by Terri Wiebold

The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) joins the CPN Metro District Board of Directors as an official “member” of the Castle Pines Parks Authority (Authority). The City will now replace the Douglas County Commissioners who previously had final voting rights over the Authority’s board.

In May, CPN Mayor Maureen Shul, along with Douglas County Commissioner Melanie Worley and CPN Metro District President Ted Lohr, signed an Amendment to the Parks Authority Establishing Contract making the change official.

“With becoming a city, it only made sense to have this amended change as we move forward with parks planning and development,” said Mayor Shul.  “We appreciate the County’s past involvement and look forward to a continued strong relationship with them on the board of directors.”

Appointed representatives from the City, the Master Association, the Metro District, the Castle Pines North Foundation, Douglas County, and a resident member at large, make up the six-member board of directors.

Also included in the Amendment was language to clarify that, in the event of dissolution of the Parks Authority, all distribution of Parks Authority funds be used specifically for parks or recreation purposes only.

The City will work with the Parks Authority Board to oversee the planning of the Lagae Ranch Park, set to begin this fall.

The Parks Authority Board of Directors meets the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. at the CPN Community Center, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. Meetings are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend.