Finding a ballfield to practice or play on in Castle Rock poses
problems because often the fields are booked.

The town has 173 acres of park land, 72 acres, or 40 percent, of
which are athletic fields, said Jeff Brauer, Castle Rock parks and
recreation project administrator.

The parkland standard is 8 acres per 1,000 residents, Brauer
said.

“We are just over 20,000 population with a requirement of 160
acres, according to the standard,” Brauer said.

The town has 11 fields designated for baseball/softball games
and 15 designated for soccer, football and lacrosse, Brauer
said.

There are three designated baseball/softball fields and one
youth baseball field at Metzler Community Park. Founders Village
has some designated soccer fields, Brauer said.

Multipurpose fields are interspersed in town and can serve as
soccer fields one day and baseball fields the next. They also are
used for football and lacrosse, Brauer said.

Ballfields in Castle Rock are reserved on a priority schedule,
said Scott Smeeton, athletics supervisor for the town.

Castle Rock Community Recreation Center programs receive top
priority, followed by high school programs and youth programs.
Adult private programs receive lowest priority, Smeeton
said.

“I don’t see this as a problem,” said Smeeton, who schedules the
fields’ use. “Adult programs can be more flexible than
others.”

Summer is the hardest time for scheduling, Smeeton said, because
there are recreation center programs and private programs running
concurrently.

“Castle Rock is in the planning stage to build more fields in a
neighborhood park in The Meadows,” Brauer said. “The plans include
two more baseball/softball fields and a multipurpose
field.”

This is a joint venture with Castle Rock Development Co., Brauer
said.

Two multipurpose fields also are being included in designs for
the Castlewood Ranch neighborhood park, and additional fields are
being considered during the concept phase of the Crystal Valley
Ranch neighborhood park, Brauer said.

Construction on the fields in The Meadows are slated to begin
late this year, Brauer said. Construction on Castlewood Ranch’s
fields should begin next year and Crystal Valley Ranch’s fields in
a couple of years.

By planning to increase ballfields with population growth,
Castle Rock should be able to keep from falling behind the 8-ball
when it comes to fields, Smeeton said.

The town spends an average of $6,000 to $8,000 an acre to
maintain its ballfields, Brauer said. The cost to develop and build
new fields averages between $90,000 and $100,000 per acre.