Rueter-Hess Reservoir Recreation Plan

Extensive community feedback drives recreation plan for new reservoir in Douglas County.

The Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD) finished the construction of Rueter-Hess Reservoir in 2012, which will serve as a supplementary source of drinking water for residents in Parker, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, and Lone Tree. The 1170-acre reservoir is surrounded by approximately 1,600 acres of open land that will remain within the PWSD property.
Wenk Associates developed a recreation master plan for land and water-based recreation for the site. The process included extensive public outreach and digital surveys, resulting in over 3,600 survey responses from residents all over Douglas County and the Denver Metro Area. Several master plan alternatives were developed based on this extraordinary level of feedback from the community.

The Rueter-Hess property is rich in its cultural and natural history, and the master plan proposes to protect these resources while also providing a place for year-round outdoor recreation. Proposed amenities and recreation opportunities include a wildlife preserve, open space, trails for a variety of user types, fishing, non-motorized boating, outdoor classrooms and living history activities, nature play, and camping.

Project Team:
Wenk Associates – Lead Consultants, Landscape Architects
Zoeller Consulting – Public Outreach
BBC Research & Consulting – Cost Recovery