Parks and Recreation Commission

Rebecca Dunn, Chair Michael Smith, Vice Chair Parks and Recreation Commission Dan Ahrens Meeting Minutes Scott Dowis Jessica Kallweit Melissa Lindsay Karly Morkes Wednesday, August 21, 2024 5:00 PM Miller Activity Complex 1375 W. Plum Creek Parkway 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. If you are unable to access any portion of these materials due to a disability as defined under Colorado House Bill 21-1110, please call us at 303-663-4440, email the Town’s accessibility team at accessibility@CRgov.com or submit an accommodation request form at CRgov.com/A11yRequest. TIMES SHOWN ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ADJUSTED DUE TO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. CALL TO ORDER ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA Commission Chair Rebecca Dunn called the meeting to order at approximately 5 p.m. Staff members in attendance included Jeff Smullen, Dan Wahl, Mike Kilman, Jennifer Martin and Maia Yates. Present 4 - Chair Rebecca Dunn, Commissioner Michael Smith, Commissioner Dan Ahrens, and Commissioner Jessica Kallweit Not Present 3 - Commissioner Scott Dowis, Commissioner Melissa Lindsay, and Commissioner Karly Morkes 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 2024-006 Approval of the Minutes Dan Ahrens moved and Michael Smith seconded the approval of the July 17, 2024 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously. “I move to approve the minutes of Parks and Recreation Commission meeting held July 17, 2024.” DISCUSSION ITEMS PRC 2024-007 Tri Arts Project Update and Cantril School Programming Dana Frazee, president of the Tri Arts Project (TAP) and member of the Public Art Commission and Castle Rock Artist Alliance, presented the mission of the Tri Arts Project, which focuses on education, creation and presentation of the arts. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes August 21, 2024 The organization has provided free community programs, workshops and classes for the past two years. They are now curating rotating art exhibitions at Cantril, with artwork available for sale, and launching cultural programming in partnership with the Town. Starting in September, TAP will host a wide variety of artistic and cultural programs at Cantril, including cooking, crafting, textile making, drawing, photography, film, painting, creative writing and more. Studio space will also be available for artists to collaborate and create. Additional TAP outreach includes community integration through events like Chamber of Commerce luncheons, Artfest and an outreach program for seniors funded by the Douglas County Community Foundation. TAP holds an annual gala, which last year raised $75,000 to help support their programming. This year’s gala is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Cielo’s in Castle Pines. Michael Smith expressed support for the exhibition space at Cantril to showcase and experience local art. PRC 2024-008 Proposed Recreation Facility Design Update Assistant Director Jeff Smullen provided an update on the design of the proposed sports development center. The Town of Castle Rock is exploring a partnership with Confluence Companies, the developer of Riverwalk and Encore, to build the new facility. This partnership would incorporate the sports center into the proposed Brickyard development, located at the former Acme Brick plant on Prairie Hawk Drive. The sports center is intended to complement existing recreation options, focusing on development and fitness, with amenities like gymnasiums, competitive pools, an indoor track, fitness areas, meeting rooms and a child care area. The project responds to the town's growing population and expanded need for recreation facilities. As part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a feasibility study was conducted with architectural firm Barker Rinker Seacat to assess community needs, costs and operational requirements. The partnership with Brickyard would provide a central, ideal location for the facility, supporting the town's long-term recreation goals, while simultaneously offering cost-sharing benefits. Jessica Kallweit inquired if the facility would feature ice, noting the high demand for hockey in Castle Rock and highlighting the potential for tournament play and community benefit. Jeff Smullen and Mike Kilman explained that adding ice would have compromised the gym and pool space and would require constant programming and increased maintenance. Jeff also added that the Town would like to add ice in the future, but it may require outside partnership for execution. Jessica also asked if staff had concerns about the existing recreation center Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes August 21, 2024 becoming obsolete. Mike mentioned that he had similar concerns when the Miller Activity Complex opened, but explained that the demand for programs is currently so maxed out, usage will likely remain high at all facilities. Michael Smith asked if the facility would feature restaurant services, and Jeff confirmed that food options would be available at Brickyard. Jessica asked about parking, and Jeff confirmed there will be 500 spaces plus shared street parking and garage spaces. He acknowledged potential challenges when booking large events. Rebecca asked if the facility naming rights could be sold, but no conclusion was reached on this matter as staff were currently solidifying sponsorship and naming right opportunities for the department as a whole. PRC 2024-009 Update on Trail Project to Connect Philip S. Miller Park to Downtown Castle Rock along the Industrial Tributary Assistant Director Jeff Smullen led a tour of the newly constructed trail segment connecting Philip S. Miller Park to the Miller’s Landing development and future Industrial Tributary Trail. Included in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the trail will improve pedestrian safety by providing an alternate link outside of the Plum Creek Parkway and I-25 interchange. The Town's portion of this project will construct 1 mile of 10-foot-wide paved trail from Philip S. Miller Park under Prairie Hawk Drive and the BNSF railroad and link users to the existing East Plum Creek Trail via a pedestrian crossing. The Miller's Landing and Brickyard developments are separately funding and constructing the first .5 mile of trail from the underpass at Plum Creek Parkway to Prairie Hawk Drive. The Miller’s Landing portion has been built but is not yet open. The Town's portion of the project will be funded partly through a nearly $5 million grant award from the Denver Regional Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program. In fall 2023, Town Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation to proceed with the grant. Council also approved an agreement with Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineering and Architects to design the Town's portion of the future trail. Design engineering is expected to be completed in fall 2024, with construction commencing in 2025 for the Town’s segment. The Parks and Recreation Commission will also need to select and endorse a name for this planned trail for Town Council approval later this year. Staff will prepare a separate agenda item with naming options for a future meeting. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMENTS None. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes August 21, 2024 COMMISSION COMMENTS None. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:35 p.m.