WEEK OF APRIL 10, 2025
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 18
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Stroh Road set to be widened to two lanes in both directions BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
Nearly 80 young women participated in painting the mural along Lemon Gulch Trail in Parker by painting certain colors in numbered shapes. COURTESY OF MICHAEL MONTOYA
Painting goodness and light in the Parker community More than 150 people joined in painting a 225-foot long mural BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
Like random paint droplets thrown onto a canvas, the art that’s scattered throughout the Town of Parker is part of what attracted Michael Montoya and his wife to the community. “I’ve always been interested in
art and when I came to Parker two years ago, I noticed right away the town’s commitment to art,” Montoya said. From electrical boxes painted with colorful scenery to sculptures big and small, the Town of Parker is no stranger to public art. Montoya is a member of the
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town’s Public Arts Commission, which was formed last year and recently oversaw the town’s latest work of art. Just west of Parker Road, along the Lemon Gulch Trail near the Stroh Ranch soccer fields, is a 225-foot long mural. Bright blues and yellows mixed with splashes of orange and purple now cover what was once a grey concrete wall. “This is such a large space and it takes a large commitment,” Montoya said. It was a challenge Parker’s Ja-
nae Coy was ready to take on. With a college degree in art, Coy ran a mural painting business where she painted in homes and offices for 20 years. “I retired about six years ago, and now I just do fun stuff for service,” Coy said. Coy is part of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints women’s group dedicated to doing service projects throughout the community. Last year, the group painted a mural on the tunnel of SEE MURAL, P14
Another road widening project will be underway this spring — this time, in the southern part of Parker along Stroh Road. Stroh Road between J Morgan Boulevard and Motsenbocker Road/Crowfoot Valley will be widened to two lanes in both eastbound and westbound directions. “This stretch of road is well beyond its design life,” said Nathan Klass of Parker’s engineering and public works department. The widening will include an extra through-lane on the west side of Crowfoot Valley and Mostenbocker Road, and a bridge over Cherry Creek between Crowfoot Valley/ Motsenbocker Road and J Morgan Boulevard. The project also includes a short extension of J Morgan Boulevard south to connect to the existing South Metro Fire Station, a signalized intersection at J Morgan Boulevard and Stroh Road, and the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks and new connections to the Cherry Creek Trail and Lemon Gulch Trail. This project is anticipated to start before the end of April and be complete by next spring. Additionally, to help increase traffic flow on Stroh Road, there is a planned connection to the Chamber Road extension, south of Hess Road, which is currently under construction. “It’s great to see yet another mark of improvement for infrastructure in Parker,” said Councilmember Todd Hendreks. The Stroh Road Widening project, which included plans for a future bridge, has been in the SEE STROH ROAD, P14
2025
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