AREAS

Parker is a convenient commute to Aurora and Denver with easy access to E470 and the Denver International Airport. Since 2004, the Parker Adventist Hospital www.parkerhospital.org has provided the Parker and surrounding areas with a full-service hospital and has become an integral part of the community. Parker is also home to The Wildlife Experience, www.thewildlifeexperience.org a museum with permanent and traveling exhibits, movies and children's activities.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->The museum features fine art, natural history displays, a movie theater and hosts many community fund raising events. The town offers great recreation facilities including the new Parker Fieldhouse that features an indoor roller rink, basketball courts, soccer fields, running track, workout facilities and a 25' indoor rock climbing tower. This is in addition to the Parker Recreation Center with its indoor pool and the popular H2O'Brien Pool for outdoor fun in the summer. Parker offers and abundance of single family homes, condos, townhomes as well as ranch, farm and horse properties.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->The Town of Parker was incorporated 1n 1981 and has since expanded from one square mile to more than 13 square miles. What is now Parker originally began when the unofficial Pine Grove Post Office was established around 1863 as a result of the Gold Rush and homesteaders heading west for land. Prior to that time, Native American tribes such as the Arapahoe, Cheyenne and Ute traveled through the area for hunting. The post office building was eventually sold and moved to the current town of Parker location. The building was expanded and was known as the 20 Mile House (being 20 miles South of Denver). After multiple additions and changing hands many times, the facility was sold to James Parker from Kiowa in 1874. Parker added a mercantile and blacksmith shop and made the post office official. Parker also worked to establish roads, telephone lines and rights to the Denver and New Orleans Railroad. He was also responsible for the first formal cemetery and established the first school in the community.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->• Parker was originally known as the Pine Grove Post Office.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->• 20 Mile House was named such because it was 20 miles South of Denver.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->