Linda Nuzum

by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Lane Roberts

For the past 13 years, Linda Nuzum has served as community leader, communicator, problem solver, watchdog, and tireless advocate for the Castle Pines community. Her endless volunteerism has always been inspired by her wish to be an informed citizen of the community. This wish, partnered with her call to a make difference, is what has made Nuzum an invaluable asset to Castle Pines.

“Many of the things you value are being used in the community today and are here because of the vision of Linda,” said Alison Gibbens, Castle Pines resident.  

In the fall of 1997, Nuzum moved to what was then Castle Pines North (CPN) from South East Denver, along with her husband Paul and her then four-year-old son, Michael. The family was looking for a quiet community with good schools and a swimming pool.

Shortly after moving to CPN, Nuzum quickly jumped into the role of communicator and problem solver. In 1999, Forest Park residents were involved in a contentious debate with Douglas County and Castle Pines Village regarding a proposed north gate road that would bring traffic, mainly construction traffic, through the Forest Park neighborhood.

Nuzum drew upon her previous experience in city planning in Phoenix, Kansas City, and most recently in Denver for the Denver Regional Council of Government, and culled through county records looking for a solution. Information she found helped to move the Castle Pines Village north gate entrance to its current location off of Lagae Road and keep the entrance by Forest Park used solely for emergencies.

Through her involvement in the north gate road issue, Nuzum started what is perhaps her biggest contribution to the community, the avenues of communication that keep the community informed. Nuzum orchestrated Castle Pines’ first website, an e-mail distribution system, and eventually a community newsletter, all which became the foundations of the CPN Master Association communication efforts for many years. That Master Association newsletter laid the foundation for what residents currently enjoy as The Castle Pines Connection community newspaper.

At the end of 1999, Nuzum increased her community leadership by running for election as a representative to the Castle Pines North Master Association. After her successful election, she was then appointed to be vice president. Shortly thereafter, she subsequently moved into the role of president where she served until 2005.

During her time as president, Nuzum continued to broaden her service to the community with the building of Timber Trail Elementary School (TTE). Again, Nuzum put her head down and analyzed the numbers and growth predictions for the community. Although two elementary schools for the Castle Pines area were always on the books, Nuzum’s number crunching convinced the Douglas County School District to push TTE higher up on the priority list, thereby avoiding the need to have children bused out of the community to attend school.

Nuzum’s watchdog efforts also paid off financially for the community. At one time, Qwest was still billing residences for a distance phone charge long after the need for the distance charge had passed. Recognizing another high impact community issue, Nuzum worked with Qwest to remove the distance phone charge from bills and saved the community close to a million dollars.

Likewise, Nuzum lead the charge to have Excel comply with noise restrictions when Excel increased the power line voltage and erected the power lines that run through the community behind the Hidden Pointe neighborhood. Nuzum also helped nurture the shape of the CPN community by convincing Safeway to alter its plans from building at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard to its present location in the commercial area, thereby keeping higher traffic flows away from the residential area.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Nuzum continued her community service on the Parks Authority Board in 2002, helping to fund Coyote Ridge Park and to raise the funds for the upcoming Elk Ridge Park located at Lagae Road. While serving on the Parks Authority board, she also lead a spirited charge to build a recreation center for the community, failing at the polls by a mere 52 votes. “It was a hard loss,” commented Nuzum.

Nuzum served on the Metro District Board from the fall of 2004 until the spring of 2006 and was part of the creation of the community’s renewable water plan. She also worked diligently on refinancing and lowering the rates of the Metro District bonds which will be paid off in 2013.

Today, Nuzum considers herself retired. She no longer sits at the front of meetings as a community leader. Instead, you will find her in the midst of fellow citizens as an attendee and watchdog, holding community officials in check with her still-effective and impressive command of the community’s history, facts and numbers.

This new role leaves her more time to take a dip at the HOA2 pool or to volunteer with her son before he graduates from high school. Nuzum also shares her expertise with area residents by covering municipal stories of interest as a staff writer for The Castle Pines Connection
newspaper.

“This is a great place to live and raise a family. I’ve had my turn helping the community grow and I look forward to seeing others take their turn in continuing the community down the path of greatness,” said Nuzum.