Douglas County's Sterling Ranch developers set lofty goal

Posted by puguh on Thursday, February 3, 2011

Douglas County's Sterling Ranch developers set lofty goal. The developers of Sterling Ranch have teamed with the youth sports leagues Colorado Rush Soccer and Slammers Baseball on Sports Village, a venue they want to become a national destination for youth sports.



The proposed $120 million Sports Village, to be adjacent to Douglas County High School, would include 12 outdoor multi-use fields, five baseball parks, a fieldhouse and gym. It would be the centerpiece of numerous recreational amenities placed throughout the community, including tennis courts and recreation centers, as well as 30 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

The developers are seeking zoning approval for the entire Sterling Ranch project from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on March 15. The project has been the subject of debate among residents concerned about the county's water supply.

Jack Hoagland of Sterling Ranch said it will be about a year before the team breaks ground on the Sports Village, which is likely to jump-start other commercial development at Sterling Ranch, including an 800-room hotel.

"This has been part of the dream for Sterling Ranch," Hoagland said. "Rush wanted to find a scenario where they could put in soccer fields and build an almost European-type environment."

Tim Schulz launched Colorado Rush Soccer in 2002, aiming to improve coaching and the player experience. Today, the organization has 5,000 participants.

Rush currently leases soccer fields from schools and parks and recreation districts.

"We are looking so forward to having our own place and being able to hang our pictures where we like," Schulz said. "It will be a blessing to have everything in one location and have a closed, safe environment where the players feel like it's part of their upbringing and culture."

Sterling Ranch Sports Village would be the third metro-area location for Slammers, which currently has year-round training facilities in Lakewood and Englewood and about 5,000 players.

"If the Sterling Ranch project is approved, it would give us the opportunity to have the most premier facility not only in the state but also in the region," said Mark Holzemer, president of Slammers.

If approved, Sterling Ranch is expected to be home to 31,000 people living in 12,050 homes in villages that are surrounded by open space. Thirty-seven percent of the development is planned for open space, with 30 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. One-third of the property will be for housing, and the rest will be developed with retail and office space, schools and the Sports Village.

The project is expected to take 20 years to complete.

Douglas County's Sterling Ranch developers set lofty goal

Source : http://www.denverpost.com

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