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, May 15, 2024 5:00 PM Matney Park 5790 Lantern Circle Castle Rock, CO 80104 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 The meeting was called to order at approximately 5 p.m. by Chair Inger Hiller. Staff in attendance included Jeff Brauer, Jeff Smullen, Mike Kilman, Brian Peteron, Erika Alsobrook and Jennifer Martin. Present 4 - Chair Inger Hiller, Commissioner Nathan Jones, Commissioner Shawn L'Esperance, and Commissioner Michael Smith Not Present 4 - Commissioner Madeline Self, Commissioner Scott Dowis, Chair Rebecca Dunn, and Vice Chair Rebecca Dunn 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. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATES None. COMMISSION COMMENTS None. TOUR LOST CANYON RANCH Parks and Recreation Director provided commission members and staff with a tour of the newly acquired Lost Canyon Ranch property. The ranch was one of the last, large-acreage properties yet to be developed near Castle Rock. Its outstanding scenic resources, cultural resources and potential recreational opportunities were unparalleled. For this reason, the Town of Castle Rock, The Conservation Fund, Great Outdoors Colorado and Douglas County partnered to acquire the 681-acre property, representing the largest one-time acquisition and protection of open space in Town history. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 15, 2024 The property lies on the Town’s southeastern border within unincorporated Douglas County. It’s surrounded on the north and west by residential neighborhoods, by large-acreage estate lots on the south and shares a boundary with Castlewood Canyon State Park. The open space provides a diverse array of habitats, ranging from riparian areas and ponderosa forests to open grasslands, cliff outcroppings and Willow Creek. Many wildlife call Lost Canyon Ranch home including golden eagles. The ranch also features two older houses, a horse arena and small outbuildings. The Parks and Recreation Department will initiate a master planning process in 2024 to define the vision, goals and strategies for the use and management of the open space in alignment with the conservation values of the conservation easement held by Douglas Land Conservancy. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:26 p.m.