Parker, Colorado, is located on the southeastern edge of the Denver metropolitan area along Highway 83. About 40 miles from The Mile High City, Parker is in Douglas County, where residents enjoy its dense suburban environment.
Parker was incorporated in 1981 while having only one square mile of land and 300 residents. Since then, this prosperous town has expanded to 22 square miles and has a population of 61,492. Parker has received national recognition many times over the past decade. In 2020 alone, some of these were:
Best Places to Live in America – ranked #2 in the U.S. for populations over 25,000 by Money.
Best Small Cities in America – ranked #24 in the U.S. by WalletHub
Best Places to Raise a Family in Colorado – ranked #5 by HomeSnacks
Safest Cities in Colorado – ranked #1 in Colorado for populations over 30,000, and ranked #5 in Colorado for all cities by the National Council for Home Safety Security
Healthiest Communities in America – Douglas County ranked #2 in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report
Parker is famous for its Western- Victorian downtown and offers a balance of small-town charm and big-city experiences. It features open spaces and miles of trails that encourage an active lifestyle and an appreciation of nature.
Parker Entertainment and Culture
PACE Center – Check out The Parker Arts, Culture & Event Center for its rich art, cultural, and historic collection.
Rueter-Hess Reservoir Recreation – This invaluable source of water for residents also includes recreational activities such as paddle-boarding, photography tours, bird watching, swimming, and Nation Trails Day guided tours.
Parker Recreation Center – This state-of-the-art facility includes a few gymnasiums, cardiovascular equipment, free weights, fitness studios, a cycling studio, a lazy river, an aquatic climbing wall, and more. It’s a one-stop center for fitness and sports lovers.
Discovery Park – This 1.5-acre park hosts events throughout the year.
Westcreek Disc Golf Course – Forget your clubs! This disc golf course offers a fun and challenging 18 holes to enjoy.
Food and Drinks – Parker’s dining venues offer a broad range of flavors – Hawaiian barbecue, Asian, Mexican, American, and Italian restaurants, pubs with live music, coffee, and sandwich shops, and more.