WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 2024
VOLUME 11 | ISSUE 30
FREE
Wildcat Regional Park plan spurs anger Opposition fails
to stop proposal for Pine Canyon development
Developers envision 1,800 homes near Castle Rock plus hotel, spa, open space BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
possible impacts of a park to wildlife. The proposal is called Wildcat Regional Park. The 202-acre piece of land — between Grigs Road and Monarch Boulevard, south of Rocky Heights Middle School — was given to the county as part of an agreement with Mission Viejo Company, the initial developer of Highlands Ranch.
Castle Rock officials are opposing the Pine Canyon development over concerns with the impact of the proposed mixed-use project on the town’s water system, roads and fire protection services. As proposed, Pine Canyon would bring a 530-acre mixed-use development to unincorporated Douglas County off Interstate 25 near the Metzler Ranch and the Woodlands neighborhood. But if the neighboring town of Castle Rock could decide, the development would look quite different. Castle Rock Town Manager David Corliss said the project goes against the town’s building practices and puts an unsustainable demand on resources.
SEE PARK, P12
SEE PINE CANYON, P8
A crowd of people gathered at a Douglas County commissioners meeting on Aug. 5 in Castle Rock, where the proposed Wildcat PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD Regional Park was discussed. Some at the meeting brought signs in opposition to the park.
Future is unclear for park, sports fields in Highlands Ranch area BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The monthslong drama in Douglas County over sports fields con-
tinues. First, residents raised their voices of concern about the future of fields in the Castle Rock area amid plans to renovate the county’s Fairgrounds Regional Park. Now, a proposal to add a park with sports fields in the Highlands Ranch area is meeting opposition. Another large crowd nearly packed a county meeting room in early August. That gathering came on the heels of an online petition that raises issues about
VOICES: 20 | LIFE: 22 | CALENDAR: 25 | SPORTS: 28
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