Dad Clark Park in Highlands Ranch: Garden, Map & Nearby Homes

Tucked into the residential streets east of S. University Boulevard at 3385 Astorbrook Circle (ZIP code 80126), Dad Clark Park is one of the most versatile neighborhood parks in Highlands Ranch. Unlike smaller pocket greens that offer only open turf, Dad Clark Park combines active sports facilities, a covered 40-person shelter with BBQ grills, permanent public restrooms, a summer water play feature adjacent to the sand play area, and 19 dedicated community garden plots. Visitors can open Google Maps directions to 3385 Astorbrook Circle or access the park on foot and bike via the connecting Dad Clark Gulch greenbelt trails.

Dad Clark Park is home to one of the few designated community gardens in the Highlands Ranch Metro District. Because only 19 plots are available inside the Dad Clark Community Garden, annual registration follows a structured seasonal schedule:

• Early January (Returning Gardeners): Renewal access is offered first to returning gardeners from the previous growing season.
• Early February – End of March (New Registration & Waitlist): Online registration for remaining plots opens at 8:00 a.m. in early February through the Highlands Ranch Metro District recreation portal, and the seasonal waitlist closes at the end of March.
• April – October Growing Season: Gardens open for early soil preparation in early April, irrigation water is turned on in early May (weather permitting), and gardeners clean out their plots by the end of October before winter shutoff.
• Pavilion Reservations & Group Permits: The covered shelter holds up to 40 guests. Any organized activity of five or more people—including youth sports practices, fitness bootcamps, or organized parties—requires a Metro District park permit. Small stakes up to 10 inches in length are allowed for pop-up shade canopies; longer stakes require a permit to protect underground irrigation lines.
• Prohibited Activities & Trail Etiquette: Glass containers, fires outside park BBQ grills, fireworks, golf practice, archery or pellet guns, model rockets and drones, unpermitted camping, littering, wildlife harassment, and motorized vehicles on turf are prohibited (Class I and Class II e-bikes are permitted on paved paths, and dogs must remain leashed).

Situated just east of S. University Boulevard along the Dad Clark Gulch greenbelt corridor, Dad Clark Park anchors a highly walkable residential pocket in the 80126 ZIP code while giving buyers easy access to all three residential build eras across Highlands Ranch:

• Established 1980s & 1990s Neighborhoods: The cul-de-sacs and tree-lined streets immediately surrounding Astorbrook Circle belong to Eastridge and Falcon Creek, with Northridge just west across S. University Boulevard. Built primarily during the 1980s and 1990s, these homes offer mature shade landscaping, generous backyard setbacks, and rapid commuting to C-470, S. University Boulevard, and the Denver Tech Center.
• 2000s & 2010s Luxury & Family Communities: A short drive south along S. University Boulevard and Wildcat Reserve Parkway connects buyers to 2000s and 2010s neighborhoods including Southridge, Firelight, Tresana, and Backcountry, where floor plans feature dramatic two-story great rooms, main-level offices, and expansive trail networks.
• Brand-New Construction & Newer Luxury Residences: Buyers comparing established park-side lots against modern energy codes and turnkey contemporary finishes can also evaluate brand-new construction and newer luxury builds across the broader Highlands Ranch and northern Douglas County market.

Homeowners near Dad Clark Park enjoy full membership access to all four HRCA recreation centers—with the Eastridge Recreation Center located just minutes away on S. University Boulevard—and feed into highly regarded Douglas County schools including Copper Mesa Elementary School, Cougar Run Elementary School, Cresthill Middle School, and Highlands Ranch High School. During contract due diligence, buyers should review the property-specific HOA and Metro District disclosures for their chosen subdivision.

From the perspective of a residential builder, home rehab expert, and engineer, homes bordering Dad Clark Park or backing to the Dad Clark Gulch greenbelt offer exceptional long-term lifestyle and remodeling potential. When permanent parkland and trail connectivity anchor a neighborhood, well-planned interior and exterior updates stand out:

• Reimagining 1980s & 1990s Kitchen Layouts: Many original Eastridge and Falcon Creek floor plans around Astorbrook Circle feature compartmentalized kitchens and formal dining rooms. Exploring a new kitchen layout that removes non-structural partitions, adds a spacious center island, and widens rear patio doors brings natural Colorado sunlight and greenbelt views right into the heart of the home.
• Custom Decks, Outdoor Living & Perimeter Grading: Upgrading an aging wood deck to a low-maintenance composite deck with a covered pergola and refreshed backyard landscaping extends your three-season living space. When planning exterior improvements on older Highlands Ranch homes, maintaining positive soil grading and downspout extensions away from the foundation is a smart practice over Douglas County’s expansive clay soils.
• Basement Layouts & Questions for Licensed Inspectors: Finishing or modernizing a walkout or garden-level basement near Dad Clark Gulch can add a guest suite, recreation room, or dedicated home office. Working with a Realtor who brings a builder and engineer’s background helps you visualize layout possibilities and know what questions to ask independent, licensed third-party home and structural inspectors regarding electrical panels, plumbing supply lines, roof ventilation, and drainage.