Rebecca Dunn, Chair

Cat Evans, Vice Chair

Robert Coltin

Parks and Recreation Commission

Meeting Minutes

Scott Dowis

Jessica Kallweit

Craig Kinnunen

Melissa Lindsay

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

5:00 PM

Central Service Center

1400 Caprice Drive

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

Rebecca called the meeting to order at approximately 5:07 p.m. Jeff Smullen, Mike

Kilman, Bob Maloney, Jennifer Martin and Maia Yates were also in attendance.

4 -

Present

Chair Rebecca Dunn, Commissioner Robert Coltin, Commissioner Cat Evans, and

Commissioner Jessica Kallweit

2 - Commissioner Scott Dowis, and Commissioner Melissa Lindsay

Not Present

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.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS AND INTRODUCTIONS

Chair Rebecca Dunn opened the meeting by welcoming newly appointed

Commissioners Cat Evans and Robert Coltin. She expressed her enthusiasm about

serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission, stating that it is the best in Town and

a great opportunity to stay informed on the department’s efforts to enhance the

community.

Cat introduced herself, sharing that she moved to Castle Rock in 2014 after relocating

from California. She previously lived in Denver, where she worked for Denver Health

and in Denver Parks and Recreation, focusing on events and facilities management.

She currently works in the nonprofit sector and actively seeks opportunities to engage

in the community. Her interests include snowboarding, snowshoeing, backpacking,

yoga, and other outdoor activities.

Bob shared that he has a legal background and transferred to Castle Rock from Phoenix

after 34 years with his company. He recently retired from his role as legal counsel for

D.R. Horton, a homebuilding company. He’s looking forward to giving back to the

community through his role on the commission. Bob and his wife also maintain a

residence in Jersey City to be close to their grandchildren and two sons in New York,

as well as their daughter in California. A local outdoor enthusiast, he lives near and

hikes daily at Ridgeline Open Space or Philip S. Miller Park.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

PRC 2025-007

Approval of the Minutes

Bob Coltin motioned to approve the minutes of the April and May meetings, and Cat

Evans seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously.

"I move to approve the minutes of the April 10, 2025 and May 8, 2025 Parks and

Recreation Commission meetings."

4 - Chair Dunn, Commissioner Coltin, Commissioner Evans, and Commissioner Kallweit

3 - Commissioner Dowis, Commissioner Lindsay, and Morkes

Yes:

Not Present:

AGENDA ITEMS

PRC 2025-010

Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair

Jessica Kallweit motioned to appoint Rebecca Dunn to serve as Chair, and Bob Coltin

seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously 4-0. Bob also motioned to

appoint Cat Evans to serve as Vice Chair, and Rebecca Dunn seconded the motion; the

motion passed unanimously.

"I move to appoint Rebecca Dunn to serve as Chair and Cat Evans to serve as Vice

Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission from June 2025 through May 2026."

4 - Chair Dunn, Commissioner Coltin, Commissioner Evans, and Commissioner Kallweit

3 - Commissioner Dowis, Commissioner Lindsay, and Morkes

Yes:

Not Present:

PRC 2025-011

Approval of the Bylaws

Bob Coltin motioned and Cat Evans seconded the motion to approve the bylaws

with a proposed change to remove the redundant "on the" from Article Three; the

motion passed unanimously.

"I move to approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Bylaws with the

amendment to remove the redundant phrase 'on the' in Article Three."

4 - Chair Dunn, Commissioner Coltin, Commissioner Evans, and Commissioner Kallweit

3 - Commissioner Dowis, Commissioner Lindsay, and Morkes

Yes:

Not Present:

PRC 2025-008

Draft Strategic Plan Review

Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Jeff Smullen introduced himself and

welcomed the new Commissioners. He noted a gap in the previous strategic plan and

the draft being presented due to COVID-19 and emphasized the department's focus on

finalizing the direction and budget for the new indoor recreation facility before

proceeding with a new plan.

The Strategic Plan is a short-term, goal-oriented document intended to guide

department priorities and drive capital projects while remaining adaptable. It ties into

the broader Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan. The department is now

entering the public input phase. Outreach efforts will include: a dedicated webpage,

office hours at the MAC and online and staff questionnaires. Feedback will inform

final revisions before presentation to Town Council for approval.

Jeff outlined the department’s various funding sources, including the Community

Center Fund for recreation operations funded by user fees; the General Fund for core

operations, maintenance and administration; the Golf Fund, which is a self-sustaining

enterprise exempt from TABOR; the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund which is

derived from development impact fees to provide new parks and recreation facilities;

the Conservation Trust Fund which is composed of state lottery and county open space

sales tax revenue; and the Lodging Tax Fund which supports eligible Parks and

Recreation uses. Some of these funds are earmarked for specific uses, with

prioritization guiding budget allocation.

The plan was organized around strategic themes, including enhancing quality of life,

protecting natural resources, providing walkable access to parks, improving trail

connectivity, supporting arts and cultural programming, maintaining safe and efficient

operations and preserving historical and regionally significant spaces

The department includes five primary divisions, each with distinct focus areas:

- The Administrative Division works on planning, marketing, partnership

development, volunteer coordination, ADA compliance and seeking external funding.

- The Park Operations and Maintenance Division focuses on trail and turf quality,

downtown streetscape revitalization, technology adoption for streamlining

operations, athletic facility maintenance, and asset management.

- Parks Planning and Construction prioritizes new park development, existing park

renovations, trail and signage improvements, open space acquisition and facility

construction.

- The Recreation Division provides a wide range of community programming such as

youth camps, therapeutic recreation, aquatics, athletics, arts and cultural

programming at Cantril School and community events. The division also works on

existing facility management and enhancements at the Miller Activity Complex,

Recreation Center and Cantril School. A key goal identified in the draft plan is to

increase scholarship access and programming evaluations as part of CAPRA

accreditation.

- The Golf Division runs Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course and strives to maintain and

improve course quality and infrastructure - irrigation, parking and tee boxes will be

improved throughout the plan.

The department uses the CAPRA accreditation framework to align with national

industry standards. The self-assessment will be submitted in 2025, with a site visit and

potential recognition at the NRPA Conference in fall 2026. Staff noted the process is

ongoing and collaborative, involving continual input from all division and adapting to

regulatory changes.

Cat Evans asked about how funds are prioritized. Jeff explained the department

doesn’t assign strict percentages to goals but uses priorities to guide phased

implementation. Cat also complimented recent improvements in marketing and

facilities, while noting that the only concern she has observed is capacity limitations

due to high demand.

Bob Coltin noted the comprehensive nature of the work and asked about the planning

process. Staff shared that planning is ongoing and integrates staff feedback across all

divisions.

Rebecca Dunn asked about current golf course debt, and Jeff noted that the annual

service payment is approximately $500K and is set to be paid off in 2027, with funds

then redirected to irrigation upgrades.

PRC 2025-009

Proposed Red Hawk Quarry Trail

The Commission reviewed a proposal for a new two-mile, unpaved trail on

Town-owned open space surrounding the Santa Fe Quarry Butte. The project

originated from a resident request and would directly serve Red Hawk and the new

development under construction near Coachline Road, consisting of 58 single-family

homes. The planned alignment would connect Red Hawk Drive near Thatch Circle to

Ridgeline Open Space, providing a sustainable and safe public route to the summit of

the butte, which is already a popular destination among local hikers.

A public open house will be held on Monday, July 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Red Hawk

Ridge Golf Course clubhouse patio. An online questionnaire will also be available

through Wednesday, July 16, to collect additional community feedback on the

proposed alignment and trail access points.

Commissioner Jessica Kallweit asked whether the trail would be unpaved, and staff

confirmed it would be a native surface trail.

Chair Rebecca Dunn asked about the trail’s length, which staff confirmed would be

approximately two miles. Rebecca also asked about project timing, and staff noted

that the trail may be constructed before the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space trails, but

it will all depend on the timing of project approvals and the trail construction

contractor's availability.

Vice Chair Cat Evans inquired about the division of maintenance responsibilities

between HOA and Town-owned open space. Staff explained that maintenance

responsibilities vary by development; typically, HOAs maintain trails within their own

properties, while the Town maintains trails on Town-owned land. In some cases,

metro districts may request assistance with various upkeep.

Commissioner Bob Coltin asked whether Timberline TrailCraft had worked on

previous projects such as Metzler Family Open Space and whether the work was bid or

sole-sourced. Staff explained that larger projects are typically bid, although

Timberline is retained through an on-call agreement for small, one-off projects.

Construction of the trail is expected to move forward following completion of the

public engagement process.

PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMENTS

Mike Kilman reported that this year’s Climb4Change event saw record attendance

with over 130 participants-more than double past events-and raised nearly $20,000 for

Therapeutic Recreation. Additional upcoming fundraising events include Trails Fest

and Zumba Glow. Due to the high cost of offering Therapeutic Recreation programs,

these events are critical to the division and ensuring access remains affordable for

these families in need. A new full-time Therapeutic Recreation Specialist will start on

July 14.

Mike also highlighted a busy summer events schedule. That evening featured the

South Metro Water Festival, with 30 tents and live music until 8 p.m. at Philip S. Miller

Park. The following night would be the free Tunes for Trails concert featuring Heavy

Diamond Ring. On Saturday, Sugar Ray is scheduled to perform with 1,000 tickets

already sold out of a 2,200-2,300 capacity; 1,200 tickets are typically needed to break

even. Other upcoming events include the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space“Twilight on

the Trails” gala on June 28, Fourth of July festivities at Festival Park with live music, a

5K, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m., and summer concerts including Gavin DeGraw (July 11),

That Eighties Band (July 17), and Philadelphia Freedom (July 19). Mike also noted that

summer camps are at capacity with 2,700 campers and over 2,000 on the waitlist. He

praised Youth Supervisor Mindy for her outstanding work.

Maia Yates shared a public art update, noting that the Festival Park restroom will soon

feature a vinyl art wrap titled Complete Raccoonery, which depicts ziplining raccoons.

The installation is anticipated for late June or early July, pending vendor coordination.

Jennifer Martin reported on department-wide sponsorship efforts. Over the past year,

multiple teams collaborated to create a comprehensive sponsorship policy for the

Town and department. Nearly $54,000 has been raised, including $7,000 from the

Pickleball banner program and $5,350 from Post Partners dog waste station sponsors.

Larger contributions came from CORE Electric and Adventist Health to help fund

events, along with separate donations through Climb4Change.

Bob Maloney provided a parks update, noting a focus on tree planting. Staff are

replacing 26 trees at Cobblestone Ranch Park due to warranty issues, and an additional

70 trees are planned. Trees were secured at a discount due to the closure of a local

nursery in Franktown, and replacement efforts are underway before summer heat

peaks.

Vice Chair Cat Evans asked about the Plum Creek Trail expansion. Jeff Smullen shared

that the trail currently reaches the Brickyard and will eventually pass under Prairie

Hawk Drive and connect to the East Plum Creek Trail near the Fifth Street Bridge. A

grant is in place and design work is underway, though hydrology coordination with the

railroad has caused delays. Bidding for construction is expected soon.

Other updates included the replacement of Festival Park’s boardwalk with durable ipe

wood to reduce long-term maintenance, an anticipated mid-August groundbreaking

for the Sports Center at the Brickyard, and continued progress on infrastructure and

approvals for the site. Staff also submitted the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Master