Do you support expanded parks, recreation facilities and sports fields for our youth and adults alike?
Parks & Rec is one of the top items Citizens love about Parker in Town surveys. Yet expanding funding for this has proven challenging.
Below from an open house in 2019 at a Farmer's Market: • Town-Owned Park = 287.4 acres (2.0%) • Private Park (HOA or Metro District) = 259.8 acres (1.8%) • Proposed Park = 218.4 acres (1.5%) • 26.3% of the Downtown Districts (East of Parker Rd) is either a Park or Open Space. If you include the future O'Brien Park North, the total rises to 30.0%.
As a long time youth coach for Parker Rec and Parker Hawks, I know full well the importance of recreation opportunities for our citizens. While we are blessed with an amazing Rec department, there is a shortage of fields or courts for youth sports in general. I have personally had to take my son to basketball practice in Franktown. I know many baseball parents that have to practice elsewhere too. Parker Hawks have to turn kids away due to lack of capacity.
I believe investing in more sport fields and courts could create opportunities for tournaments as well as more teams. That in turn provides recreation options for our youth as well as supporting small business from visitors. Youth sports is big business and this can help diversify our economy while providing more outlets for our children.
So what is the answer? One path is public / private partnerships, like the Parker Racquet facility (indoor tennis and pickleball). Another recent option is Developers paying and building a park with fields / courts.
Ballot Measure 2A (2015):
In 2015, a sales tax question was asked. Raise the dedicated Rec portion from 0.5% to 1%. This was shot down 70% to 30%. Article:
This is an example of a public / private partnership. The facility was built with private funding and the land is leased to that business. In X years, the facility is turned over to the Town.
Salisbury Park North:
Meant to be Parker's "Central Park", the Town acquired 90 acres near Salisbury Park for an expansion back in 2014. Since 2015 ballot measure failed, it has been stalled / dormant ever since. Public input included these uses: BMX / Mountain bike course, Splash River, baseball and multi-sport fields, an amphitheater etc. Info:
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