Entities

Town of Castle Rock

The Town of Castle Rock is home to 70,000 people who love its unique character. Recognized as a great place to live, work and raise a family, Castle Rock is renowned for its year-round recreation, events and attractions. The Town boasts gorgeous mountain views, more than 6,000 acres of open space, 87 miles of trails and 50 well-planned parks.

Located midway between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock encompasses 34 square miles and sits in the East Plum Creek Valley at an elevation of 6,202 feet. The Town is traversed by Interstate 25, is the seat of Douglas County and offers great shopping ranging from national retailers on the north end to one-of-a-kind shops in the historic Downtown. Its location makes it convenient to Denver’s big-city amenities and international airport, but far enough away to enjoy the Front Range outdoor lifestyle.

The Town is a full-service municipality, providing police, fire, emergency medical, parks, recreation, water and transportation services.

For more information, visit www.CRgov.com/video

Douglas County Government

The pioneer spirit, accompanied by the beauty of the mountains, foothills and plains, is gloriously evident in Douglas County. In 1861, the Colorado Territorial Session Laws created Douglas County, named after Stephen A. Douglas, who was famous for his activism on slavery issues, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and popular sovereignty.

Originally stretching from the Rockies to the State of Kansas border Douglas County is virtually the geographic center of Colorado. The County is approximately 844 square miles, 71 square miles of which are permanently protected land through the Douglas County Open Space Program. Recreational areas include more than 146,000 acres of Pike National Forest, Roxborough State Park, Castlewood Canyon State Park and the Chatfield State Recreation Area.

Population estimates for January 1, 2011 show Douglas County’s population at 293,374 with a 1.0 percent annual growth rate from 2010 – 2011. As the County continues to mature, the significant change will be not how many people live in the County, but the age of the people living in the County. The senior population, those people age 65 and over, could be as high as 20% of the County’s population compared to the current 7% in 2009.

The County’s strength, as the centerpiece of the Denver/Colorado Springs development corridor, is a perfect blend of quality lifestyle and business environment.

The County’s vision, “Setting the Standard of Excellence in Local Governance,” is continually top of mind for County leadership. And while service delivery is one primary role for Douglas County government, it is only one aspect of a total problem-solving approach to governance that requires citizen engagement for total effectiveness.

Douglas County Libraries

Douglas County Libraries, an independent library district, elevates their community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery, and connection. With nearly 2 million annual visitors to seven branches located in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Louviers, Parker, and Roxborough, patrons are met with beautiful spaces, curated collections, personalized services, and a variety of events that offer a premium experience for all.

Douglas County School District

Douglas County School District – The Douglas County School District (DCSD) strives to maximize the potential of every student to pursue his or her chosen endeavor in society, including but not limited to postsecondary education, career, or military service. DCSD is Colorado’s third-largest school district, serving more than 68,000 students in preschool through twelfth-grade. The mission of the Douglas County School District is to provide an educational foundation that allows each student to reach his or her individual potential.

Town of Larkspur

The Town of Larkspur is a Home Rule Municipality with a Council/Mayor form of Government. The Council and the Mayor are elected for four year terms. Larkspur was incorporated in 1979. Larkspur’s population is approximately 189 with 92 families. Larkspur is located off of Interstate 25 (exit 172 southbound and northbound and exit 173 southbound) between Castle Rock and the Tri Lakes area of Colorado. Larkspur is home to the Colorado Renaissance Festival , Larkspur Jellystone Park and the MS Muckfest. Larkspur also hosts’ the Insanity Mud Run and the Wacky Charity Bike Ride.

The Larkspur Community Park is the Town’s pride and joy. The Park received an award from the Colorado Lottery for best use of grant funds. The Larkspur Community Park is visited by hundreds of families for play and recreational softball and baseball. The Community Park also hosts’ Town events, large corporate parties and weddings throughout the year.

Larkspur has small town values and a natural beauty that’s bordered by the Pike National Forrest.

Larkspur lies between two major arteries. I-25 at Upper Lake Gulch and Spruce Mountain Road with quick off and on access to any business enterprise and recreation sites.

City of Lone Tree

The City of Lone Tree, incorporated in 1995, is home to almost 11,000 residents. Located south of Denver, Lone Tree has become a point of interest for exceptional shopping, cultural arts, top-rated schools and excellent recreational activities. The City of Lone Tree’s convenient location, with easy access to I-25, C-470 and the RTD light rail system, makes commuting for business or leisure comfortable, while 39 million square feet of office space brings great employment opportunity to the area.

The city’s motto, “It’s a great day to be in Lone Tree,” encompasses the overall sense of pride community members share with the city and with one another. Residents and visitors of all ages enjoy a diverse range of activities and facilities including the Lone Tree Summer Concert Series, the Lone Tree Library, an extensive trail network and first-rate shopping.

Town of Parker

The Town of Parker, incorporated in May 1981, operates under a Council/Administrator form of government. The Town Council and Mayor are elected at large and an appointed Town Administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Parker offers the perfect balance of a full-service community with a hometown feel. A community that is highly rated for safety, Parker provides an unmatched quality of life, spectacular parks and recreation amenities, a great business mix, world-class cultural facilities and a wide variety of community events. To find out more about our community, visit www.ParkerOnline.org.

City of Castle Pines

The City of Castle Pines is Colorado’s newest community. Incorporated Feb. 12, 2008, Castle Pines is a city of 10,000 located about 20 miles south of Denver in Douglas County, just west of I-25 at Exit 188.

Our 21st century city has a vision that balances the preservation of our community’s history with growth that enhances the quality of life for our citizens. For more information on Castle Pines and to sign up for e-mail alerts about city news, visit www.castlepinesgov.com

Highlands Ranch Metro District

The Highlands Ranch Metro District is the local government serving the unincorporated community of Highlands Ranch, CO. Founded in 1981, this 22,000-acre master planned community located in northern Douglas County, has a population of 95,000.

The Metro District’s municipal services include:

• Construction of major roads
• Installation and maintenance of landscaping and fences adjacent to major roads
• Installation of traffic signals and street lights on major roads
• Construction and maintenance of parks and trails
• Youth and adult outdoor recreation and sports programs
• Management and maintenance f extensive natural open space areas
• Construction of storm drainage facilities
• Emergency and fire protection services through a contract with the City of Littleton
• Water and wastewater services through a contract with Centennial Water & Sanitation District
• Community events and volunteer opportunities
• Senior outreach services
• Operation of the Highlands Ranch Mansion

An elected board of seven directors serves the community and is responsible for the organization’s budget. Board meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month (with rare exceptions due to holiday schedules) at the District Office Building, 62 Plaza Drive. The public is encouraged to attend. Learn more about the Metro District at www.highlandsranch.org and visit the community portal at www.highlandsranch.com