To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Kristin Read, Assistant Town Manager
Title
Discussion/Direction: Results of 2025 Community Survey
Body
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Executive Summary
In every odd-numbered year since 2011, the Town has completed a community survey. As it has since 2015, the Town retained firm ReconMR (formerly ComEngage) to complete this year’s statistically valid survey on its behalf. Every household in Castle Rock was invited to participate, and responses were collected from March 5 to April 14. This resulted in nearly 1,900 residents completing at least one “wave” of the survey, compared to about 2,200 in 2023.
Results overall continue to rate Castle Rock higher than other communities - the Town again received a 3.5-Star Rating overall in ReconMR’s 5-Star Rating system, as it has since 2017. Along with a draft report on the resident survey (Attachment B), this memo summarizes some high-level results. Town staff will be working to suggest responses to some of the feedback received via the survey as we continue into the 2026 Budget process.
Discussion
The resident survey generally took respondents about 35 minutes to complete and included questions in the following broad areas, under which high-level results are summarized:
• General questions about the quality of life and quality and value of services in Town and a question regarding whether the Town is headed in the right direction
About 90% of residents surveyed said the quality of life in Castle Rock meets or exceeds expectations, and 84% of respondents said the quality of services the Town provides exceeds or greatly exceeds expectations - the latter rating has increased from 2023. Castle Rock continues to shine with regard to comparability to other communities, with 89% of residents surveyed believing Castle Rock is a better place to live than elsewhere.
55% of residents surveyed said they believe the Town is headed in the right direction, with this rating increasing over the prior survey for the first time since 2019. 62% percent of respondents said they believe they are getting their money’s worth for their tax dollars, which is consistent with 2023.
• Thoughts regarding the Town’s strategic priorities
The survey asked residents to share what they believe should be Town’s top priorities from a list of potential priorities. Here is how respondents ranked the potential priorities:
1. Managing growth/quality of life
2. Protecting natural resources/preserving additional open space
3. Securing the Town’s water future
4. Ensuring outstanding public safety within Castle Rock
5. Maintaining the Town’s unique character
6. Improving transportation connectivity and relieving traffic congestion
7. Providing adequate park and recreation amenities to keep up with neighboring communities
8. Managing Town finances conservatively
9. Supporting economic development within Town
10. Providing adequate job opportunities
11. Providing a suitable range of housing options
After considering the potential priorities, residents were asked to rate the Town’s progress over the last 10 years concerning each priority. Here is the order in which respondents believe the Town has made the best progress:
1. Ensuring outstanding public safety within Castle Rock
2. Providing adequate park and recreation amenities to keep up with neighboring communities
3. Protecting natural resources/preserving additional open space
4. Securing the Town’s water future
5. Maintaining the Town’s unique character
6. Managing Town finances conservatively
7. Supporting economic development within Town
8. Providing a suitable range of housing options
9. Improving transportation connectivity and relieving traffic congestion
10. Managing growth/quality of life
11. Providing adequate job opportunities
• Questions regarding Castle Rock as a place to live, including about important issues in and aspects of the Town, as well as regarding how well the Town keeps residents informed and how likely residents are to recommend Castle Rock as a place to raise children, do business, retire and work
A growing number of respondents continued to identify managing growth as the biggest issue facing Castle Rock when asked an open-ended question about that topic. Concerns about transportation and “overdevelopment of open spaces” also topped the list of concerns. Of note is that the number of residents who mentioned water issues and public safety as the most important issue facing the Town in the next five years declined significantly since 2023.
Scores related to keeping residents informed regarding Town happenings and seeking their involvement and input have remained consistent compared to 2023 - and the latter is comparable to benchmarks. Ratings related to recommending the Town as a place to do business, retire, raise children and work also have remained steady.
• Thoughts regarding growth
Again this year, residents were provided a list of ways the Town works to manage growth and asked to rank them in order of importance. Here is how respondents ranked the Town’s responses to growth in order of importance:
1. Preserve open space
2. Implement and execute on long-term water plans
3. Engage the public for input regarding development proposals
4. Establish and execute on long-range plans for other Town services (fire, police, parks and recreation)
5. Charge impact fees on development to help ensure growth pays for growth
6. Require exceptional benefits for any new development proposals
7. Improve the transportation network by widening roads within Town
8. Improve the transportation network by adding new interchanges on major highways in Castle Rock
9. Enforce zoning regulations
After considering these provided responses, residents were asked if there were other measures the Town could take to ensure quality growth. The top answer (49%) was again to limit, slow down or stop growth, followed by listening to resident input, including more two-way dialogue with taxpayers (11%).
When asked about the rate of growth in Castle Rock, 82% of respondents say they
believe the Town’s population is growing too fast, and 81% say new housing construction is too fast. On the other side, 60% of respondents thought infrastructure to serve growth is growing too slowly.
Respondents’ top two concerns about growth were the same as in 2023: traffic and transportation issues, and the feeling that uncontrolled growth is occurring. About one-fourth of residents believe there are no benefits to growth, and there was a significant decrease in residents appreciating the added variety in shopping, restaurants and businesses that growth brings.
• Thoughts regarding community character and Downtown
75% of respondents said they believe there is some or a strong sense of community in Castle Rock. Respondents were asked to select the factors they believe contribute most to the Town’s unique identity. Here is how they ranked those items:
1. Easy access to open spaces and natural beauty
2. Safe neighborhoods and streets
3. Special events and activities for the community
4. Feeling safe
5. A vibrant downtown
6. Walkable areas with no traffic
7. Friendly people
8. Small businesses and limited big-box stores
9. Knowing my neighbors
10. Connection to history and heritage
After considering the provided factors, residents were asked what other factors contribute to the Town’s distinct identity. The top answer (28%) was a “small-town feel,” followed by views/nature/open space/parks/geology (22%).
With regard to Downtown Castle Rock, 64% of respondents reported visiting the area once a week or more, up from 52% in 2023, with the most common reason for visiting being going out to eat. When asked how long it takes to find a parking space Downtown, 60% of residents said 5 minutes or less, while 25% said 6-10 minutes and 16% said more than 10 minutes.
• Evaluations of specific aspects of Town services including Police, Fire/EMS, Roads/Public Works, Water and Parks and Recreation
Respondents indicate they remain satisfied (7/10 or above) with most aspects of Police and Fire and Rescue services. There have been a few decreases in Fire and Rescue performance compared to 2023, but the ratings remain high.
Ratings for all Public Works performance items remained consistent with 2023, except snowplowing, which saw an improvement. Residents continue to be satisfied with Castle Rock Water’s services, with ratings remaining consistent to 2023. New questions about stormwater and wastewater also received satisfaction ratings near 7/10.
Finally, residents continue to believe that Parks and Recreation is doing a good job at providing a park within a half-mile of their households and rated highly the value of their access to parks and trails. When asked what additional Parks and Recreation amenities they would like developed within Castle Rock, respondents’ most common answer was walking/biking paths, followed by open recreational spaces.
In addition to the draft resident survey results, a resident survey briefing is also attached (Attachment A). A full report with results of the business survey and all open-ended responses provided to both surveys will be shared with the public online soon. Staff welcomes Council discussion and direction with regard to these survey results and will report back during the 2026 Budget process on suggested responses.
Attachments
Attachment A: 2025 Resident Survey Briefing
Attachment B: Draft 2025 Castle Rock Resident Survey Report