FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
STAUNTON STATE PARK MASTER PLANNING PROJECT

You can download this FAQ as a Microsoft Word format document ('.doc' file) here.

General Information

1.When is the park expected to open to the public?

2.Who is conducting the master planning process?

3.What happened to the previous plans that were prepared for Staunton Park?

4.How does State Parks intend to balance the development of Staunton with protection of the natural resources that make the place so special?

5.What is “Sustainable Development”?

6.Will the public be able to ride horses or mountain bikes in the park? Will camping be allowed, either backcountry or in cars and RVs?

7.Do you anticipate allowing any environmental education programs or passive recreational activities, such as naturalist tours and bird-watching?

8.Will the park have amenities such as tennis courts and ball fields?

9.How many people are expected to visit Staunton State Park each year?

10.Is the primary entrance to Staunton State Park going to be along Elk Creek Road and, if so, what plans are being made to widen or otherwise improve that road to handle expected traffic increases while minimizing the impact on local residents?

11.Will there be any other points of motor vehicle access to Staunton State Park?

12.What sort of emergency evacuation plan will be developed for the park?

13.My property borders the park boundary. Will I be able to access the park directly from my home?

14.What sort of entrance fees are expected to be charged at Staunton?

15.What is being done to minimize fire danger at the park, both now and after it’s opened?

16.What is being done to minimize bark beetle damage in the park?

17.What will happen with the existing structures currently on the property?

18.What will be done to mitigate noise coming from the park so as not to disturb those whose properties border the park boundary?

19.I live in the vicinity of Staunton and am worried about potential impacts the park’s development could have on my water quality and supply. What is being done to protect my water?

20.Do the immediate community and the general public have any say in the planning process?

21.Will you use the previous trail plan that was prepared in recent years?

22.How were comments and public feedback provided during the first rounds of public meetings integrated into the Proposed Master Plan?

23.When will the Final Master Plan be completed and presented to the public?

24.How much is the Park estimated to cost?


General Information
Staunton State Park is an approximately 3,700 acre parcel of land located just north of U.S. Highway 285 approximately 6 miles west of Conifer, Colorado. The property sits divided between Park and Jefferson counties, approximately 45 miles southwest of downtown Denver. The park is currently not open to the public but is expected to open as the 43rd state park in the Colorado State Park System.

Staunton State Park is owned by Colorado State Parks, a division of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. In 1986, the estate of Frances Hornbrook Staunton donated 1,680 acres to the State of Colorado to be used as a state park.  Additional land purchases in 1998 added the Elk Falls Section (1,042 acres) and the Davis Ranch Section (860 acres).  In 2007, State Parks purchased the 80-acre Chase property, completing the current land base for Staunton State Park.

1.When is the park expected to open to the public?
The timing of the park’s opening will depend in large part on the outcome of the master planning process – which is expected to be completed in 2009. Design and construction will follow based on priorities and funding. Colorado State Parks generally estimates that Staunton will be open to the public sometime around 2012. Depending on the “phasing” of park development over time, some areas of the park may potentially be opened to limited use prior to 2012.

2.Who is conducting the master planning process?
State Parks has retained a team of consultants to complete the Master Plan. The Colorado-based team, led by LandWorks Design, Inc. includes experts in the fields of landscape architecture and planning, architecture, civil engineering, sustainability, computer mapping, environmental resources, business planning and public outreach.

3.What happened to the previous plans that were prepared for Staunton Park?
State Parks has not forgotten about the previous plans for the site. However, nearly a decade has passed since the previous planning process, and a lot has changed. For example, new parcels have been purchased and added to the land base that provide additional options for park access. In addition, an improvement is in the works at Shaffer's Crossing to provide safe access to and from U.S. Highway 285.

The site has also changed with regard to fire mitigation, beetle threats and the discovery of sensitive plant species. Planning and design attitudes have also evolved during this time that will push the plan toward a more sustainable conclusion. So, while State Parks may reference the previous plans that were proposed for the park, it is very important that the planning team start with a fresh approach for this Master Planning effort.

4.How does State Parks intend to balance the development of Staunton with protection of the natural resources that make the place so special?
According to Colorado State Park's Guiding Principles that were developed for planning the park, “The location, geography and sensitive natural resources at Staunton State Park will direct the type, design and extent of development at the park.” In other words, protecting the resource is a high priority for State Parks, and there will be a focus on “sustainable development” throughout the planning and implementation phases.

5.What is “Sustainable Development”?
Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising those of future generations. Applying sustainable development principles at state parks lowers long-term maintenance and operating costs while improving the visitor experience. Sustainable principles will be applied at Staunton through the design, and construction of park facilities, the development of operational guidelines and the use of efficient energy and conservation methods.

6.Will the public be able to ride horses or mountain bikes in the park? Will camping be allowed, either backcountry or in cars and RVs?
One key purpose of the master planning process is to help State Parks determine what sort of recreational and educational activities will be appropriate at Staunton Park, given the nature of the resource, the focus on sustainable development and the types of input received from park neighbors, recreation enthusiasts and the general public throughout the planning process. Although no final decisions have been made regarding what activities will or will not be allowed, the current plans reflect the following direction: Horses and bikes would be allowed access to the park via multi-use trails. Limited overnight camping would be permitted in several areas of the site. Large recreation vehicles would not be permitted on the site.

7.Do you anticipate allowing any environmental education programs or passive recreational activities, such as naturalist tours and bird-watching?
Making Staunton Park a regular host of education-based programs and interpretive activities is certainly in line with State Park's goals and objectives and on the table for consideration. The current preliminary plans demonstrate several opportunities for environmental education and other outdoor learning programs. Developing partnerships with various entities to institute these programs will be a critical step to the success of Staunton Park

8.Will the park have amenities such as tennis courts and ball fields?
No. Under Colorado State law, State Parks is not responsible for the development of recreation areas that exist primarily to provide facilities for local parks and recreation needs, including team or individual sports.

9.How many people are expected to visit Staunton State Park each year?
Until the Master Planning has been completed and the allowable types of recreational opportunities have been identified, it is difficult to predict an actual visitation number. For comparison’s sake, looking at similar-sized Front Range parks within the State Parks system that allow various types of recreation, one sees a range of between 64,000 and 150,000 visitors annually.

10.Is the primary entrance to Staunton State Park going to be along Elk Creek Road and, if so, what plans are being made to widen or otherwise improve that road to handle expected traffic increases while minimizing the impact on local residents?
It is anticipated that Elk Creek Road will serve as the primary access route into Staunton State Park. The planning team is working with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) – which hopes to complete, by the summer or fall of 2010, a new interchange at the intersection of Elk Creek Road and U.S. 285 – to understand current and projected traffic volumes; this information will allow State Parks to design an appropriate road cross section leading to the site that will minimize impacts on current residents.

11.Will there be any other points of motor vehicle access to Staunton State Park?
Though the planning team currently anticipates a single point of access to the park from Elk Creek Road, the team will also try to identify some potential emergency egress routes that could be used by both residents and park users alike.

12.What sort of emergency evacuation plan will be developed for the park?
As State Parks goes through the planning process in the coming year, it will consult with local fire and emergency experts to determine what sort of emergency evacuation plan will be needed and if additional emergency exits should be considered and in what location.

13.My property borders the park boundary. Will I be able to access the park directly from my home?
Access to any state park using designated “control points” is crucial if park managers are to effectively manage access to and from the park and enforce park rules and regulations. Accessing the park from a multitude of individual adjacent properties is not advisable and will generally not be pursued, though some exceptions could be made if they make sense with the overall trail plan for the park. However, it is important to note that if an access point is created from your property, this opens up your property to be accessed by the public from the park. State Parks will not be responsible for claims of trespassing once these access points are established and known.

14.What sort of entrance fees are expected to be charged at Staunton?
The fee structure is set by a ruling of the State Parks Board, in consultation with the Joint Budget Committee at the Colorado State Legislature. Day use fees and overnight camping fees (if overnight camping is allowed) would generally be consistent with those in place throughout the State Parks system. Please refer to http://parks.state.co.us/Reservations/Fees/ for more information, if needed.

15.What is being done to minimize fire danger at the park, both now and after it’s opened?
To date more than 940 acres within the park have been treated through the use of sawyer crews, mechanical means and prescribed fires. An additional 180 acres will be treated in 2009. Should it be determined through the planning process that fires are to be allowed in the park, these would be permitted only in designated grills and/or fire rings. No backcountry fires will be permitted.

16.What is being done to minimize bark beetle damage in the park?
State Parks has been improving forest health at the Staunton site over the last 10 years.  By thinning trees, park managers are reducing competition for sunlight, water and nutrients, thereby making the remaining trees healthier and giving them a better chance to fight off the mountain pine beetle (MPB).  Unfortunately, the evidence from Grand County suggests that with the current populations of MPB, even pre-thinned stands can be decimated – all parks managers can hope is that the MPB pressure at Staunton is less than what Grand County has experienced.  Park managers have also been working to establish multi-age stands of trees, which should help to reduce any MPB impacts.

17.What will happen with the existing structures currently on the property?
he proposed Master Plan identifies nine historical structures that potentially could be renovated for interpretive/educational purposes. The planning team will need to conduct a more thorough evaluation of the structures on a building-by-building basis as the final Master Plan is developed to determine whether they are appropriate candidates for historical preservation. Structures deemed to be worth preserving shall be incorporated into the final Master Plan.

18.What will be done to mitigate noise coming from the park so as not to disturb those whose properties border the park boundary?
During the planning process, careful consideration will be given to maintaining and enhancing the attributes of the park for the enjoyment of park visitors and neighbors alike. Buffer zones will be created in potential conflict areas between adjacent neighborhoods and the park to insure a screening effect from possible sights and sounds. If overnight camping is permitted in the park, “quiet hours” would be in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily. Throughout the State Parks system, all park campsites permit no more than six people per designated campsite. These rules are enforced as needed by park rangers.

19.I live in the vicinity of Staunton and am worried about potential impacts the park’s development could have on my water quality and supply. What is being done to protect my water?
Staunton State Park will have no detrimental effects on water quality or supply. Residents in the immediate vicinity as well as those downstream of Staunton State Park will not witness any change in either the quality or quantity of water. State Parks is proposing use of their water rights to access water from new wells to be completed. State Parks will conform to all requirements and restrictions of their water rights so as not to consume more than their decreed amount of water.

Wastewater treatment methods proposed for the Park will also be designed in strict compliance with the State of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s rules and regulations. This will ensure that the groundwater beneath the Park (source of water for downstream users) is not contaminated as a result of the wastewater treatment methods proposed for the park. To further protect the quality of water for downstream users, State Parks will implement best management practices during and following construction to conform to local erosion control and sediment guidelines.

20.Do the immediate community and the general public have any say in the planning process?
Absolutely. State Parks has already hosted a number of open houses and will conduct additional public forums as appropriate throughout the planning process. For those who wish to contact State Parks staff or the planning team outside of the public meetings, contact information and general information about the project can be found at www.stauntonpark.com.

Furthermore, the project team has convened a Master Plan Advisory Council (MPAC) made up of a cross-section of local residential and business interests and individuals representing a more regional and statewide recreation/tourism perspective. This group is serving as a liaison with the immediate community and the general public and is a key part the stakeholder outreach process. MPAC members will continue to provide valuable feedback to the Staunton State Park Planning Team as it completes the planning process.

21.Will you use the previous trail plan that was prepared in recent years?
There was a trail corridor study prepared for Staunton Park in 2005 by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) that studied potential trail corridor locations within the park. The trail corridor opportunities developed by IMBA will be used as a point of reference only and will be used in conjunction with other more recent data as the planning team works towards developing the final Staunton State Park Master Plan.

That is to say, many of the potential trail corridor opportunities identified by IMBA will likely drop off, be re-routed, or be adjusted, depending on factors that were not available for consideration in 2005, including natural resource constraints, park management plan zoning, public input, etc. In general, various types and quantities of recreational uses (and trails) that will eventually be permitted at Staunton State Park have yet to be determined — these are being discussed/considered as part of the overall planning process.


22.How were comments and public feedback provided during the first rounds of public meetings integrated into the Proposed Master Plan?
Public input on this Master Planning project has come from many sources:
The results from public open houses allow the project team to establish a range of what are acceptable uses for the park by the public. The results thus far have generally confirmed that the typical menu of recreational uses currently allowed at most other Colorado State Parks is deemed acceptable by the public for Staunton as well. Public input received regarding several other components of the park’s development – such as safety, traffic, access, environmental impacts and resource management – has also been recorded and investigated so that any concerns, real or perceived, can be addressed in the final Master Plan.

 23.When will the Final Master Plan be completed and presented to the public?
After the March 2009 Public Open House, the planning team will review and evaluate the latest volume of public comment and prepare a final Master Plan for Staunton Park. The planning team will take the Plan back to the Colorado State Parks Board for review and approval. The final Master Plan will be brought back to the public for a final presentation in the summer of 2009. The final Master Plan document is expected to be available by fall 2009.

24.How much is the Park estimated to cost?
Prior to the completion of the final Master Plan, a detailed financial plan will be completed to help identify cost estimates for each major phase of development. State Parks will rely on the financial plan to budget for park development during each respective phase and will likely rely on grants for funding support from partners like Great Outdoors Colorado and the Colorado Lottery.




Last Updated: 7/21/2008