Frequently Asked Questions

Our community continues to grow and plan responsibly; we work to plan strategically long into the future. Yes, we have proposed four baseball and softball fields and two soccer fields at Frederick Recreation Area, and those will likely be the priority for construction prior to this area. However, as the Town grows, that number of fields will not be enough to serve our community. We've proposed two baseball and softball fields and soccer fields for this area to accommodate additional future growth.

The Town purchased this land in 2018. It was purchased for the water rights associated with it, to supplement the Town's non-potable water portfolio, and to serve as open space. However, with community outreach in 2020, as reflected in the 2021 Parks, Open Space, and Trails Master Plan, residents indicated that they desired an additional regional or community park and open space to serve the growing population of Frederick west of I-25. Instead of buying an additional 25 to 40 acres west of I-25 for a new community park, Town staff believe it would be a better use of taxpayer money to explore using this existing Town-owned land and gather community input on the idea.

This project aims to create a vision and goals for Town staff to refine this area over the next several years. One consideration will be to identify funding for this area and prioritize construction phasing based on our outreach in this planning effort. It will likely take 20 to 30 years, at a minimum, to fully realize the vision for this area. Still, projects such as passive trails, trailheads, and vegetation improvements would likely occur sooner.

The Town would have a variety of funding sources, but the emphasis in our strategic planning would be on new development fees as the primary funding source. Additionally, the Town has a 0.5% sales tax dedicated to Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails. In addition, the Town can apply for and receive a number of local, state, and federal grants. We continually focus on ensuring funding exists to construct new amenities and provide for long-term, sustainable maintenance.

The Town of Frederick has a Transportation Master Plan that calls for long-term improvements to the Town's road system. If constructed, this park and open space would follow the Plan's recommendations to enhance intersections, roadways, and ingress/egress to the parking areas using proper traffic engineering planning. Since the most active amenities in this area will likely be built in the future, new developments would necessitate roadway improvements before construction of the park and open space began.

While this proposal does call for active use recreation, the vast majority, approximately 80%, of the property will be converted from agricultural production to native grasslands and will restore and enhance several wetlands on the site. Our goal with the open space portion of the land will be to preserve natural resources, significantly strengthen them, and allow for passive recreation in those areas on paved and unpaved trails.

Most likely. The proposed baseball and softball fields at this area and Frederick Recreation Area would be programmed by the local Recreation District and would likely hold youth and adult activities in the evenings. However, the impact of lights on neighboring residents is a key finding of our community engagement, and any lights will be downward facing, with zero horizontal light pollution. We would develop a policy that they are only utilized by a reasonable cutoff time of day and only during programmed sports events.

No. The CVPRD is a separate entity from the Town. However, we collaborate very closely with the district. Once a new Town park is completed, the CVPRD may offer recreational programming to the area's residents and children.

This proposal calls for this area to be a major trailhead and access point to the Frederick Central Loop Trail, a priority goal of the Town's 2024 Comprehensive Plan. Over time, the Central Loop Trail will connect several neighborhoods, arterial roadways, and commercial/mixed-use centers throughout Frederick.