Westsider WESTSIDER 1.10.13-20
North Jeffco
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 1
January 11, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
RTD chief looks ahead General manager outlines planned projects
All work and all play
By Darin Moriki
dmoriki@ourcoloradonews.com
Greg Mastriona, former executive director of Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation, stands next to a gondola at Water World. Mastriona has retired after 43 years. Photo by Andy Carpenean
Hyland Hills executive expanded Water World By Ashley Reimers
‘The best part of the job is seeing the smiles of the kids.’ Retiring Hyland Hills executive director Greg Mastriona
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com It all started at a Laundromat in 1969. Greg Mastriona had graduated college and was looking for a recreation job, when his wife Pam happened to run into the wife of the executive director of the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District. “She told my wife that she was sure her husband would give me an interview,” Mastriona said. “I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. That’s where is all started.” Mastriona started his 43-year Hyland Hills career as a golf course assistant superintendent, before becoming the executive director in 1972. Over the years he had an integral part in growing the district, as well as becoming the visionary behind Water World. But as of Jan. 1, he no longer leads the district; he’s enjoying the slowerpaced life of retirement. “I’ve been very fortunate to work for a great organization, board and staff,” he said. “We had a lot of teamwork, and I’m very proud of the staff, and I have so many good memories and experiences.” Mastriona plans on taking in some golf and fishing during his retirement. He said he doesn’t have any major plans, but looks forward to traveling with Pam, who retired eight years ago. The break is well-deserved after years of dedication to not only the Hyland Hills District, but the community. His leadership and vision have resulted in many facilities including Adventure Golf & Raceway, the Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland
Hills, the Ice Centre at the Promenade — a collaboration with the city of Westminster, the MAC (Mature Adult Center) and of course, Water World. He said he’s also extremely proud of the many programs the district sponsors for children in the district. “The best part of the job is seeing the smiles of the kids,” he said. “Knowing that the programs and the facilities are being used and enjoyed by the kids, that’s pretty neat. You can’t beat that.” But before many of these facilities and programs could become a reality, something had to be done about the lack revenue in the district when Mastriona became executive director in 1972. At that time, the district was burdened with debt. That’s when Mastriona came up with the idea to build a water park. He says many people thought it was crazy to build a water park in Denver, but the idea soon proved to be a popular one. Mastriona went to the voters in 1979, and by a ratio of 14 to 1, a $2.7 million general obligation bond issue passed to build the park. The park began with just two water slides, but grew the following year with the addition of the wave pool and four slides. Next came Surfer’s Cove and Thunder Bay in 1984, followed by River Country in 1986. “River Country really put Water World on the map because it had tube rides and at that time all the slides were body slides,” he said. “We then built the first family ride, Raging Col-
IN THE KNOW DID YOU KNOW?
AWARDS EARNED BY GREG MASTRIONA
Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District was established in 1955, and was the first park and recreation district in Colorado. The district serves nearly 110,000 residents in a 24-square mile area located in southwest Adams County and including areas of Westminster and Arvada located in Adams County, parts of Northglenn, Thornton and, Federal Heights. For more information on the district, visit www.hylandhills.org.
Colorado Special District Association Outstanding District Manager of the Year Colorado Park and Recreation Association Manager of the Year and Fellow Awards University of Northern Colorado Outstanding Alumni Award Inductee to the World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame
orado, which allowed for people to interact on the ride. That was pretty cool.” Since then, the park has grown to 48 attractions built over 67 acres, featuring rides like Voyage to the Center of the Earth, Mastriona’s favorite, and the most recent addition, the Mile High Flyer. “Voyage was built in 1994, and we still have hour-long waits,” Mastriona said. “It’s a five-minute ride, that’s fast and features robotics. It’s still right on top, even though it is getting a little competition from the Mile High Flyer.” Mastriona’s work in the field has made an impact in the community in more ways than one, but it’s also the work with his former employees that has made a great effect on those around him. Joann Cortez, communications director for the district, has worked for Mastriona for 15 years. She said as a boss, he never once raised his voice and always treated her with respect. “If I had to go in a different way, Greg was direct about it and did in a kind, respectful way,” she said. “I think the average tenure for the management staff is way over 20 years, and that is a testament to our leader. He’s just been great.” It’s clear Mastriona will be missed by the Hyland Hills family. Board president Don Ciancio said he has the highest regard for his overall performance and commitment to the district. He said Mastriona did a superior job for the district and will remain a pillar for the Hyland community and a valued resource for the district. Going forward, Mastriona said he will take with him the many memories and experiences he’s made over the years, and will remember the great organization, staff and board he worked with. But for those who need a little reminder of the former director, just take a look in the top of his old desk. “I always had a candy drawer that anyone could grab from, and I made sure and left it full,” he said.
Regional Transportation District General Manager Phil Washington declared high expectations as RTD continues several transportation projects targeted toward the Denver metro’s northern region. Washington, a retired U.S. Army command sergeant major, highlighted several projects during a Jan. 4 legislative breakfast hosted by Louisville-based nonprofit 36 Commuting Solutions at the Omni Interlocken Resort. “The Denver-metro region will be the greatest city in the West,” Washington said. “I really believe that, and I believe that it can be done through the transportation investments that we’re making in this region.” However, he acknowledged that RTD’s journey to accomplish these projects has not been an easy one. In May 2012, the 15-member RTD board decided against placing a 0.4 percent sales tax increase on the general election ballot to fund FasTracks. This means if current financial projections remain as they are, the North Metro and Northwest lines will not be completed until 2042. But Washington said he is convinced these two projects will be done way before the projected completion dates and noted the transportation district has made significant strides in the past two years. In that time, Washington said RTD has either begun construction or contracted work out for 77 percent of its planned FasTrack network projects, including the Gold, West Rail, U.S. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), East Rail and Interstate 225 Rail Lines. “Of course we’ve had our challenges, but I always like to say that it’s not all about the knock down — the knock down being the challenges — but the get up,” Washington said. “We’ve had these challenges, but we’re getting up off the canvas, and we’re getting them done pretty quickly.” Washington also said work on the nearly 6.5-mile segment of the Northwest Rail Line to the future Westminster station is about 33 percent complete. This rail segment, which is being funded through RTD’s federally-funded $1.03 billion Eagle P3 Project, is also part of the planned Gold Line through Arvada and Wheat Ridge that is expected to be opened by 2016, according to current RTD projections. Washington said he also has high hopes for the 18mile Colorado Department of Transportation-led U.S. 36 BRT (bus rapid transit) project between Downtown Denver and Boulder. “We want bus rapid transit on U.S. 36 to be one of the best BRT systems in the country, so we are committed to that,” Washington said. To achieve this goal, Washington said RTD is striving to offer BRT riders new services, such as free WiFi service and a cashless-fare collection option through its recently-launched Smart Card system. Washington said the BRT project, which is dovetailed with the 17-mile U.S. 36 Express Lanes Project between Federal Boulevard in Westminster and Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2015. “That is the opening day for bus rapid transit on U.S. 36, and if you know me, you know I do not miss deadlines,” Washington said. “We will meet that schedule.” As a part of the U.S. 36 Express Lanes project, a new managed lane in each direction of the highway will be added to accommodate buses and high occupancy vehicles. In all, Washington said RTD has pledged about $135 million to the completion of its BRT system and the U.S. 36 Express Lanes Project. Lori Frasier, a 36 Commuting Solutions board chairwoman, said she was pleased with Washington’s positive message on the U.S. 36 BRT Project and said the prospects of a mixed bus and rail line will bring significant benefits for the region. “We’re really excited about that,” Frasier said. “It kind of brings the best of buses and the best of rail together, so it will be a whole new experience for us.”
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