The above map shows land use in Section 10 at the top and, below, the acreage set aside for a proposed, as yet unfunded, sports complex.

Section 10 General Development Plan Changes

Forest City’s Director of Development Heidi Majerik, is working on the third version of the general development plan (GDP) for the one square-mile parcel bordering the Wildlife Refuge (referred to as Section 10). She expects there will be four iterations of the plan by the time they get approval from the City. Forest City got over three hundred comments in response to their first submission. Many of the comments were from city departments and were very specific and technical—but they also made changes in response to community suggestions. Majerik, at the August Citizens Advisory Board (CAB), explained some of those changes.

Commerce City and the Stapleton Parks Advisory Group (PAG) suggested lining up roads with current and future roadways in Kroenke’s Victory Crossing Development that adjoins Section 10 on the west side—changes that can be seen along Central Park Blvd. on the west border of Section 10.

The south edge of the detention pond was extended further south to be sure that open space area includes a high elevation point from which there are sweeping views of the Front Range. PAG also commented about the importance of quality trails and trail connectivity. The perimeter trail was widened to about 80 feet and will have a multi-use path. And open space was added in the northeast corner to enhance connections to the Wildlife Refuge.

Water flows north to the detention pond, so the central green spine is essential for that purpose. Though it will have flat multi-use areas, it won’t have regulation fields due to drainage requirements. Scott Gilmore, Deputy Director of Parks pointed out that Commerce City also has a detention pond in that area and the two will combine to make a very large and very beautiful open space amenity.

Sports Complex

PAG expressed concern that there is no funding for the 60-80 acre sports complex envisioned in the Green Book to have ten multi-use lighted fields as well as baseball/softball fields, in-line hockey rink, skate park, play area, pavilions and parking. A 46.75 acre plot of land next to the high school (see map at left) is designated for a sports complex, but with fewer fields than originally planned.

Scott Peterson, co-founder of Stapleton Jets boys lacrosse told the CAB that in five years their program grew from 12 kids to 150 and they expect up to 200 in the spring—and by far their biggest difficulty is finding fields (and the growing girls lacrosse league faces the same problem). Scott Gilmore acknowledged that the sports complex may not be the full 80 acres but the Parks Department is currently working with DPS to build the fields for the high school—and there is room for eight multi-purpose fields in the area designated for a sports complex. And, he says, there will be a sports complex when funding is found.

26th Ave. Open Space

Forest City Senior Vice President Charlie Nicola, at the August Parks Advisory Group, said DIA has cleaned up contamination in front of Stanley Aviation (now Stanley Marketplace), which will enable Park Creek Metro District to buy that piece of land from DIA. He said a couple thousand yards of dirt was removed and that paves the way for improvements to go forward. The improvements, cleaning up and a crusher fine path, are an interim plan until homes are ready to be built in the Aurora parcel. At that time Forest City and Aurora will come to agreement on the finished park that will accompany the Aurora residential development.

Nicola added that west of Moline in the Aurora parcel, progress is being made on cleanup but they are waiting for that to be completed by DIA before the land can be transferred to Forest City for construction of residences there.