Prairie Sky Park & Ballfield Update

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To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all park visitors, we remind you that dogs must remain on a 6-foot leash in Prairie Sky Park (Lone Tree Municipal Code Sec. 10-10-70 and South Suburban Park and Recreation District General Rules and Regulations for Parks, Trails, and Open Space). This policy is in place to prevent user conflicts, maintain cleanliness, and protect park facilities.

The Prairie Sky ballfield is not designated as an off-leash area and to preserve the field for its intended use, it will be closed except for permitted events, starting June 9, 2025.

Off-leash dogs can create risks for park users, including unexpected interactions between pets and people, which may result in safety concerns or accidents. Additionally, unattended dogs often lead to waste left behind, impacting the cleanliness of our shared spaces. Dogs digging in the outfield can cause damage to the playing surface, affecting sports activities, player safety and park maintenance efforts.

Off-leash dog parks are available nearby at the following locations: Hound Hill Dog Park or David A. Lorenz Dog Park.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our park safe and well-maintained for all visitors.


Update from the Interim Executive Director:

Greetings,

On behalf of the South Suburban Parks & Recreation District, I would like to thank you for your attendance and comments during the recent Board meeting. We certainly understand your passion for Prairie Sky Park, and please understand that decisions such as this are taken quite seriously by everyone involved. I would also like to take this opportunity to share some of the history behind the decision that was made regarding the ball field.

Let me begin by saying this type of issue is considered to be an operational issue rather than a policy issue, therefore it is typically handled internally at the staff level rather than through a Board meeting. I want to provide a quick timeline as to how we have arrived at this decision, and please feel free to contact me with any follow up questions.

2018 (estimated) – South Suburban received numerous complaints about the six enclosed ballfields in the District. Users were upset that these areas had been considered off-leash dog parks by many local residents. Comments included:

  • Dogs digging holes on playing areas,
  • Dog waste was not cleaned up prior to permitted activities, one user group was forced to hire a local cleanup service to maintain their area prior to scheduled games.
  • Owners would exercise their dogs during permitted youth activities.
  • Owners would verbally abuse maintenance staff who were attempting to mow and prep the fields for play.

It was decided at that time to lock the ballfield areas in question. These included fields at Bowles Grove Park, deKoevend Park and three at Cornerstone. While it was recommended by the user groups to include all six fields, for some unknown reason, park staff was directed by the previous administration to avoid closing the field at Prairie Sky. Unfortunately, all of these above mentioned issues have continued at Prairie Sky.

May 12, 2025 – South Suburban received a request from the Lone Tree Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC), to re-examine this issue. They have received numerous complaints from user groups and asked that we assist in upholding the current City code by locking the fields.

May 15, 2025 – South Suburban staff met to discuss the issue. Based upon feedback from other users, combined with the Lone Tree RAC, we determined we would make Prairie Sky field consistent with all other District ballfields.

June 2,2025 – Educational signs were placed at the Prairie Sky field indicating the upcoming schedule for closing the field during non-permitted times.

June 9, 2025 – Prairie Sky field locked during non-permitted use times.

We certainly support the use of Prairie Sky and other parks for dogs and their owners. Prairie Sky encompasses a total of 9.63 acres of developed park space, plus an addition 3.2 acres at an adjacent auxiliary field. The majority of this space remains available for dogs while on-leash. The previous signage at the complex stated that ‘Field is off limits to pets during athletic play and during maintenance operations’. While this can be interpreted differently, it was not intended to encourage off leash use in this area, which is against City code.

Once again, I thank you for your interest and support of the South Suburban Parks & Recreation District.

Sincerely,
Rob Schoeber,
Interim Executive Director

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all park visitors, we remind you that dogs must remain on a 6-foot leash in Prairie Sky Park (Lone Tree Municipal Code Sec. 10-10-70 and South Suburban Park and Recreation District General Rules and Regulations for Parks, Trails, and Open Space). This policy is in place to prevent user conflicts, maintain cleanliness, and protect park facilities.

The Prairie Sky ballfield is not designated as an off-leash area and to preserve the field for its intended use, it will be closed except for permitted events, starting June 9, 2025.

Off-leash dogs can create risks for park users, including unexpected interactions between pets and people, which may result in safety concerns or accidents. Additionally, unattended dogs often lead to waste left behind, impacting the cleanliness of our shared spaces. Dogs digging in the outfield can cause damage to the playing surface, affecting sports activities, player safety and park maintenance efforts.

Off-leash dog parks are available nearby at the following locations: Hound Hill Dog Park or David A. Lorenz Dog Park.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our park safe and well-maintained for all visitors.


Update from the Interim Executive Director:

Greetings,

On behalf of the South Suburban Parks & Recreation District, I would like to thank you for your attendance and comments during the recent Board meeting. We certainly understand your passion for Prairie Sky Park, and please understand that decisions such as this are taken quite seriously by everyone involved. I would also like to take this opportunity to share some of the history behind the decision that was made regarding the ball field.

Let me begin by saying this type of issue is considered to be an operational issue rather than a policy issue, therefore it is typically handled internally at the staff level rather than through a Board meeting. I want to provide a quick timeline as to how we have arrived at this decision, and please feel free to contact me with any follow up questions.

2018 (estimated) – South Suburban received numerous complaints about the six enclosed ballfields in the District. Users were upset that these areas had been considered off-leash dog parks by many local residents. Comments included:

  • Dogs digging holes on playing areas,
  • Dog waste was not cleaned up prior to permitted activities, one user group was forced to hire a local cleanup service to maintain their area prior to scheduled games.
  • Owners would exercise their dogs during permitted youth activities.
  • Owners would verbally abuse maintenance staff who were attempting to mow and prep the fields for play.

It was decided at that time to lock the ballfield areas in question. These included fields at Bowles Grove Park, deKoevend Park and three at Cornerstone. While it was recommended by the user groups to include all six fields, for some unknown reason, park staff was directed by the previous administration to avoid closing the field at Prairie Sky. Unfortunately, all of these above mentioned issues have continued at Prairie Sky.

May 12, 2025 – South Suburban received a request from the Lone Tree Recreation Advisory Committee (RAC), to re-examine this issue. They have received numerous complaints from user groups and asked that we assist in upholding the current City code by locking the fields.

May 15, 2025 – South Suburban staff met to discuss the issue. Based upon feedback from other users, combined with the Lone Tree RAC, we determined we would make Prairie Sky field consistent with all other District ballfields.

June 2,2025 – Educational signs were placed at the Prairie Sky field indicating the upcoming schedule for closing the field during non-permitted times.

June 9, 2025 – Prairie Sky field locked during non-permitted use times.

We certainly support the use of Prairie Sky and other parks for dogs and their owners. Prairie Sky encompasses a total of 9.63 acres of developed park space, plus an addition 3.2 acres at an adjacent auxiliary field. The majority of this space remains available for dogs while on-leash. The previous signage at the complex stated that ‘Field is off limits to pets during athletic play and during maintenance operations’. While this can be interpreted differently, it was not intended to encourage off leash use in this area, which is against City code.

Once again, I thank you for your interest and support of the South Suburban Parks & Recreation District.

Sincerely,
Rob Schoeber,
Interim Executive Director

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Page last updated: 18 Jun 2025, 01:08 PM