Parker is slated to open a new dog park and full disc golf course next year, two amenities requested by residents for years.
The new 40-acre park, to be located west of the Cherry Creek Trail and south of E-470 with access from Pine Lane, will contain a dog park on 5-6 acres and an 18-hole disc golf course on about 30 acres. The overall cost is about $900,000 and construction is slated to begin in late spring or early summer 2015, opening in fall 2015.
“For the two years I’ve been mayor and the four previous years while a town council member, I have consistently been asked by citizens ‘when is Parker getting a dog park?’ ” said Parker Mayor Mike Waid in an e-mail. “This question has been one of the top five questions consistently asked of me.”
That’s because Parker is a big dog town, said Katie Hut, manager of Purr Y Paws, a dog grooming and supply store in Parker. Her business is one of many dog-oriented business in Parker, which has a population of about 50,000. She said she regularly takes her dog to dog parks north of Parker, closer to Arapahoe Road.
“I think it’s going to be closer for a lot of people, and then you also get to know a lot of people that have dogs in Parker,” Hut said. “You’ll get to know people who have dogs and do dog play dates.”
While the project is still in the design phases, project administrator Dennis Trapp said amenities for the dog park could include open dog run areas, a dog agility and obstacle course, dog-friendly water fountains, walking paths and rest areas. He said because the park is in a flood plain, the town really can’t use it for anything but passive uses, which includes the disc golf course and dog park.
The new park is possible through an agreement with developer Spanos Corp., approved by Parker Town Council Sept. 15. Parker already owns about 17 acres adjacent to E-470 near the Cherry Creek Trail. The developer, which will be constructing new apartments in the area the next year, had to dedicate 13 acres of a flood plain area for the town. The town was able to secure the final 10 acres by waiving $1.8 million in town construction fees for Spanos Corp.
Waid said he has also been approached by Parker residents surprised the town does not have its own disc golf course.
“Given the site size, grade changes, existing tree groves and ease of access from the surrounding areas, we believe this course will rate very high among other courses in the metro area,” Trapp said in an e-mail.
Jim Cleveland, director of parks, recreation and open space for Parker, said the town has heard from many residents anxious for both amenities during .
“Both of these park uses are very low-impact recreational activities that require minimal improvements and maintenance, and are compatible with each other.” Trapp said in an e-mail. “Obviously we will take care in our design to ensure that there is a buffer between the disc golf fairways and the fenced dog park area.”
Clayton Woullard: 303-954-2953, cwoullard@denverpost.com or twitter.com/yhClayton
