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Honoring Heroes, Paving Roads, and Kicking Off Summer in DougCo

Honoring Heroes, Paving Roads, and Kicking Off Summer in DougCo

May 12, 2025

Happy Monday, Douglas County! We’ve got a few updates from across the county as Douglas County makes strides to care for and celebrate our local veterans. With events in full swing, construction season is also ramping up. Take a look—and enjoy!

Also, a quick reminder: Wednesdays are for our DougCo Pets of the Week! Send your adorable pet pics to [email protected] to have your furry (or feathery, or scaly!) friend featured!

In today’s DougCo Download:

Douglas County celebrating and taking care of its heroes
Upgrades and delays to HR roads this summer
Congrats to Shelby on the Los Dos Giveaway!
Homes across DougCo
Music, Exercise, Chess and more!

Here we go.

The Digest

📍 Castle Rock I Douglas County Launches Fundraising for Veterans' Heroes Hall

Courtesy: Douglas County

Douglas County has signed a lease for Heroes Hall, a new 14,000-square-foot gathering space for veterans at the County Fairgrounds. Spearheaded by local veteran organizations and Commissioner George Teal, the project aims to raise $15 million to complete construction. Once built, Heroes Hall will offer event and conference space, centralize support services, and provide a vital hub for camaraderie and community among local veterans. Read more at the Denver Post.

📍 Castle Rock I New VA Medical Facility Opening Soon in Castle Rock

A new state-of-the-art VA medical facility is set to open in Castle Rock, aiming to serve around 8,000 local veterans with primary care and mental health services. Operated by the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, the clinic will employ approximately 50 staff members. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for May 12, with doors officially opening on May 19. More on KRDO.

📍 Highlands Ranch I Highlands Ranch Roadwork Begins This Summer — New Interactive Map Now Live

Credit: Douglas County

Douglas County will begin multiple roadway improvement projects across Highlands Ranch in June, including sidewalk repairs, curb upgrades, and resurfacing on several major streets. Larger efforts like the U.S. 85 widening, a new pedestrian bridge at C-470 and University Blvd, and a traffic signal at Kendrick Castillo Way are also underway. A new interactive map helps residents track project locations, timelines, and potential commute impacts throughout the season. Read more on Highlands Ranch Herald.

DougCo Weekly Giveaway

Congrats to Shelby from Parker! Thanks for the feedback and supporting the newsletter! Enjoy some Margaritas on The DougCo Download!

This Giveaway ends next Sunday, May 18 at noon MST.

You can send in a submission by doing the following:

Answer a poll hidden in one of the weeks issues.
Connect with our social accounts and submit your newsletter subscriber email to a a form I have posted on our instagram and facebook account!

All of these will count as individual submissions. And make sure the emails you submit on Facebook and Instagram forms are the same that are signed up here because this giveaway is just meant as a benefit to subscribers, not social media treasure hunters so any non subscriber emails submissions will not count.

Our Social Accounts: Instagram I Facebook

DougCo Homes

Who doesn’t love some real estate window shopping? We’ve rounded up a few intriguing listings—from great deals to dream homes—currently on the market in Douglas County. Dive in and enjoy the views!

Local Events: Monday-Wednesday

This section includes only the major events happening soon. Check the Weekend Sneak Peak later in the issue for some help planning out your weekend!

Family Fun

Baby Literacy Book Club
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕘 9:45–10:30 AM
📍 Castle Rock Library, Conference Room F

For ages 0–18 months and their caregivers. Enjoy stories and early literacy tips—no registration needed!

Play Chess!
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Parker Library, Event Hall A & B

Drop in for casual chess with players of all ages and skill levels.

Seedlings: Farmyard Fun
🗓️ Tuesday, May 13, 2025 I 🕕 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM Available
📍 Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree, CO

Join Magic Dave for a whimsical farm adventure with puppets, magic, music—and a surprise puppet transformation through the Magical Portal! 🎭🐮 Buy tickets here!

Basics of Birdwatching Guided Walk (Part 2)
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕗 8:00–10:00 AM
📍 East Plum Creek Trail, Castle Rock, CO

Join a Natural Resource Specialist for a two-hour walk to spot migratory songbirds and birds of prey. Bring your binoculars! Register here!

Bark for Books
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕓 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 Lone Tree Library

Kids ages 6–12 can boost reading skills by reading to friendly, trained therapy dogs. Sign up for a 15-minute session!

Brick-It Book Club
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕟 4:30–5:30 PM
📍 Castle Rock Library, Conference Room F

Kids in grades 1-3 read and discuss books with a building brick theme, incorporating STEAM principles with fun building activities! Register here!

Slick Science
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕔 5:00–6:00 PM
📍 Parker Library, Event Hall A

Hands-on science fun for ages 8–12! This month’s theme: engineering. Registration required for each child.

Play Chess!
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕠 5:30–8:00 PM
📍 Highlands Ranch Library, Event Hall B

Drop in for friendly competition—open to all ages and skill levels. New to chess? Come early for a beginner lesson at 5:30 PM!

Adult Community Events

Living & Aging Well Monthly Luncheon
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕦 11:30 AM & 1:15 PM
📍 Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel, 9808 Sunningdale Blvd, Lone Tree, CO
💵 $16 per person (includes lunch, drink & tip)

Join fellow seniors for lunch and a speaker presentation by Rich Mauro, Director of Legislative Affairs at DRCOG. Registration required—no walk-ins.

Castle Rock Chess Club
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:45 PM
📍 Castle Rock Library, Event Hall A & B

Open play in Castle Rock. Drop in and join the fun!

Adaptations Book Club
🗓️ Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 🕝 1:30–4:30 PM
📍 Castle Rock Library, Conference Room F

Join fellow book lovers to read, watch, and discuss books and their film adaptations. Register here!

Maximizing Your Retirement Income
🗓️ Tuesday/Wednesday, May 13, 14 2025 | 🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 PACE Center, Parker, CO

Learn how to strategically claim Social Security benefits to boost your retirement income. Open to the public—register online!

Arts in the Afternoon: Just a Few Friends – Mozart and Brahms
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕜 1:30 PM
📍 Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree, CO

Enjoy an afternoon of intimate chamber music by Mozart and Brahms, performed by Phillip Stevens and friends, with stories and insights from concert host Betsy Schwarm. 🎻🎶 Get tickets here.

Brain Health Fitness
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕜 1:30–2:30 PM
📍 Castle Rock Library, Event Hall B

Join us for seated exercises with music, designed to boost creativity, memory, and cognitive skills. No registration needed—just drop in!

Homeowner Building Class
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Parker Town Hall, 20120 E. Mainstreet, Parker, CO

Learn about permits, fees, inspections, and more for home improvement projects. Bring your questions!

Adult Events

Silent Book Club
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕡 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Lone Tree Brewing Co., Parker, CO

Join Lone Tree Brewing for a silent book club meeting, what that means I am not sure haha.

Trivia Night
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Downhill Brewing, Parker, CO

Join us for two rounds of general trivia with Jake Woods Entertainment and the chance to win free beer!

Trails N' Ales (Run Club)
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 105 West Brewing Company, 105 N Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO

Join us for a run, then come back for $1 off beers! All paces welcome—let's hit the trails and enjoy some refreshing drinks afterward! Also Free Pint and Sticker day at 105 West!

LTBC Run Club
🗓️ Monday, May 12, 2025 | 🕡 6:30–7:00 PM
📍 Lone Tree Brewing Co., 8200 Park Meadows Dr #8222, Lone Tree, CO

Join a casual 5K run followed by beers and conversation. 🏃🍻 Participants get 15% off their draft tab. All paces welcome!

Dart League
🗓️ Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–10:00 PM
📍 105 West Brewing Company, 105 N Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO

Join the fun at the Dart League! Compete with fellow players for a night of friendly competition and good times. All skill levels welcome!

JEOPARDY! Bar League Trivia
🗓️ Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 🕖 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO

Gather your team and test your knowledge at this free-to-play JEOPARDY! trivia night. Prizes awarded for the winning team!

Burger & Beer Wednesdays
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕚 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
📍 Ecclesia Market, Castle Rock, CO

Enjoy $5 off a Gluttony and Graze burger with your choice of draft beer or N/A beverage—order at Sinners and Saints!

Trivia Night
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Lone Tree Brewing co, Parker, CO

Grab a drink and put your brainpower to the test at this fun midweek trivia night! 🧠🍺

Trails N' Ales (Mountain Bike)
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 Meet at Bison Park, Castle Rock, CO

Join the mountain bike ride and explore local trails! Afterward, enjoy $1 off beers at 105 West Brewing. All skill levels welcome!

Music Bingo
🗓️ Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Iron Mule Brewery, Castle Rock, CO

Join the fun at Iron Mule Brewery for an interactive music bingo night! Play along and win prizes while enjoying craft brews.

Weather

Weekend Lineup

🎶 Live music

We love hearing from our Douglas County community! If you’ve got an upcoming event, a hidden gem you think deserves a spotlight, or news of a new business making waves locally—send it our way at [email protected]. And don’t forget those adorable pet photos for our Wednesday Pet of the Week. They always bring a smile to our inbox—and to our readers!

Thanks for being part of what makes Douglas County special. Stay tuned, and we’ll catch you on Wednesday!

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