Parker

I grew up in Parker when it was just a small rural community. Most everyone I knew lived on several acres and had horses or cattle. It was small enough that you always saw familiar faces wherever you went, like HIlls Country Market, but large enough that no one was in your business. It gradually grew over time; Hills Country Market left and Safeway moved in. There was only one stoplight in the entire town, at the corner of Parker Road and Main Street and now there are way too many to count. The little community pool was replaced with a water park, and the library moved from a quaint little building that looked like it was built in the 1930s to a large brick building off Parker Road.

Even with all the changes and growth, this is still a really nice place to live. Country life has blended with suburbia in a mix that has seemed to work. There are still ranches but just a few miles away there are bustling businesses and ever growing subdivisions. The make up is still predominantly homogenous with over 97% of residents being white. Years ago kids had to be bused sometimes over an hour to the high school in Castle Rock, but now Parker has three public high schools. All of the schools are rated above average and have good sports programs as well.

Since I can remember there has been a town festival every summer, it has just increased in size to now include carnival rides, concerts, and a multitude of things to do for kids and adults alike.

There are a few bars in town and many restaurants, with The Warhorse Inn being one of the oldest restaurants. It occupies what used to be a country & western apparel store that had a not-so-gently sloping wooden floor. The many restaurants are mostly chain types, such as Chili's and Red Robin, but other more ethnic foods can be found.

The recreation centers in Parker are really great. Depending on which location you go to you can play any number of sports including indoor field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and more. They have tons of teams and rec leagues and many programs for kids. There is an outdoor bicycling train that splits in Parker and goes out south to Franktown or up into the base of the mountains along E-470. You do need to use caution as there have been mountain lion sightings along the path in the last couple of years.

There is a wide variety of housing in Parker. From apartments to condos to single family homes to ranches, there is something for anyone. Prices are higher than in many areas, with a one bedroom apartment starting anywhere from $740 a month to over $1,000. Homes are no different as you can find some less expensive ones in the older neighborhoods or those well over a million in the more upscale neighborhoods.

Traffic isn't horrible, but can be bad during peak times on both Lincoln Avenue and Parker Road. Public transportation is limited to some buses and Park-n-Rides. If you're willing to drive a few miles west of Parker, you can catch the light rail to avoid driving into Denver.

The one negative about Parker is that it has declined in beauty. While it's still a gorgeous area, many of the views from higher places have been ruined by sprawling neighborhoods and strip malls. While this isn't evident throughout Parker, those who are lucky enough to remember what it used to look like have seen it damaged by all of the growth. Some areas have built the homes farther apart and have incorporated the beauty into the neighborhood, but this is typically only in the pricier areas.