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Favorite Parker Restaurant Reviews 2017

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Have you found a new favorite spot in Parker for Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner or Happy Hour?

Restaurants along mainstreet in Parker CO

Feel free to talk about spots close to Parker as well…. after all, we have to leave P-Town every once in a while.

Have you had a fabulous experience with a local restaurant or bar?

Feel free to share your discoveries good and bad with your Douglas County neighbors.

Please remember to be civil and use PG-rated language in your review.
If it’s too inflammatory in nature I reserve the right to not publish your review.

What do you say Parker neighbors?

Explore what people said in the past… sadly many of these locally owned spots are out of business. 

What’s on your list of places to go out and eat? Please share in the comments below.

Parker Police Department gives access to residents about sex offender locations

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Parker Police Department Sculpture dedication
Parker Police Department

The Parker Police Department is offering you the opportunity to know if there are sex offenders that live close to you.

You can sign up online to be given adequate notice concerning sex offenders who are now or will be resident in your local Parker neighborhood.

All Douglas County Residents can go here and create an account with your address that will email you with updated information when a sex offender registers within the radius of the addresses you enter.

We just signed up while writing this article and it’s very easy to do.

Register with Douglas County to get email alerts when local sex offender information is updated.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Denver Police Department, Lone Tree Police Department, Parker Police Department, Castle Rock Police Department, Canon City Police Department, Fort Lupton Police Department, the Elizabeth Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service have teamed up to create a resource site of registered sex offenders living in our jurisdictions that fit the criteria of C.R.S. 16-22-110.

Our agencies believe that community education is paramount to our success as public safety providers. Please use the information responsibly and with the intent that “education creates prevention.”

This link is provided to access sex offender information within the Town of Parker. This information is provided in order to enhance public safety and in compliance with House Bill 05-1035. By State law, the Parker Police Department cannot post information concerning adults convicted of misdemeanor sex offenses or juveniles adjudicated for sex crimes. The sex offender registry includes only those persons who have been required by law to register and who are in compliance with the sex offender registration laws. You should not rely solely on the sex offender registry as a safeguard against perpetrators of sexual assault in our community. The crime for which a person has been convicted may not accurately reflect the level of risk posed by the sex offender to the community.

Source: Douglas County Colorado Website

If you would like a complete listing of all registered sex offenders within the Town of Parker, you will need to fill out a request at the Parker Police Department, 18600 Lincoln Meadows Parkway, Parker. There is no charge for this report.

Source: Town of Parker Website

Related Artices:

Register your cell and email for Reverse 911 in DougCO

 

Town Council Votes Down Parker Place Hotel on Mainstreet

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The final public hearing for the Parker Place Hotel on Mainstreet is to be held December 12, 2016, at the Parker Town Hall and will attract a standing-room-only crowd.

Town Council Meeting 12/12/16
Parker Town Hall
20120 E. Mainstreet
Parker, CO 80138
7:00 p.m.

Parker Place Hotel…

The last two meetings held at Parker Town Hall have had some fireworks with emotions high between the Parker Planning Commission, Parker Town Council, the mayor, and the downtown developers along with some business owners versus the residents of Parker. A large 4 story hotel that is to be built on the lot just east of Parker Station and across the street from Ruth Chapel on Mainstreet is at the center of the controversy. (Pictured above)

Many of the residents in the townhomes spoke through tears as they talked about their worry that this large building will add even more congestion, traffic, and parking problems to their already worrisome situation. Other residents dislike the plan because of the size of the building, lack of parking, the modern architecture going into the historic district of old town Parker, and the lack of transparency of the monetary dealings that have happened already.

Opponents of the hotel have created a Facebook page “Parker Watchdogs” to post information and to allow you to join the conversation. 

Tom Skelley at the Parker Chronicle has written several articles on the topic.

Links to Developer Sparks Controversy

Former Parker Mayor Gary Lasater voiced his opposition to the proposed Parker Place Hotel at Town Hall on Dec. 5. Lasater said it was never in the town’s vision to have a four-story building in downtown. This town council meeting was mostly focused on the close ties that members of the town council have with the developer Mike Mays and the Mars Hospitality LLC.

“It’s rare to find so many members of a governing board that have so many connections to the developer,” said Luis Toro of the nonpartisan, nonprofit group Colorado Ethics Watch.

Nineteen residents voiced their concerns about the project including Julie Allen, a 13-year resident who attended the meeting with her five children, who said she opposes the hotel plan because it will bring traffic into the Mainstreet corridor, an area she and her children have long enjoyed walking through.

“My children have danced at the PACE Center, they’ve checked out thousands of books from the library there,” she said. “You don’t put a hotel in the middle of that.”

Allen said she found the process of resolving the potential conflicts to be dubious.

“That they had the very people who were involved in the conflict of interest vote on the conflict of interest,” she said, “to me, that was a conflict in and of itself.”

One person who lives outside the town limits plans to open a shop inside the hotel and spoke in favor of it.

Read the rest of the article here “Links to Developer Sparks Controversy“

Hotel Plan Meets Opposition from Residents 

At the Parker Planning Commission Site Plan meeting over 100 residents came to voice their opinions. Supporters expressed hopes the hotel will bring more revenue and tourism to downtown from travelers visiting family members or touring companies performing at the PACE Center. Some expressed hope that decreased parking on Mainstreet would require visitors to walk through the downtown area instead of parking in front of a business, then leaving, creating what one called a “city atmosphere.”

“It’s a beautiful plan, it’s a beautiful building, but I feel the location is wrong,” said Lisa Monette, a 14-year resident of the townhomes on the eastern edge of the property.

Another townhome resident, Sherika Hagan, said it took 30 minutes to get out of her parking lot for last week’s tree-lighting ceremony. She fears traffic will get much worse with a 51-room hotel next door.

Opponents to the plan disagreed with the plan’s recommendation by planning department staff and said the building’s architecture is inconsistent with the historic center zoning. Others voiced concerns about increased traffic, decreased parking, and potential conflicts of interest between members of the town council and the developer, Mike May, a member of the applicant, Mainstreet Pier, LLC, and Mars Hospitality, LLC.

Joe Oltmann, the owner of Villa Parker and FuNuGyz pub, pointed out that Councilmember Amy Holland works for Mars Hospitality, and said May’s wife and companies contributed to the election and re-election campaigns of Councilmember Debbie Lewis and is concerned about conflicts of interest.

The owner of the Holiday Inn, Hampden Inn, and Super 8 in Parker came to speak against the hotels and shared that he had never been contacted about any feasibility study and that his hotels only stood at 50-75% occupancy rate and two other hotels are already in the works for the area by Costco and a La Quinta near the Holiday Inn.

A hotel study was brought up by several citizens who spoke within their 3-minute allotted time which compared three possible sites for a hotel and compared the 3. Citizens asked why the least favorable spot was chosen?  Near the end of the meeting just before the planning commission was voting, one member asked about this study, he said he’d never seen it, other members of the commission said there wasn’t a study. At which point 3 members of the audience held up a copy of the study that they had obtained from the Town of Parker. Read the rest of Tom Skelley’s article here.

Town Real Estate Purchase Scrutinized

Parker Chronicle Chris Michlewicz April 2014

The Town of Parker announced on March 27 that the Parker Authority for Reinvestment, an entity created by the town council in 2006 to eliminate blight and revitalize the downtown area, approved a resolution to acquire the Parker Water and Sanitation District headquarters on the northeast corner of Mainstreet and Victorian Drive.

The water district is consolidating administrative operations into its facility near E-470 and South Parker Road. The headquarters building was once used as the Parker Library.

The resolution, which passed unanimously during a meeting on March 17, enables PAR to buy the building and the acre of land on which it sits for $865,000, plus closing costs. But a handful of Parker residents see a potential conflict of interest because the town council doubles as the Parker Authority for Reinvestment’s board of directors, and the majority of council members work in downtown Parker.

“If you look at these people, where they’re located and where they’re buying property, it doesn’t pass the smell test,” said John Sutherland, who lives in Canterberry Crossing. “It appears that the town is getting into the land speculation and development business.”

Sutherland pointed out that Mayor Mike Waid’s office is directly across the street from the site and Councilmember Joshua Rivero owns a coffee shop two blocks away. Because the town council appointed itself as the urban renewal board, it’s like the “fox watching the henhouse,” he said.

“A primary purpose in the creation of the Parker Central Area Urban renewal district was to facilitate redevelopment of underutilized sites,” it said. “PAR can facilitate private sector redevelopment of the property consistent with community vision and current East Mainstreet development trends.”

Purchase within the guidelines

Waid, who serves as chairman of the PAR board, said the acquisition does not violate any laws or deviate from the guidelines that govern authority actions. He dismissed assertions that members of the council stand to gain financially or otherwise from the deal.

Parker resident Dave Usechek, who served in public office for six years prior to moving to town, said he opposes having the town council serve in two capacities and said there is “enough talent in Parker” to avoid overlapping interests.

“I feel the council has tunnel vision on their goals and having a separate board may provide newer ideas to sustain the downtown concept,” Usechek said.

Waid said the purchase is viewed as an “opportunity to potentially add more value to the downtown district by helping to cultivate development.” When asked why government intervention in real estate is preferred to the whims of the free market, Waid said there is concern that the land could be developed in a manner inconsistent with the vision for downtown.

Aside from the legal requirement to post the PAR meeting agenda on the Town of Parker website and outside the front entrance of the town hall, there was no announcement about the purchase prior to approval. Waid said the town did not give more notice because “this wasn’t viewed by anyone as something that would potentially be controversial.”

But any large financial transaction should be open to public scrutiny, said Sutherland, who opposed Parker’s decision last year to add a $2 million expenditure to the 2013 budget to buy land across from town hall. It was later announced that a new Parker Library would be built on the land.

“If they’re going to start buying up property, they need to have a plan and tell everybody they’re going to do it,” he said. “It needs to be well-publicized.”

While he appreciates the mayor’s enthusiasm in building up the downtown district, Parker resident Steve Gruenler said “spending tax dollars on purchasing or building non-core essential projects is a waste of resources.”

In the past, South Metro Fire Rescue Authority Chief Dan Qualman has vehemently opposed the districts because he says taxpayer money is diverted away from emergency services and into the pockets of developers and business owners. He was not available for comment. Read More Here

Additional Parker Place Hotel Information Links

  • Economic Development with RFQ Q&A Etc. (no longer on Town of Parker website)
  • Upcoming and Past Town Council Agendas and Meetings
  • Incentives Given to Mars Development (no longer on Town of Parker website)
  • Hotel Study by HORWATH HTL HOTELS, TOURISM & LEISURE Lodging & Hospitality Consultants, Inc.  (no longer on Town of Parker website)
  • Comprehensive Development Agreement 11-7-16 (no longer on Town of Parker website)

Parker Authority for Reinvestment Advisory Meeting Minutes (Hotel and/or Mainstreet Projects are mentioned)

Parker Place Hotel Press Links

Parker Hotel Divides Residents & Businesses – 9News

Parker Chronicle Article Hotel Plan Meets Opposition from Residents

Downtown Parker Hotel Clears First Hurdle – Parker Chronicle

Parker OK’s Higher Density for Condos – Parker Chronicle

The lawsuit against Mike May & Mars Development LLC – Denver Post

Town Council Meeting 12/12/16

Parker Town Hall
20120 E. Mainstreet
Parker, CO 80138
7:00 p.m.
Click here to join the Event on Facebook

PACE Center in Parker celebrates 5 years

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The PACE Center Celebrates 5 Years of Entertaining and Educating the Community

On October 28, the PACE Center will commemorate its 5th anniversary with a VIP dinner and performance from comedian Wayne Brady. This celebration caps off five years of bringing quality entertainment to Parker and the surrounding communities.

Cultural Director Elaine Mariner reflects, “What I think makes the PACE Center so successful is that we provide local artists, including the Parker Chorale, the Parker Symphony Orchestra and multiple Parker dance groups, opportunities to perform in front of very supportive audiences. At the same time, we bring in a wide variety of amazing regional and national touring acts that appeal to our patrons.”

The PACE Center is proud of its accomplishments over the past five years and strives to continue to provide patrons with enriching and educational experiences. We’d like to share a few of those accomplishments with you:

  • By the end of our 5th year, we will have had almost 1000 performances take place on the PACE Center stage.
  • Since our opening in 2011, we have sold close to 225,000 tickets (over 150,000 to Parker Arts presented shows, and close to 74,000 to rental shows). During our 5th presenting season, our average capacity at PACE Center shows was 82%.
  • Over the years, we have presented a variety of local, regional, national, and world-renowned acts (including dance, orchestra, choral, comedy, drama, concerts, musicals, magicians, and more).
  • We’ve developed educational programming for all ages, with class and camp offerings in art, music, dance, theater, travel, technology, culinary, science & nature, and language arts. We’ve introduced over 25,000 students to cultural topics during this time.
  • In 2014, we introduced our student matinees, allowing teachers and school-aged kids from all over Douglas County and surrounding areas to experience theater. We now offer scholarship programs for qualified schools and families.
  • We’ve expanded our educational offerings beyond classes, with events such as the annual Parker Honey Festival, the Rover Rally, our free Adult Lecture Series, and our inaugural Parker Shakespeare Festival for teens that will debut in 2017. In 2015, we launched our Family Discovery Series which offers families an affordable way to experience new forms of arts, culture, and science (tickets are only $5). This year’s topics range from experiential rhythm to astronomy, bats, puppets, and pirates.
  • Our outreach efforts consist of presenting or participating in more than 30 events a year such as PACE Patio Parties, Concerts in the Park, Wine Walks, Parker Quest, Parker Days Parade, Trick or Treat on Mainstreet, and more.
  • Our PACE Center Art Gallery is professionally curated and has housed approximately 30 exhibits over its five-year history. While we’ve displayed work from national and world-renowned artists such as Quang Ho, Jay Moore, and Lorenzo Chavez, our walls have also showcased pieces created by local artists from the Parker Artists Guild and the Douglas County Schools. During our five-year anniversary celebration, Art for Horses an equine-themed art exhibit and sale, benefiting two horse rescues will be on display.
  • In 2014, Parker Arts qualified for Tier II status with the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) which more than tripled our SCFD annual funding support.
  • Our recently landscaped terrace combined with the scenic setting of our event room makes the PACE Center an elegant place for weddings and ceremonies. Over the past five years, we’ve helped close to 75 couples say “I Do.”
  • Our affordable and inspirational event and classroom space is ideal for holding meetings, and we have become a regular meeting place for groups such as the Douglas County Libraries, Douglas County Schools, Youth for Christ, several HOA organizations, and many other regional groups.
  • Part of the PACE Center’s mission is to be a cultural gathering space, and the community has indeed embraced the facility for this purpose. Since our opening, we have hosted multi-cultural engagement parties, birthday bashes, Polynesian dances, Chinese New Year celebrations, Latin concerts, and more.
  • From the time that we first opened our doors, we were committed to working with quality partners in order to bring top-notch programs and performances to the PACE Center. This goal has given rise to extremely strong relationships with organizations like On Pointe and The Colorado School of Dance, The Parker Chorale and Parker Symphony Orchestra, Deep Space, and Inspire Creative, just to name a few. These partnerships have been mutually beneficial, and both parties have seen growth and development over the years as a result.
  • Countless individuals and companies have shown their support for arts and culture over the years through donations and sponsorships. From naming a seat in the theater to naming an entire room, we’ve sure felt the love. In fact, our 2016/2017 program welcomes our first ever Season Sponsor, Cardel Homes.
  • Our Family Circle Membership program was established in 2014. This multi-tiered offering allows individuals to support educational and outreach programs while receiving benefits such as early purchase, discounted tickets, and access to special events. We currently have 448 active Family Circle Member households.

PACE (Parker Arts Cultural and Events) announces artistic partners for the inaugural 2011-2012 season

The Artistic Partners program’s goal is to foster arts and culture in an innovative and collaborative way and they will work to help the PACE center fulfill its goals of education, community outreach and performances.

The Art partners are:

  • Apex Contemporary Dance Theater
  • Colorado Wind Ensemble
  • Parker Chorale

Factors that were considered when these four entities were chosen included their artistic merit and community outreach.

“This innovative program allows us to work closely with artistic groups in our community and bring more local and regional talent to our stage, as well as enhance arts education through performances and classes,” said Jeannene Bragg, Cultural Director of the PACE Center.

Alicia Pope organized the Parker Chorale just one year ago and has already attained a large loyal following and a reputation for excellence in vocal music. Their goals align perfectly with the PACE Center ideals. “We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the growing artistic community in Douglas County,” said Alicia Pope, Chairman of the Parker Chorale. “Our participation as a PACE Center Artistic Partner really lets us be a true community choir; being involved in the community, not just performing for it.” You can find out more information about Parker Chorale’s practice and performance schedule here.

Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director, David Reuille had this to say about the inclusion in the program.  “The Parker Arts, Culture and Events Department is a cultural gem and Apex is pleased to offer support for their mission, praise for their many accomplishments and personal gratitude for their place in the community.”

Performance dates will be announced in the next few months, with ticket sales beginning this summer. The PACE Center is set to open in historic downtown Parker this fall.

Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre is a professional dance company dedicated to producing innovative dance concerts that entertain, engage and inspire. Co-founded by David Reuille and Heidi Nichter in 2008 and headquartered in Parker, the company also offers ongoing classes and educational outreach productions for schools in Colorado.

The Colorado Wind Ensemble’s mission is to provide opportunities for musicians to create, and audiences to experience, exceptional live performances of wind ensemble music. As the only wind ensemble in the Denver Metro area outside of academia, the Colorado Wind Ensemble performs music from all eras. The group is in its 29th season and is led by Conductor and Musical Director Matthew J. Roeder, DMA.

The Parker Chorale was formed in 2010 as a community group dedicated to fostering the arts and supporting music education in the Town of Parker and Douglas County. Lead by John Polinski, Artistic Director and Conductor, this adult chorus is devoted to sharing the gift of song through music performance.

Located in historic downtown Parker, the PACE Center will be home to a 500-seat theater, a 250-seat amphitheater, art gallery, event room, dance studio, culinary kitchen and several classrooms. PACE will provide a wide variety of local, regional, and national cultural, arts, scientific and educational programming to the region and serve as a rental venue for community, business and social events.

Parker Designated “Emerging Creative District” by the State Economic Development Commission

The Town of Parker is one of eight Colorado communities designated as an “Emerging Creative District” by the State Economic Development Commission. As part of this designation, Parker will receive a grant and technical assistance to further their Creative District planning and encourage the growth of creative industries. In addition, two “Certified” Creative Districts and eight “Prospective” Creative Districts were named.

Creative Districts are defined as areas that have a mix of uses within their boundaries, including arts/cultural assets, creative businesses and complementary non-arts businesses such as restaurants, offices, retail stores and housing. Districts may also offer events like art walks and art festivals and can include community gathering places such as a plaza or park. The purpose of Creative Districts is to attract creative entrepreneurs and artists to a community, create hubs of economic activity, attract visitors, revitalize and beautify communities, provide a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s unique identity and showcasing cultural and artistic organizations, events and amenities.

Located in downtown Parker, the Town’s Creative District is home to the Parker Arts, Culture and Events (PACE) Center, the Parker Mainstreet Center and the Parker Library. In addition, the District retains a diverse mix of more than 260 businesses, including 24 creative enterprises, and hosts approximately 34 annual community events.

“Emerging Creative District recognition by the State will help strengthen economic activity in Parker by leveraging our considerable investment in the downtown area, as well as in arts and cultural facilities and activities,” said Councilmember Amy Holland. “This designation will also brand Parker as a community that values the arts and creative industries.”

Forty-nine Districts applied for the Creative District designation, 44 of which met the basic qualifications. Applications were reviewed by a panel of professionals with experience in arts and creative industries, city planning, economic development and business development. Panelists reviewed, scored and ranked the complete application and support materials based on weighted review criteria in the areas of: district characteristics, management and planning, community buy-in and other factors.

For more information, please contact Economic Development Director John Hall at 303.841.0353 or Cultural Director Jeannene Bragg at 303.805.6800.

Dealing with Wildlife in Douglas County Colorado

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 “Wildlife in Our Town”

One of the most attractive thing about living in Douglas County is the abundant wildlife and open space but that very close to nature feel can also be very challenging to newcomers to the area.

 This is the first in a two-part series about how to live with wildlife in the Town of Parker.

In most situations, people and wildlife can coexist. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife.

• Do NOT feed wildlife! Feeding songbirds is okay, but be aware it may attract other animals.
• Don’t give wildlife the opportunity to get into your garbage. Store it in metal of plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Keep the cans in a garage or shed and put trash out only when it’s scheduled to be picked up.
• Keep pet food inside.
• Fence gardens and cover fruit trees with commercially available netting to protect your harvest.
• Leave wildlife alone! Wildlife should not be harassed, captured, domesticated or fed.

Snakes

giant bull snake in Douglas County
A 6 foot bull snake out for a stroll in Stroh Ranch.

In Colorado, nearly all species of snakes are not only harmless but beneficial to humans because of their appetites for insects and rodents. However, if you prefer to keep them from moving into your yard or home, follow these four tips:
1. Eliminate cool, damp areas where snakes hide. Remove brush and rock piles, keep shrubbery away from foundations and cut tall grass.
2. Control insect and rodent populations (the snakes’ primary food source) to force them to seek areas with a larger food supply. Put grains in tightly sealed containers and clean up residual pet food and debris.
3. In rattlesnake-infested areas, construct a snakeproof fence around the backyard or play area.
4. To prevent snakes from entering basements and crawl spaces, seal all openings ¼-inch or larger with mortar, caulking compound or 1/8-inch hardware cloth. Check for holes or cracks around doors, windows, water pipes, electrical lines, etc.

Snakes may seek shelter in basements, sheds, or crawl spaces in cold weather. If it becomes necessary to remove a snake, several humane methods are available.
1. A good way to remove a nonvenomous snake is to seek it into a large bucket with a broom and then release it outdoors.
2. Damp burlap sacks covered with dry sacks to retain moisture are attractive denning sites when placed along a wall in a basement or crawl space. Check the bags daily and remove snakes with a shovel.

Deer

In areas where deer are common, shrub and tree damage may be a problem. Commercial deer repellents or mixtures containing eggs have proven successful in warding off deer. You can also keep deer from eating flowers and shrubs by putting wire cylinders and fences around plants or by planting deer-resistant plants.

If you come across a fawn lying quietly by itself leave it alone. Even though the fawn appears to be orphaned, it is not alone; its mother is nearby, aware and attentive. If you are absolutely certain the parent animal has abandoned their young, mark the location on a map or measure the mileage from a landmark and report it to the Animal Services Officer.

For more information on living with wildlife, visit www.ParkerPolice.org/wildlife.

Volunteer for the Historic Preservation Commission

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Are you interested in Parker’s history? Are you looking for a way to get involved in your community? Volunteer alternate positions are available on the Historic Preservation Commission.

The Historic Preservation Commission is an advisory commission that is responsible for landmarking eligible Parker properties and fostering civic pride through education and creating awareness of the Town’s unique historic resources and heritage. Regular meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 20120 E. Mainstreet.

Overview
Over the years, Parker has continued to grow and now boasts a population of over 48,000. With the prosperity of growth comes the concern for the preservation of our past. Learn more about preserving our hometown feel and Parker’s background and history as Pine Grove before it became present day Parker.

4th of July

Sulphur Barn

Pine Grove School

Parker Main Street 1890sMainstreet 1946

Slemmer Barn

From Pine Grove to Parker

Did you know that Parker can trace its history back to 1862? Pine Grove, as it was then known, was a thriving community where many families established dairy farms while others raised cattle and horses.  The Town of Parker can trace its beginnings to 1862 when Alfred Butters built a 1-room building in a grove of pine trees about a mile south of the present-day Mainstreet. The cabin became a place to purchase provisions and a refuge for weary travelers along the Cherokee Trail.
Although it was not a post office as we recognize one today, messages and letters could be left there for other travelers. In 1864, the “post office” was sold and moved to the 20 Mile House site near Parker Road and Mainstreet in present-day Parker. The 20 Mile House was the sixth in a series of mile houses, or way stations, on the Cherokee Trail between Denver City and Pine Grove, Parker’s original name.

The Cherokee Trail followed Cherry Creek into Denver and brought travelers from many southern and eastern states using the Arkansas River route. Later, the Smoky Hill South Trail, a more direct but problematic route, brought in people from the Missouri River area.

Read the extended version of Parker’s history.

Oral History Program
In an effort to collect first-hand accounts of the history of Parker for the record, the Town works with Douglas County to conduct interviews with longtime residents.

Know someone who should be interviewed? Email us!

Planning Commission
Parker’s Planning Commission is charged with hearing historic-related matters which support efforts to safeguard the Town’s historic heritage. The Town is also committed to fostering civic pride through education and creating awareness of the Town’s unique history and legacy. The Commission is also responsible for recommending to the Town Council historic resources that should be listed asParker Landmarks.

 

Art in Public Places sculpture dedication at the Parker PD

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Sculpture Dedication at Parker Police Station

Parker Police Department eagle sculpture town of parker co

In June 2010, artist Adam Schultz was commissioned to produce an innovative public art sculpture for the Town of Parker’s new Police Station. Schultz’s creation, “Freedom through Safety,” is complete and will be dedicated on Jan. 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the Parker Police Station, 18600 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy.

Parker Police Station
18600 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy
Parker, CO 80138

The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony and meet the artist. The event is hosted by the Art in Public Places Committee, the group that was involved in the artist selection process. 

The powerful sculpture features a life-sized bronze eagle in flight, held aloft 14 feet in the air on two vertical stainless steel pillars.

One pillar represents safety and the other symbolizes strength. The base of the sculpture includes a “circle of hands” — tiles pressed with handprints of local community members from young children to senior citizens, metaphorically representing the support and involvement of the community. Many of the local community members whose handprints are on the sculpture will be present at the dedication.

Parker Police Department Eagle Sculpture dedication parker colorado

Adam Schultz was born in Detroit in 1966, but for the last 20 years Schultz has been living and sculpting in Loveland, Colorado. His bronze and stone sculptures have been placed all over the U.S., and he has been commissioned to sculpt animals, portraits, memorials and monuments for both private and public collections.

 

ARTIST COMMISSIONED FOR PUBLIC ART AT NEW POLICE STATION

PD_Public_Art_2.jpg

The Town is pleased to announce that artist Adam Schultz has been commissioned to produce an innovative public art sculpture for the Town’s new Police Station, which will open in October 2010.
Schultz is creating a powerful sculpture of an eagle in flight, wrought in bronze. With bold lines and a beautiful and original design, it symbolizes freedom, protection and the spirit of America. The life-sized eagle will be held aloft 14 feet in the air on two vertical, stainless steel pillars. One pillar will represent safety and one will symbolize strength. The base of the sculpture will include a “circle of hands” — tiles pressed with handprints of local community members from young children to senior citizens, metaphorically representing the support and involvement of the community. A call for artists went out in April, which resulted in the Town receiving 16 proposals.
The Art in Public Places committee met and selected five artists to interview. The six-member committee, along with three members of the Police Department staff, unanimously recommended Schultz to Town Council. Council approved the recommendation on Monday, May 24. Adam Schultz was born in Detroit, MI, in 1966. His bronze and stone sculptures have been placed all over America. For the last 20 years, Adam has been living and sculpting in Loveland, Colorado. He has been commissioned to sculpt animals, portraits, memorials and monuments for both private and corporate collections.
For additional information about Public Art in Parker, please visit www.ParkerRec.com or contact Kelly Kuper at 303.434.1560.

Parker Winters Farmers Market is Open

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The Parker Farmers Market has something for everyone.

This new Indoor Market is Sunday at Sierra Middle School (6651 E. Pine Lane) from 10 am-2 pm. New vendors join regularly bringing you some great products. Baba & Pop’s Handmade Pierogies, Cholua Bros Coffee Roasters, Big E’s BBQ Sauce are just a few of the new vendors.

The Parker Farmer’s Market is held every Sunday from Mother’s Day through Labor Day from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mainstreet is closed to through traffic  with booths all along the historic area, and Nanci even has some entertainment lined up. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of parking near the market, but get there early for the best selection.

With the street closed to vehicle traffic, booths will line both sides of the street providing a true marketplace for all types of food. Many local shops and restaurants will also be open with Sunday morning specials.

Douglas County Libraries plans ground breakings for May

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Library Update:

Douglas County Libraries will break ground on the construction sites of three new libraries on successive Mondays in May. The public is invited to join in the festivities, and hear comments from Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk and the mayors and other dignitaries from each community.

  • Lone Tree: Mon., May 4, 10 a.m., 10055 Town Ridge Dr., east of the Lone Tree Arts Center

  •  Castle Pines: Mon., May 11, 10 a.m., 360 Village Square Lane, south of the current library

  • Parker: Mon., May 18, 10 a.m., 20105 East Mainstreet, north of the PACE Center

Ground breaking events will include coffee and light breakfast, and a special Lego activity to encourage the community to celebrate the spirit of building.

Douglas County Libraries announced plans in 2013 to build three new libraries by early 2016, funded largely by library district savings. For more information on the building projects, including architects’ renderings and virtual tours, visit NoLeafUnturned.org.

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” – Albert Einstein

new home of the parker library parker co

The Town of Parker and the Douglas County Library announced today that these two entities have partnered together to make the dream of a new library in Parker a reality.

The New Parker Library will join the PACE Center at the East end of Mainstreet on the Kime property.

“The town is pleased to be able to partner with Douglas County Libraries to bring this important community amenity to fruition,” said Town of Parker Mayor. “With the Parker Library’s 530,000 visitors each year and annual circulation of 1.4 million, the Parker community has clearly demonstrated the priority they place on the library and the services it offers.”

There will be NO NEW TAXES.. really!

Construction of the Parker Library will be funded by Douglas County Libraries’ existing fund reserves, along with an active fundraising campaign. As part of this important new partnership, the Town of Parker intends to set aside the land necessary for the new library, located at the northwest corner of Mainstreet and Pine Drive.

“The Parker Town Council reflects the strong interest of it’s citizens,” said Jamie LaRue, Director of the Douglas County Libraries. “They clamor for more books, more technology, more programs and MORE PARKING!. Town leaders listened to our plans for a new library in Parker and our 3-5 year timeline, and said ‘We think we can make this happen faster. Our citizens want it and it’s a perfect fit for our plans for downtown.’  We’re thrilled to be part of a new creative district and can’t wait to work with our new partners.”

The Douglas County Library is committed to providing opportunities for community input and support and have already kicked off a program of public involvement to provide feedback at NoLeafUnturned.org.

The proposed new libraries will be in the Town of Parker, City of Lone Tree and City of Castle Pines. All are in great need of new library spaces to accommodate their expanding communities. Our leadership team is researching various potential sites in these communities, including opportunities to secure donated land. Parker will be the first to be built because of the “extraordinary vision of the Mayor and Parker Town Council” said Jamie LaRue.

When asked what will this new library have that the current one does not have, both Mayor Mike Waid and Jamie LaRue had the same answers, What do you the citizens in Parker want the new library to have? We are here to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Parker and the surrounding area and want to build the library that you want.

The Douglas County Library invites you to become part of the vision by first completing this survey form. At the end of the form, there is an opportunity to leave your contact information to be placed on a mailing list for updates and/or to volunteer to be part of the brainstorming group that will help to bring what the citizens of Parker want to this new library.

Parker Library Fun Facts

Mark Westen a member of the Douglas County Libraries Board of Directors shared some interesting facts about the Parker library.

  • The Library started in a storefront then the books were moved to a couple of churches in Parker (one of them the old Parker United Methodist Church building on Mainstreet).
  • In 1984 the library was able to open its own building which is now the Parker Water and Sanitation Building across from Ruth Chapel on Mainstreet.
  • In 1995 the old bowling alley was renovated and currently houses the Parker Library. 
  • Parker is the 2nd most visited building in Parker and is the 10th busiest library in all of Colorado. 

Douglas County Libraries by the Numbers

  • Staffed at about the same level as in 2006.
  • Circulates more than 8 million items annually, up from 6.5 million in 2007 (about 24% more).
  • Operates on property-tax revenues that have grown by 2.4% annually since 2007.
  • Serves a population that has grown by 1.3% annually since 2007.
  • Serves more than 2 million visitors a year.
  • Serves more than 230,000 program participants annually.

The design phase of the NEW Parker Library is scheduled to begin this fall, with a groundbreaking in late summer of 2014.

Douglas County Libraries Parker Branch 

Ruth Memorial Chapel 100th Anniversary

By

Ruth Chapel Mainstreet Parker Co

If you fell in love with the adorable little white chapel on Mainstreet the first time you came to Parker you aren’t alone. This structure has been here for 100 years this month and continues to be a bedrock of the historic downtown district.

You are invited to come and celebrate with the Parker Historical Society on March 18, 2013, from 10 a.m. – Noon.

There will be historic tours, classic treats, an art show and carriage rides.

Mark your calendar to take advantage of this fun and educational experience.

The very early settlers in the Pine Grove / Parker area had little opportunity for religious services. Most of the time religious services were held in the home and occasionally a circuit rider, an itinerant preacher of the Protestant faith would come to the area and gather their flocks at a local schoolhouse for a service. Evidence of such an event was published in the Castle Rock Record Journal of October 31, 1888. “In response to our small pleading in last weeks issue of this Journal, l there were religious services held in the Parker School House Sunday afternoon last week. We understand they are to continue one Sunday of each month. Let the good work go on.” Periodic services were also held from time to time in the Hill Top and Allison School Houses. The two earliest circuit riders were John L. Dyer and a Mr. McClure.

Services began being held on a regular basis when in 1909 the Reverend Shay and family moved to the area and began holding weekly Sunday services at the Allison School House. About the same time, a Reverend Varner and family purchased a ranch in the area. He ultimately became involved in church activities. The Reverend Varner officiated at the funeral of James S. Parker. As the population in the area was increasing steadily, in 1911, talk of a regular church building began being proposed. By February of 1912 action committees were formed for the building of a church. Trustees for the new church were to be as follows; Dr. Walter L. Heath, Walter M. Lewis, Neil M. Duncan, J. H. Bassell, Edward W. Hoskins, and F. B. Hood.

A site made up of land donations by George Parker and R. Walter L. Heath was acquired. Work was begun in late February of 1912. In March of that year, Dr. Heath passed away suddenly.

The Name Ruth Memorial was chosen for the new church in honor of a child of Dr. Heaths who died at an early age.

The first gathering held in the new church was held on June 14th, 1912. Dedication of the new facility was held May 25th, 1913.

This building has been placed on the national register of historic places as well as land-marked by the Town of Parker. This web page material updated in January 2009 by Larry T. Smith.

Parker Historical Society www.parkerhistory.org