Discover Zebulon and other projects planned with dedicated sales tax income and approved to voters in a live town hall in April
You told us that you wanted more sporting access for children and adults on a county scale – while preserving open spaces. Today, the board of directors of the Comté de Douglas and Sterling Ranch Development Company commissioners announces a partnership to do exactly that.
Douglas County and Sterling Ranch Development Company will associate with public entities and private industry to build a mega sports complex, called Zebulon, (named after Western Explorer Zebulon Pike) which includes spaces for basketball, baseball / softball, volleyball, football, football and hockey, while preserving Over 400 acres of open space in the region. The commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to enter the partnership.
“It’s such an exciting period. We are in the golden era of the county of Douglas where we can start to evolve what our citizens want – a better regional sports establishment of class associated with continuous efforts to preserve the open space, “said Commissioner Abe Laydon.
You will be invited to a live town hall in April, to learn more about this and other parks and open space projects that take shape.
“Our voters and taxpayers were waiting for us to take measures and invest this funding approved by the voters,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle. “It’s time that we are starting to put meat on bones and work with our partners to give life to the vision of our community.”
“Zebulon will be the catalyst that transforms an area of our county which was mainly industrial – even the house in an old dynamite factory – in a regional print for families and businesses,” said Commissioner George Teal.
This first phase of Zebulon should include an interior sports complex with three skating rink and basketball courts, a football complex and a baseball complex. With the formalized partnership, design is now underway on the first phase. See a rendering of the complex here.
As part of the project, a wildlife corridor of more than 200 acres next to Sterling Ranch and Louviers will be preserved. The construction of Zebulon in Sterling Ranch will also preserve 200 acres in Highlands Ranch which was previously dedicated to the Council of County Commissioners by the developers of Highlands Ranch. Instead, this land will be used for the Highlands Ranch Community Association to preserve as an open space.
“Sterling Ranch Development Company is grateful to the board of directors to be once again a regional partner of the county of Douglas. This project will attract new shopping, catering, leisure and community collection spaces that Sterling Ranch could not alone support at that time, “said Brock Smethills, president of the Sterling Ranch development company.
Using Sales tax approved by voters for parks,, The county of Douglas will associate with the Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board, at Sterling Ranch Development Company and KT Development to deliver this project to the taxpayers of the county of Douglas in the most profitable way possible. KT Development has 30 years of experience in sports facilities and, more recently, to build stable sport in Superior, Colorado and several other projects.
Additional funding will occur for the term phases of funding for the increase in taxes, a development tool that operates an increase in land tax revenue resulting from the new development.
For parks, trails, open space and financing of historical resources, the board of directors has also prioritized:
High Note Regional Park is a partnership project with the city of Lone Tree and South Suburban Parks and Recreation is a park of 80 acres under development along Happy Canyon Creek near the I-25 and Ridgegate Parkway.
WildCat Regional Park, which will preserve the open space and the corridors of critical fauna for the community of Highlands Ranch on 202 acres.
Additional funding is allocated to local municipalities for their priority projects, in particular Burns Park.
About parks, trails, open space and the Historical Resources Fund
As required by the law of the State, this fund takes into account income derived from the sales tax and use of 0.17% initially approved by voters in November 1994 and, more recently, extended by voters in November 2022. Funds are appointed for acquisition, administration, planning, development and construction, operations and maintenance of shares, paths, historical resources and open spaces.
In accordance with the measurement of the ballot, parks, trails, historical resources and the open space fund must:
- Protect, maintain and add parks, trails, historical resources and open spaces and wildlife habitats
- Tampons between communities
- Keep the land along the streams and lakes that also protect water quality
- Retains the farms and the work that work
- Keep picturesque views and monuments
- Create and maintain recreational equipment
- Maintain and maintain historical preservation
Find out more about our parks, our trails, our historical resources and our open space web page.
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