WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 2024
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 24
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Wildcat Regional Park plan spurs anger
FALL
SPORTS Key takeaways from CHSAA Media Day in Denver Flag football and more metro-area prep sports news BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@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.
A day after boys golf teams officially were allowed to practice, marking the start of the 2024 fall sports season, dozens of high school athletes from around the state descended on Empower Field in Denver for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s fall sports Media Day. Headlining fall sports this season is flag football, which will be introduced with two classifications in 2024-25. Previously, there was a two-year pilot program with Colorado high schools. But in April, Colorado became the 11th state to sanction the sport. It is the inaugural season for the sport in Colorado. Girls flag football becomes the 14th fall activity and 21st activity for girls recognized by CHSAA. Defending champions Arvada West and Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Mountain View, Valor Christian and Vista Ridge high schools sent teams to speak to the media. “Flag football is the fastest-growing sport nationally, especially for girls,” said CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger. “So, we’re excited to be part of that with a number of
SEE PARK, P10
SEE SPORTS, P7
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: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | PUZZLES: 25
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