages on SAT and ACT exams. The City of Centennial relies on other essential service providers and government entities to deliver clean water and sanitation/sewer services, oversee road and other infrastructure projects, improve landscaping and manage neighborhood amenities. 7

OUR PAST

HOW WE GOT HERE When Centennial officially became a city in 2001, it was considered one of the largest municipal incorporations at the time. A small group of forwardthinking locals banded together and created a vision to create a city with limited government, unique character and a costeffective approach to public services. As the story goes, the group informally known as the City’s “founding fathers” – John Brackney, Ed Bosier, Randy Pye, Pete Ross and Brian Vogt – met over pancakes, at a restaurant, in the summer of 1998 to discuss the possibility of creating a city. With the help of thousands of volunteers, they spent the next two years making their vision a reality. On September 12, 2000, 77% of voters from then-unincorporated Arapahoe County voted in favor of incorporation. The first election for Centennial’s city officials was held on February 6, 2001, and the City of Centennial was legally established as a Colorado city the following day with the swearing in of the new government leaders.

The City of Centennial, then dubbed a “city of miracles” by its first mayor, Randy Pye, was named in recognition of Colorado’s nickname as “the Centennial State,” earned by becoming the 38th state in the Union in 1876 – the centennial year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The City continues to find resourceful ways to be innovative and maintain a high quality of life while fostering civic engagement and empowering residents. Since incorporation, the City has operated under a unique hybrid model of public and private services, with a lean city staff of 70 to serve the community. Upholding this vision are the City’s contracts with industry-leading organizations and partners that provide services from public safety to animal services and more. At the time of Centennial’s incorporation, the City’s population was slightly more than 100,000. Today, Centennial is the 10th largest city in Colorado.

CENTENNIAL’S GROWTH CHART By any standards, turning 20 represents a milestone in maturity. Check out Centennial’s growth chart as it developed from a newly established city to a reputable municipality with a stable foundation, strong identity and energetic ambitions for the future.

Groundbreaking and renaming ceremony for The District-Centennial is held

Stephanie Piko becomes City’s third Mayor

Centennial’s first Cityowned park, Centennial Center Park, opens City becomes U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility

Voters approve Home Rule Charter, which serves as the “constitution” for the City

2021

City Council establishes vision, mission and values for Centennial

2019 2018

City completes installation of fiber backbone

2013

City’s Public Works facility opens at 7272 S. Eagle St.

2012 2010

City’s second Mayor, Cathy Noon, takes office

2009

The Streets at SouthGlenn redevelopment officially opens

2008

City opens Centennial Civic Center at 13133 E. Arapahoe Rd.

2007 Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority is formed

2006 2003

Randy Pye becomes first Mayor of Centennial

Southeast Light Rail Line opens

Centennial Municipal Court begins sessions

2001 BIRTH: February 7, 2001

FOUNDER REFLECTIONS

Twenty years after the City was incorporated, Centennial’s “founding fathers” gathered where it all began – The Original Pancake House – to reminisce on the decision to form a city and the widespread community support they received. JOHN BRACKNEY: It all started because I was an Arapahoe County Commissioner representing Cherry Hills, Greenwood Village and unincorporated Arapahoe County west of I-25. Greenwood Village met with me and presented a prospective annexation map for their city. I knew it was a big deal. I called up Brian Vogt, who was the president of the South Metro Denver Chamber. Shortly after that, I pulled aside Randy Pye, who was the new chair of the Arapahoe County Council for Organized Responsible Development (ACCORD), to suggest a meeting with Brian to discuss potentially forming a city. We decided to involve the late Pete Ross given he was the former chair of ACCORD. Ed Bosier was the County Assessor and a mentor of mine, so we invited him as well. VOGT: We met over breakfast and decided that we would do our best to do something. We looked Centennial’s Founding Fathers: (left to right) John Brackney, Brian Vogt, Ed Bosier, Randy Pye. Not pictured, Pete Ross (dec.)

at every other option, but forming a city was the best solution. PYE: We were smart enough to know that we needed to go talk to many people about this before we did it. We arranged to have a town meeting, a first of 100, at Arapahoe High School. We had to call the Sheriff’s Office for crowd control! That was where I introduced the idea that we don’t have to recreate all of the City. We already had park districts, water districts, a police force and other services like a typical city. We can contract out our city services. The City of Lakewood in California had a contract model city, which sounded like a better idea for our City. BRACKNEY: The fundamental principles of why we needed to form a city really remained constant from that first breakfast all the way until the end. An opponent once called our effort “a raw display of political

power.” But our effort wasn’t about this group of five men. It was a lot of Chamber members, small business people and homeowners – citizens that were taking control over their own lives, their own political power. Yes, we led the effort early on, but it wasn’t our project. It was thousands of people who brought the idea into reality. BOSIER: It was a textbook example of grassroots politics. Actually having real people in an issue; that doesn’t happen very often. VOGT: It turned out to be the most heartwarming moment when the votes came in supporting the incorporation. The “win” was owned by thousands of people. They moved, they played a critical part, and I’ve never seen a more patriotically emotional group in my life than the day after the election. The tears and the sense of joy and pride, and connection, was palpable. It was the most connected I’ve ever felt to my country. It was the most joyful, patriotic moment. BRACKNEY: Everybody should have a chance to experience something like that. Everybody should experience that sense of community spirit and desire to make a difference or impact. It doesn’t necessarily have to be forming a city. For two years, people did something! BOSIER: And it was all only supposed to take four months!

why i love centennial Sue Rosser Long-Time Resident

Rosser Family Christmas card 1998

How long have you been a Centennial resident? My husband, Mark, our two toddlers, and I moved from Denver to Willow Creek in 1986, 15 years before Centennial was incorporated. Why have you chosen to stay in Centennial? Along with so many others, I was heavily involved in the Centennial incorporation effort, so I have a special bond, pride of creation and love for the City that I could never find anywhere else. Centennial is my third child! How has Centennial grown or changed for the better? As Colorado’s 10th largest City, Centennial has significant leadership, influence and representation in the Denver Metro area and throughout the state on so many critical issues, including traffic and transportation, urban development and safety, to name just a few. This seat at the table, together with Centennial’s sales and property tax revenue and major county, state and federal funding, have significantly improved all aspects of our City’s livability. What’s one word you’d use to describe Centennial? Friendly. In your opinion, what’s Centennial’s best hidden gem? The excellent system of parks, trails and open space found throughout Centennial. They seamlessly connect us with our surrounding municipalities and improve the mental and physical health of our residents of all ages. And certainly, these all enhance the livability, attractiveness and property values of our City.

Sue’s Grandkids

Willow Springs Trail

OUR PRESENT

CENTENNIAL RANKS AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST

CENTENNIAL BY THE NUMBERS

The City is consistently recognized both locally and nationally for its superb quality of life, safety, great neighborhoods and abundance of recreational opportunities. Centennial strives for innovation and excellence, and the accolades below highlight the City’s achievements.

SAFEST CITIES TO LIVE RANKINGS

POPULATION

111,096

39,851

HOUSEHOLDS

$111,257

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

✔ Safest City with a Population Over 100,000 (2020) AdvisorSmith

MOST LIVABLE CITIES/BEST PLACES TO LIVE RANKINGS ✔ Best Places to Live in Colorado (2020 – 2nd) HomeSnacks

✔ Safest City in Colorado (2019) 24/7 Wall Street

✔ Most Livable Mid-Sized U.S. Cities (2020 – 5th) SmartAsset

✔ 101 Safest Cities in the U.S. (2019 – 43rd) 24/7 Wall Street

✔ Best Places to Live for Veterans (2018 – 5th) Military Times ✔ Best Places to Live in America (2019 – 64th) Money Magazine

HOUSING RANKINGS

$433,800 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

82% HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE

61% PEOPLE WITH

A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER

✔ Healthiest Housing Market in Colorado (2017 – 2nd) SmartAsset ✔ Best Places for First-Time Homebuyers (2018 – 3rd) WalletHub ✔ Colorado Cities with the Best Homeowner Return on Investment (2020 – 4th) LendEDU ✔ Most Budget-Friendly Cities in Colorado for Renters (2020 – 8th) LendEDU

PUBLIC-SECTOR SERVICES RECOGNITION ✔ Metro Vision Award for the Spark Centennial program (2021) Denver Regional Council of Governments ✔ Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (2020) Government Finance Officers Association

WORKPLACE RANKINGS ✔ Exceptional Workplace Award (2015-2020) Gallup

MEDIAN AGE 12

12.7% LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN AT HOME

CENTENNIAL CENTER PARK

DEBT-FREE CITY

GOVERNMENT

✔ Best Splash Pad in the U.S. Readers’ Choice (2017 – 5th) USA Today ✔ Best Place for Outdoor Fun (2016) Macaroni Kid Daisy Awards

✔ Best Cities in the Country for Remote Workers (2020 – 8th) RetailMeNot

To review more recognition the City has received, visit centennialco.gov/accolades. 13

CELEBRATE TOGETHER

CENTENNIAL CENTER PARK

Centennial is hosting a variety of old-time favorites and new events in 2021 to celebrate the City’s 20th anniversary year. Mark your calendar for these remaining celebrations, and look back at event highlights from earlier this year.

WHISKEY WARMER

HOLIDAY ARTISAN MARKET

Saturday, October 23 • 1–5 p.m. Centennial Center Park

Saturday, December 4 • 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Centennial Center Park

• Live music

• Colorado whiskey and spirits distillers

• Family activities

• Local vendors and food trucks

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Summer Socials • Brew-N-Que • Centennial Under the Stars

A Centerpiece for the Community Centennial Center Park opened as Centennial’s first City-owned park in 2012. This award-winning park is located at 13050 E. Peakview Avenue, west of the Centennial Civic Center, which houses City offices, Council Chambers, municipal court operations and the City’s passport office. In addition to offering an array of world-class amenities, such as a splash pad and numerous gathering spaces, the park showcases Colorado’s heritage using natural elements and native plants.

Centennial Center Park Grand Opening, 2012

Visitors, young and old alike, can test their Colorado trivia know-how on the “Colorado Statehood Walk” or learn points of interest both inside and outside the park on the interactive “Viewfinder Walk.” The park also features a large amphitheater and stage, used for several City-hosted concerts throughout the year. The amphitheater, the park plaza and small and large shelter areas can be reserved for community and family gatherings.

TOP 10 PARK FEATURES Splash Pad

Playground

Amphitheater

Covered shelters & shade structures

Paved & unpaved walking trails

Butte mini incline and overlook

Gas fireplace

Barbeque grills

Picnic tables & benches

Restrooms

UPGRADES UNDERWAY

As the park enters its 10th year, a $4 million expansion is moving forward and will be completed in several phases over the next two years. New and expanded features to come: • Event pavilion • Folley overlook (three-sided structure looking west) • Picnic grove and shelters • Gazebo and gathering space

• Landscaped walking paths • Recreational green space • Restrooms • Expanded parking and food truck hookups

Learn more about the features of Centennial Center Park, or reserve a pavilion for your next gathering by visiting centennialco.gov/centerpark. 14

GREEN HORIZONS: CENTENNIAL’S MANY PARKS AND TRAILS Centennial is a place that has always appealed to people who love the great outdoors. In recent years, the City has welcomed a number of beautiful new green spaces. These extensive outdoor spaces – including a number of parks and trails – are used and loved by residents for work and play alike. They continue to define Centennial as a sustainable city with a high quality of life. Centennial owns and operates nearly 144 acres, collectively, of parks and open spaces that serve as communal gathering spots. This includes the 11-acre, award-winning Centennial Center Park – a destination popular with locals that has also drawn visitors from all over the state. Centennial’s other public property, Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space, consisting of 107 acres, is another well-loved spot and allows access to Cherry Creek State Park via the Cherry Creek Trail. Residents of Centennial also enjoy green spaces owned and maintained by Arapahoe County and Centennial’s recreation districts – Arapahoe Park and Recreation District, Smoky Hill Metropolitan District and South Suburban Parks and Recreation District. The City of Centennial partners with these entities to help fund new recreational amenities and upgrades to existing features with funds received from the voterapproved, quarter-cent, Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use Tax.

PARKS AND TRAILS BY THE NUMBERS Through partnerships with Arapahoe County, Arapahoe Park and Recreation District, Smoky Hill Metropolitan District and South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, Centennial residents can enjoy an abundance of parks, trails, open space and recreational amenities within, or a short distance from, Centennial’s city limits.

CITY OWNED AND MANAGED AMENITIES

11-ACRE

AWARD-WINNING CENTENNIAL CENTER PARK

7.9-ACRE CHEROKEE TRAIL PARK

18-ACRE

OPEN SPACE NEAR ARAPAHO PARK AND MONTEREY OPEN SPACE

107-ACRE

PARKER JORDAN CENTENNIAL OPEN SPACE

PARTNER OWNED AND MANAGED AMENITIES

100+ MILES OF TRAILS

COMBINED SCHOOL/PARK SITES

100+ PARKS

NUMEROUS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

4,000+ ACRES OF OPEN SPACE

INCLUDING: FITNESS CENTERS, OUTDOOR POOLS, SKATE PARKS, TENNIS COURTS, GOLF COURSES AND MORE! 17

Congrats City of Centennial!

why i love centennial

Culture and Leisure

Art, Pottery, Music, Dance, Cooking, Theater, Camps, Travel, Photography

Athletics

Aquatics

Basketball and Volleyball leagues/classes, Gymnastics, Pickleball, Climbing Wall

Rebecca Mannie New Resident

Group and Private Swim Programs, Water Slides, Lap Swim, and Leisure Pool

Rediscover your fitness, rediscover yourself Open to the Public 16799 E. Lake Ave, Centennial, CO 80016

www.trailsrecreationcenter.org / 303-269-8400

Foxhill Park

We are honored to provide healthy places to explore, play and connect in your community.

ADA Compliant

Youth and Adult Fitness Classes, Personal Training, Nutritional Counseling

Chair lifts are available in both pools for our mobility impaired clients

Martial Arts

Find your park or register for programs at ssprd.org

Rebecca Mannie

Fitness and Wellness

Youth and Adult taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

A Centennial backyard fit for a wedding, October 2020

Congratulations

How long have you been a Centennial resident? My husband and I moved to Centennial in November 2019.

High Line Canal Trail

Why did you move to Centennial? We identified Centennial as a wonderful place to put down roots and start our lives as a married couple. Centennial offers a central location, strong schools, a family-friendly environment, parks and trails, and a contract government model. What’s your favorite part about living in Centennial? I love my neighborhood. My neighbors are friendly, and we are connected by sidewalks and trails that link to other regional trails such as the High Line Canal. How would you describe Centennial to friends or family who have never been here before? Centennial is big enough to provide access to a wide variety of amenities and small enough to have coffee with the Mayor and join a board or commission. We can commute downtown or head to the mountains with ease.

Rebecca and Jason got married in their backyard

In your opinion, what’s Centennial’s best hidden gem? Our backyard! In October 2020, my husband and I were married in our backyard, and now watering plants reminds me of walking down the aisle.

Arapahoe Libraries is a proud partner of the City of Centennial to connect with our community through special events, innovative initiatives, services for special populations and more.

to the

City of On your 20th Anniversary!

Congratulations on 20 years!

303-LIBRARY (303-542-7279) arapahoelibraries.org

Serving as a catalyst, convener, and champion for businesses in the Eastern Metro area.

OUR FUTURE

why i love centennial

CENTENNIAL’S STRONG FUTURE

We asked four residents what they envision and hope for Centennial’s future. Here’s their take:

Kent Gaccetta Owner, Mama Louise Italian Restaurant

In the near future, I see Centennial continuing to meet the immediate needs of the citizens with infrastructure projects and providing a safe city. Beyond that, I see the City continuing to develop opportunities for businesses that support Centennial. Mama Louise Italian Restaurant

Kent Gaccetta

How long have you owned a business in Centennial? I have owned Mama Louise Italian Restaurant for 23 years. I was near Arapahoe Road and I-25 for seven years before moving to my current location at 15412 E. Orchard Road near the corner of Parker Road and Orchard Road. Why did you choose to open a business in Centennial? My dad and brother helped run the first Mama Louise restaurant back in 1978, near Colorado Boulevard and Mexico Avenue before closing in 1987. Looking to re-open, I found the location on Arapahoe Road and was able to start up the Mama Louise tradition again.

Gerry Cummins

I am looking forward to seeing the changes at SouthGlenn, where there could be a nice mix of housing that is affordable, attainable and market rate. The District-Centennial is going to be a wonderful mix of residential and commercial space.

In our City’s future, I hope to see a focus on environmentalism. As citizens, outfitting our homes with energyefficient appliances can help contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable City.

Aimee Resnick

Living close to where I worked was very important to me, as the restaurant business is extremely taxing. I found the perfect home, also located in Centennial, just six minutes from work! How has the City supported your business endeavors? The patrons of Centennial and surrounding cities like Parker, Aurora, Denver and Highlands Ranch have been so supportive in keeping our family-owned business alive. The support of my patrons has been especially felt during the pandemic and is nothing short of a true blessing. What’s your favorite part about operating a business in Centennial? I make it a point to try and stop by each and every table to visit for a moment – so that visitors always feel like they’re in my home. Getting to know my customers and creating friendships is extremely rewarding to me. Cordiali Saluti and Grazie to all! 20

Paula Hillman

Centennial is an amazing city that continues to strive for a strong community identity rooted in exceptional community services and quality of life enhancements, delivered in a fiscally responsible, fully inclusive, transparent fashion. The City will continue to be a shining example of responsible, innovative local government.

Tom Gross 21

OUR FUTURE

CENTENNIAL: A FUTURE-FORWARD CITY Centennial NEXT This comprehensive, long-range strategic plan for the City will continue to define the vision for Centennial through 2040 and well into the future. Based on feedback from residents, Centennial NEXT is a vision and roadmap for preserving Centennial’s unique character and intentionally guiding future progress as the City continues to grow. This broad plan guides policies concerning community aesthetics, economic development, housing, land use, regional cooperation, transportation, utilities and services, and parks, trails and open space.

Transportation Planning Transportation and mobility continue to be a key focus area for the City to enable residents to easily and safely transverse across and through Centennial. To adapt to changing transportation needs and priorities, City leaders and planners are continually looking ahead to future planning, design and funding of capital, operational and policy investments. The City is currently updating its Transportation Master Plan to develop a vision for a transportation and mobility system that captures the voice of the current community, in addition to inspiring direction for Centennial’s future population for the next 20 years.

Community Planning and Development Neighborhoods form the foundation of our City, and Centennial intends to stay resilient and sustainable over time by ensuring that residential offerings include various housing types, ranging from small, singlefamily detached lots to large-scale, multifamily developments. The City is embarking on extensive planning to ensure that housing diversity and neighborhoods are both desirable and attainable for all. The City is equally focused on preserving the current spirit of Centennial’s communities. Centennial has awarded grant funding to support large-scale neighborhood improvement projects as well as neighborhood gatherings. Additionally, the City funds a Lifelong Homes program that seeks to provide tools to help residents live in and enjoy their homes at any stage of life.

Parks, Trails and Open Spaces Guided by the 2017 Trails and Recreation Plan, Centennial continues to focus on further beautifying and developing the recreational amenities and preserving our existing features through partnerships with Centennial’s recreation districts. The centerpiece of Centennial and a premier Denver Metro destination, Centennial Center Park, is in the process of undergoing additional upgrades. Centennial Link Trail is fast becoming a beloved trail that threads 16 miles horizontally across the City. The trail is currently enjoyed on the western section of the City and will continue being expanded east. Additionally, the Lone Tree Creek Trail is in the midst of enhancements to continue developing this multi-use, nonmotorized connection between East Broncos Parkway and Cherry Creek State Park.

Always a future-forward City, Centennial has multiple projects on the horizon to best serve residents and businesses today and for generations to come.

Economic Development The City’s economic development vision is to support an economy that serves as a model of strength, diversity and resilience for the region and beyond to establish Centennial as a desirable destination to live, stay and enjoy. City leaders and staff are dedicated to preserving, growing and attracting employers by providing exceptional services, infrastructure and real estate. One exciting development project that will become a focal point for the City is The District-Centennial, a 42-acre, next-gen employment and mixed-use center west of I-25 between IKEA and the Dry Creek light rail station. This mixed-use project will feature 2.5 million square feet of office space, 1,800 residential units, retail and hotel space, as well as walkable blocks and dynamic public gathering spaces. Development is underway and it will be exciting to see The DistrictCentennial come to life! Spark Centennial is an accelerator program designed to help the City’s small businesses adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing consumer environment. Business and creative professionals guide our smallbusiness participants to consider the intersection of their products and services with the increasingly important consumer experience. Spark is an opportunity to create a greater sense of community by encouraging vibrant retail centers with vibrant experiences that bring people together. Beyond Spark Centennial, the City is focused on developing built environment strategies for the City’s retail centers in response to consumer and industry trends that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated.

Connectedness and Sustainability As an innovative and smart suburban city, Centennial embraces emerging technologies to connect the community and become a model for others. The City uses its built infrastructure, including fiber, to enhance Smart Cities initiatives. For instance, in 2018, the City completed installing a 432-strand fiber backbone connecting key sites around the City to enable both existing and future broadband providers. The City offers a publicly-owned dark fiber network that connects homes and businesses to that backbone. The City has also implemented Intelligent Transportation System technologies, such as intersection cameras and roadway sensors, to improve traffic flow along our corridors. The City has several initiatives underway to improve and promote energy efficiency, education and cost savings. In partnership with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program, Centennial offers tools to residents and businesses that drive energy savings. Also, the City currently offers electric vehicle charging stations at the Centennial Civic Center and Centennial Public Works Facility. In fact, Centennial has established an Electric Vehicle Action plan that demonstrates a community-wide commitment to electrifying transportation across Centennial. Under this plan, the City has set a goal to increase the number of electric vehicles in Centennial ZIP codes to support statewide goals.

why i love centennial Tom Brook CEO, Denver South

61,500 JOBS

5,224

BUSINESSES

94%

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY RATE

5.7M

SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE HOME TO DIVERSE INDUSTRIES Financial Services Construction Engineering Telecommunications Bioscience Computer Systems

As a 30-year resident of Centennial, I believe that the best is yet to come for our City. At the heart of Centennial’s success is our local government’s focus on the quality of life for residents and businesses alike. The City pays attention to today and has an eye on the future for our children.

CITY INDEX

A LIST OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE, LOCATIONS AND AMENITIES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE MAGAZINE Arapahoe County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 16, 17

Southeast Light Rail Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 23, 24

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. . . . . . . . . . . 2, 5, 6, 10

Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Arapahoe High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Spark Centennial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 22, 24

Arapahoe Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 19

Terracare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Arapahoe Park and Recreation District. . . . . . . . 7, 16, 17

The District-Centennial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 21, 23

Arrow Electronics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The Original Pancake House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10

Aurora Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Streets at SouthGlenn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 21

Centennial Center Park. . . . . . 2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 22

The Trails Recreation Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Centennial Civic Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 9, 15, 23

Town of Byers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Centennial Link Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Town of Columbine Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Centennial Public Works Facility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 9, 23

Town of Deer Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Centura Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Town of Parker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Cherokee Trail Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

United Launch Alliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Cherry Creek School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Xcel Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Cherry Creek State Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 23 Cherry Creek Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

PEOPLE Alston, Marlo – Council Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

City and County of Denver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Bosier, Ed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10

City of Aurora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Brackney, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10

City of Bow Mar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Brook, Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

City of Cherry Hills Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 10

Cummins, Gerry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

City of Glendale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Gaccetta, Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

City of Greenwood Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 10

Gross, Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

City of Sheridan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Hillman, Paula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Denver South. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Holt, Richard – Council Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Douglas County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Mannie, Rebecca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Maurer, Tammy – Council Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. . . . . . . . . . . 6

Moon, Candace – Council Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

IKEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 24

Noon, Cathy – Former Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 9

Benefitting from outdoor and recreational amenities that encourage an active lifestyle, Centennial residents enjoy a high quality of life and superior K-12 education for our children. Combined with our City’s economic opportunities and services, our diverse residential neighborhoods truly make Centennial stand apart not only in the Front Range but across Colorado and nationally.

Jacobs Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 6

Piko, Stephanie – Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,3, 9

Jefferson County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Pye, Randy – Former Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 8, 9, 10

Littleton Public Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Resnick, Aimee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Lone Tree Creek Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Ross, Pete. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10

Mama Louise Italian Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Rosser, Sue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space . . . . . . . . . 16, 17

Sheehan, Don – Council Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Congratulations, Centennial, on your 20th anniversary! ONWARD to the next 20!

SAFEbuilt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Sutherland, Mike – Council Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Smoky Hill Metropolitan District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17

Sweetland, Christine – Council Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

South Metro Denver Chamber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 10

Turley, Kathy – Council Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

South Metro Fire Rescue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 7

Vogt, Brian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10

Centennial is forward-thinking by Tom Brook nature, capitalizing on its central location, diverse real estate, business-friendly climate and highly skilled workforce. These factors attract various industries, including professional and financial services, health care, construction and retail. Diverse international and local companies like Arrow Electronics, United Launch Alliance, Centura Health and IKEA call Centennial home. This environment creates quality, high-paying jobs for residents. Building on its existing achievements, Centennial’s innovative economic development initiatives look to help grow companies and a robust workforce far into the future. Spark Centennial, one such initiative, is a pilot program that uses experiences to grow revenue for local businesses, explore creative opportunities with retail owners and spark wonder among residents. To facilitate movement for workers and residents, the City continues to invest in varied transportation modes tailored to the community’s unique needs. The mix of light rail, highway access and trails for cyclists and pedestrians facilitates movement and gives residents flexible choices for getting to work and enjoying all our City offers. Also, Centennial continually experiments with unique improvements as the needs of residents and businesses evolve. Its pioneering FiberWorks project provides a fiber backbone to connect key City sites, and it enables broadband providers to tie into this and offer competitive internet access to residents.

Denver South is a regional economic development organization serving Centennial and adjacent communities along the I-25 corridor south of Denver.

South Suburban Parks and Recreation District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 16, 17, 19

20 YEARS OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

13133 E. Arapahoe Rd., Centennial, CO 80112

centennialco.gov

#CelebrateCentennial

#WhyILoveCentennial

SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY JOIN A BOARD OR COMMISSION

Centennial has 10 volunteer boards and commissions that routinely have openings for residents to join. Help shape the future of the community and consider being a volunteer in Centennial.

AUDIT COMMITTEE The Audit Committee reviews the findings and reports of such auditor(s) and presents the annual report or other audit documents to the City Council.

BUDGET COMMITTEE The Budget Committee is responsible for studying all phases of the budget and making recommendations and reports to City Council about these studies.

BOARD OF REVIEW The Board of Review conducts hearings related to the International Building Code within the City.

ELECTION COMMISSION The Election Commission assists the designated Election Official in managing the election processes in a fair, open and efficient manner.

FIBER COMMISSION The Fiber Commission provides policy direction, management and day-to-day oversight of FiberWorks, a program to implement the City’s fiber backbone.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE The Investment Committee makes recommendations to the City Council to ensure City funds are invested in accordance with state statute and sets policy for managing City funds to reach investment goals.

OPEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD The Open Space Advisory Board assists the City in setting priorities for the use of Open Space Funds and reviews and comments on individual open space, park, recreation and trail projects.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION The Planning and Zoning Commission prepares and maintains the City’s Comprehensive Plan, reviews applications for rezoning and development, makes recommendations to the City Council and listens to applications for variances.

SENIOR COMMISSION The Senior Commission advises City Council on matters affecting older adults in the community.

YOUTH COMMISSION The Youth Commission is a group of teens (ages 13-18) formed by City Council to provide a voice for youth in Centennial.

Learn more at centennialco.gov/boardsandcommissions.

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COMMUNITY SERVICES 1) Centennial Civic Center 2) Centennial Public Works Facility 3) Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office 4) South Metro Fire Rescue Admin Office 5) Araphoe County District Court 6) Centennial Hospital 7) Centennial Airport 8) Dry Creek Light Rail Station

9 1

S. P

S. University Blvd.

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RECREATION 16) South Suburban Golf Course 17) South Suburban Sports Complex 18) Goodson Recreation Center 19) Holly Park, Pool and Tennis Courts 20) The Trails Recreation Center 21) Family Sports Center

31 14

E-470

C-470

PARKS & OPEN SPACE 9) Centennial Center Park 10) deKoevend Park 11) Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space 12) Willow Spring Open Space & Trail 13) Arapaho Park / Monterey Open Space 14) 17 Mile House Farm Park 15) Cherry Creek State Park

DISTRICT 3

TRAILS 22) Lone Tree Creek Trail 23) High Line Canal Trail 24) Big Dry Creek Trail 25) Centennial Link Trail 26) Cherokee Trail Park

EDUCATION 27) Arapahoe High School 28) Cherry Creek Innovation Campus 29) Endeavor Academy

BUSINESS AND RETAIL LANDMARKS 30) The Streets at SouthGlenn 31) Tagawa Garden Center 32) IKEA 33) The Original Pancake House 34) Centennial Promenade 35) Celebrity Lanes & Retail Shops 36) Topgolf 37) The District-Centennial

CENTENNIAL’S STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ECONOMIC VITALITY Centennial’s access to an educated workforce, superior infrastructure and predictable policies provide an environment where businesses flourish.

PUBLIC SAFETY & HEALTH Centennial strives to be the safest City in Colorado and partners with other agencies to ensure access to public safety and health services that meet the needs of the community.

FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY Through prudent budgeting and investment practices, Centennial demonstrates fiscal responsibility and is resilient to economic change.

SIGNATURE CENTENNIAL Through intentional planning and community investment, Centennial is a desirable, inclusive community with a lasting built environment, memorable places and experiences that bring people together.

FUTURE-READY CITY GOVERNMENT Our City government is attentive to the community’s current needs while anticipating change. Centennial is innovative and prepared to leverage technology and resources to benefit our community.

VISION

MISSION

The City of Centennial is a connected community where neighborhoods matter, education is embraced, businesses are valued, and innovation absolute.

Driven to provide exceptional service to the Centennial community.

TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY Centennial’s transportation network provides alternatives for the safe, efficient and reliable movement of people, goods and services.

CORE VALUES • Collaborative • Intentional • Service-Oriented • Innovative