In the neighborhood of the Highlands, located in Centennial, Colorado reside lucky residents who make up a part of the South Suburban Park and Recreation District. The mission of the South Suburban Park and Recreation District is to “contribute to the full and meaningful lives of our residents by providing a variety of leisure services as well as improving the quality of life through stewardship of the environment, parks, trails and open space”. Located in Littleton, Colorado, the South Suburban Park and Recreation District won the Class II Gold Medal Award in 2001 for being the top parks and recreation district in the nation of its size. SSPRD offers Highlands residents more than 3,500 acres of park land at 115 locations including an unbelievable amount of amenities: 41 playgrounds, 90 miles of trails, two full service recreation areas, a senior/community center, five pools, a two-rink ice arena, an outdoor in-line skating rink, a BMX cycling track, 83 athletic fields, 61 tennis courts and four golf courses!
The South Suburban Parks & Recreation is a quasi-municipal corporation and a political subdivision of the State of Colorado that was formed in 1959 pursuant to state law for the purpose of providing recreational facilities and services for District residents. In 1959, approximately 45,000 people lived in the District compared to 2005, when the population totaled nearly 140,000 residents. SSPRD covers a 57-square-mile radius which includes Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Lone Tree, Sheridan, the western half of the City of Centennial, portions of unincorporated Douglas County (including Wild Cat Ridge and Acres Green), and Arapahoe County west of I-25 and a small area in Jefferson County.
Residents of the South Suburban Park and Recreation District can look forward to a number of enhancements to their neighborhood recreation facilities, parks and trails. These outcomes are based on the South Suburban Board of Directors’ recent approval of the regional park district’s 2007 $54 million dollar budget which will allocate funding for many popular public recreation amenities for its residents. Roughly 38% of the District’s funding comes from property and specific ownership taxes, 53% comes from fees and charges, and the remaining 9% is derived from different sources such as Colorado Lottery proceeds, grants and donations. A resident with a home valued at $300,000 pays $167 in annual property taxes to the District which comes to 45 cents a day for parks, trails and facilities that increase home values and provide numerous opportunities to improve one’s health. SSPRD charges fees to help cover the cost of operating facilities such as golf courses, recreation centers and thousands of sports, fitness and cultural classes and programs.
To find out more about the various amenities and programs offered by the South Suburban Park and Recreation District, please visit their website at www.ssprd.org. To view available properties located in the neighborhood of the Highlands or within the South Suburban Park and Recreation District, please click here.
