Parks and Recreation Commission

Inger Hiller, Chair Rebecca Dunn, Vice-Chair Parks and Recreation Commission Madeline Self Meeting Minutes Michael Smith Nathan Jones Scott Dowis Shawn L'Esperance Wednesday, September 20, 2023 5:00 PM Central Service Center 1400 Caprice Drive Castle Rock, CO 80109 NOTE: THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THREE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ALSO ATTEND THIS MEETING, DURING WHICH THE ITEMS LISTED HEREIN WILL BE DISCUSSED. TIMES SHOWN ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ADJUSTED DUE TO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. CALL TO ORDER ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA Chair Inger Hiller called the meeting to order at approximately 5:00 p.m. Parks and Recreation staff in attendance included Jeff Smullen, Mike Kilman, Bob Maloney and Maia Yates. Present 5 - Chair Inger Hiller, Commissioner Nathan Jones, Commissioner Madeline Self, Commissioner Scott Dowis, and Vice Chair Rebecca Dunn Not Present 2 - Commissioner Shawn L'Esperance, and Commissioner Michael Smith PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AND STAFF ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN FOUR (4) MINUTES. None. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING PRC 2023-013 Approval of the Minutes Vice Chair Rebecca Dunn motioned and Scott Dowis seconded the approval of the minutes of the June 21, 2023 meeting. Nathan Jones was not yet present. "I move to approve the minutes of the June 21, 2023 meeting." Yes: 4 - Chair Hiller, Commissioner Self, Commissioner Dowis, and Vice Chair Dunn Not Present: 3 - Commissioner Jones, Commissioner L'Esperance, and Commissioner Smith AGENDA TOPICS PRC 2023-014 Update on the Construction Contract with Saunders Construction, Inc., for the Recreation Center Slide Tower Structure Removal and Replacement Project Assistant Director Jeff Smullen provided Parks and Recreation Commission members and Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 staff with an update on contracting Saunders Construction, Inc., to repair the slide tower structure at the Recreation Center Leisure Pool. The project would cost approximately 2.5 million and would commence as soon as possible. The pool slides would be reopened to the public in spring 2024. Chair Inger Hiller asked if the Town had a previous history of using Saunders Construction, and Jeff confirmed that Saunders was the contractor responsible for the original expansion of the Recreation Center with the leisure pool addition. Jeff further noted that Saunders has an extensive background in large commercial construction projects and in developing recreation facilities. PRC 2023-015 Update on an Intergovernmental Agreement with the State of Colorado acting through the Colorado Department of Transportation to Accept a Grant Award to Design and Construct the Industrial Tributary Trail The Town received a grant award to develop the Industrial Tributary Trail. The trail will connect the Miller Activity Complex and Philip S. Miller Park to Downtown Castle Rock through Miller's Landing and the proposed Brickyard development. The department partnered with Public Works to seek funding support due to the technical and resulting costly portion of the Town's portion of this project, which would construct .3 miles of 10-foot-wide paved trail under Prairie Hawk Drive and the BNSF railroad, and link users to the existing East Plum Creek Trail via a pedestrian bridge over the creek.. A nearly $5 million grant award was received from the Denver Regional Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program. Town Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the State of Colorado to formally accept the award, and staff would soon seek approval of a contract to start designing the future trail. Vice Chair Rebecca Dunn asked if the project would need to be started within a particular time frame given the grant award, and Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Smullen confirmed that the project would need to be completed by 2025; construction would commence in 2024. Chair Inger Hiller asked if staff had any concerns pertaining to obtaining necessary approvals from railroad and Jeff noted that staff were optimistic given the successful history of similar projects in the past. PRC 2023-016 Update on a Grant Application to the Great Outdoors Colorado Land Acquisition Program for Lost Canyon Ranch The purpose of this agenda item was to update Parks and Recreation Commission members and staff on a recent grant application submitted to the Great Outdoors Colorado Land Acquisition Program from the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Fund to assist with the acquisition of the 681-acre Lost Canyon Ranch. The purchase would help ensure the permanent protection of the habitat, cultural resources and future passive recreation opportunities as open space. Douglas County, Castle Rock Water and The Conservation Fund would participate in the acquisition. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 This process began July 20, 2023 with the submittal of a Concept Paper requesting $2,000,000 in grant funding to assist with land purchase. GOCO staff and the State Board selected the Town’s Concept Paper as one of 11 finalists requesting over $19 million in funds in this grant cycle. The Town was invited to move forward with submitting a full application. The final GOCO grant application requesting $2 million was submitted on September 7, 2023 by The Conservation Fund. Grant awards would be announced on December 8, 2023. If awarded, the Town would have up to three years to complete the acquisition. Chair Inger Hiller inquired where residents would park or be able to access the property. Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Smulen explained that there are two main access points, but only one is located off of a public road/right-of-way. Inger drew a comparison to Mitchell Gulch Canyon Trail, where there is no designated parking or trailhead access. Jeff confirmed that this property may be similar, but further noted that the main priority at this time was to complete the purchase. Future initiatives could include planning access, amenities and uses. Inger also asked if there were any existing or planned connections from Lost Canyon to Gateway or Mitchell Gulch Trail, and Jeff explained that there could be if the HOA had interest in developing a connection. Vice Chair Rebecca Dunn asked why the owners are looking to sell, and Jeff explained that the current owner's father had passed away. PRC 2023-017 Update on a Grant Application to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for Centennial Park Improvements The purpose of this agenda item was to update Parks and Recreation Commission members of a grant application that would soon be submitted to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for improvements to upgrade and renovate the deteriorating conditions of the basketball and tennis courts at Centennial Park. The Town‘s oldest park was acquired in the 1970’s and is home to Burgess Pool, an athletic field, playground, picnic areas, tennis courts, basketball and open space. The 10-acre site has undergone several renovations including replacement of the playground, reconstruction of Burgess Pool and pool house and reconstruction of the athletic field area as a part of Craig and Gould streetscape and drainage improvements. The tennis and basketball court area was the only part of the park that had not been improved. The courts were now approximately 40 years old and the underlying asphalt courts had significant damage, showing more deterioration than any other park facility in Town. A plastic tile product placed in the 1990’s to improve court condition had also reached the end of its useful lifespan. Initial court construction was partially funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. The current LWCF grant cycle, administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), was oriented toward the replacement of facilities previously funded by the LWCF. If received, the award would replace the asphalt courts with post-tension concrete. The initial project plan would be to convert one of the three tennis courts to a pickleball court - as requested by several neighborhood residents - replace two of the existing tennis courts and replace the basketball court. New fencing would be provided, along with accessible walkways, retaining walls, seating and shade structures. If the grant award is received, the design and construction process will begin to complete Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 renovation work within three years. Chair Inger Hiller expressed that many new projects have featured the addition of pickleball courts and inquired as to whether or not the existing courts could be offered as a multi-use option for both pickleball and tennis. Park Operations and Maintenance Manager Bob Maloney explained that while the Town does maintain a few courts in a multi-purpose fashion, both communities prefer their respective, designated facilities, especially to be able to offer league play. Assistant Director Jeff Smullen also noted that the new tennis courts under construction at Mitchell Gulch Park would help balance options for tennis players in Castle Rock in the near future. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMENTS Parks and Recreation staff provided the following updates: - A new Aquatics Specialist would soon be joining the department to fill the full-time staffing positions in the division; the candidate offers a strong background coming from South Suburban Parks and Recreation - Upcoming events include the final Tunes for Trails free concert of the season, a therapeutic recreation fundraising event called Glow Dance Party, the first responders annual pickleball tournament and the TrailsFest race - Maintenance staff were wrapping up fall fertilizing and aeration, as well as relocating trees from Meadows Parkway around town due to construction - New solar LED lights were installed in the parking lots of Metzler Family Open Space, Rock Park and Gateway Mesa Open Space - A draft version of the Public Art Strategic Plan was available to review and provide public input on at CRgov.com/publicartplan; staff will seek Town Council approval of the plan this fall COMMISSION COMMENTS Vice Chair Rebecca Dunn inquired into whether attendance was strong at this year's Summer Concert Series. Recreation Manager Mike Kilman confirmed that the turnout was great, with almost every concert selling over 2,000 tickets with the exception of Chris Janson. Rebecca also asked about the drainage issues at Rhyolite Regional Park and Park Operations and Maintenance Manager Bob Maloney explained that the issues were likely caused by groundwater and that staff had hopefully addressed the issue to prevent future pooling. Lastly, Rebecca questioned if the vandalism that occurred at Mitchell Gulch Park was consistent with past issues or altogether new. Assistant Director Jeff Smullen expressed that while vandalism has always occurred, it does seem to be happening more and more. Another issue was highlighted where 300 feet of linear trail had been damaged along the new Front Range Trail Project resulting from vandalism. Staff noted that they were working to install cameras to help prevent future occurrences and find guilty parties. Chair Inger Hiller gave a shout out to the Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course Clubhouse staff for the wonderful catering services they provide since she had used them recently for a few events. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2023 ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:18 p.m.