Thornton is in the midst of planning and building everything from a new recreation center in the north to expanding the Thornton Arts & Culture Center and building a new baseball complex in the south and strengthening its closed loop trail system throughout the burgeoning community.
Since the beginning of the year, the city has issued 463 single-family permits for new homes predominantly in the suburban communities north of 136th Avenue. In the first six months of 2015, there were 269 of those permits issued.
For Thornton, a big part of serving that growth is faithfully maintaining and growing its more than 80 parks, greenways, open spaces and recreation facilities.
“Certainly we will be reviewing future needs and opportunities in order to accommodate population and program growth,” said Paula Schulte with Thornton’s division of open space and capital projects. “We’re updating existing park and recreation conditions in the city and adding homeowner association recreational amenities that benefit Thornton citizens. And we’ll be updating our Parks, Open Space and Trail Users Map.”
The city’s emphasis in developing recreation spaces and opportunities was spurred by a voter directive in 1997 to increase the sales and use taxes specifically to fund acquisition of land and construction of park and open space trails and facilities. In November 2013, residents passed an extension of Thornton’s park and open space sales tax to 2038, with almost 70 percent of voters approving the extension.
“When Thornton was established as a bedroom community in the 1950s, it did not set aside and develop a downtown civic gathering area,” Schulte said. “Instead the city focused on its parks, open spaces and recreational facilities as the heart and soul gathering areas to build a sense of community.”
Thornton’s 2016 capital improvement project budget for parks, recreation and open space is $9,470,016, but that amount does not include grant awards, parks maintenance, operating supplies or salary costs, Schulte said.
That pared amount is being used in various phases of designing the new, full-service recreation center on the 145-acre Trail Winds Park & Open Space at 136th Avenue and Holly Street; constructing the first half of the 50-acre Riverdale Ball Field Complex at 98th Avenue and Riverdale Road; developing 300 acres of open space at Big Dry Creek between Interstate 25 east to 168th Avenue; and renovating the Thorncreek Golf Course, the Thornton Arts & Culture Center and the Thornton Senior Center campus.
Officials in the parks and recreation department are collecting data and suggestions from residents to help prioritize projects, an update that happens every three years. That survey can be accessed online or done in person at the Carpenter Recreation Center and closes July 31.
Questions include finding out whether there is a neighborhood park within walking distance of the residents’ home, most frequently used parks and desired amenities at the new recreation center or any park.
“Carpenter Park is our favorite park for sure,” said Nick Vidaurri, 36, who has lived in Thornton for the last eight years. “We do have smaller neighborhood parks near our house, but my kids like coming here the most because of the playground, the water fountains and all of the events they hold here.”
Some input from residents so far includes duplicating the features at Carpenter Park, 3498 E. 112th Ave., at other areas in the city. Residents have asked for rock-climbing structures, more water playgrounds and gymnastics space.
“My daughters love (Carpenter Park). We actually live in Westminster, but we use the trails from our house to walk over pretty often,” said Patrick Esser, 47. “It’s about a 3-mile walk or bike ride, but it’s easy to get here.”
The city’s interconnected trail system is also a recurring focal point of its recreation expansion and improvements.
“We know that residents love and value the park, open space and trail system as evidenced by citizen survey responses … and from comments received at the park and open space booth at city-wide festivals,” Schulte said. “The city is committed to providing unique, safe and solid recreational opportunities to facilitate and ensure quality of life, promote healthy lifestyles and foster an enriched community environment for present and future generations.”
