An Overlooked Community
Timeline
1959
Drake School Built
Drake Middle School opened its doors in 1959. Drake currently has roughly 950 students, making it the largest middle school in Jefferson County Colorado.
1975
Walters School Built
Margaret Walters School opened, and a school partnership with Drake Middle was established for crosswalk safety. The current crosswalks and school zone were built to support the school partnership that lasted decades..
1978
Van Bibber Park
Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) initially acquired the land that became Van Bibber Park in 1978. JCOS continued acquiring land until the park assumed its current boundaries in 1995
1982
Pivic Path Built
Jefferson County expanded the asphalt on the south side of West 52nd Ave. This 4-foot-wide asphalt path, separated from traffic on West 52nd Avenue by only a painted yellow stripe, allowed for a designated bike and walking path for (what was then) the rural neighborhood students residing in the homes between McIntyre Street and Drake Middle School.
1997
Eagle Pointe Built
The Eagle Pointe subdivision was completed by Carlson LLC, introducing 67 new homes to the Fairmount area. In Van Bibber Park the Outer Loop Trail and connector to Eagle Pointe was built.
2009
1 Block of Sidewalk
– Drake Middle School to Ward Road
One block of sidewalk was built by Jefferson County Road and Bridge crews. This sidewalk was only on the south side of West 52nd Ave and connected Drake Middle School to Ward Road.
2018
Drake Expansion
A 25,000 square foot addition at Drake Middle School brought 11 new classrooms to expand the school. Over 300 kids joined the school.
2019
Fairmount Sidewalk
The sidewalk from McIntyre Street to Fairmount Elementary School, along West 50th Avenue, was built utilizing the Safe Routes to Schools grant process. The community had to push for this necessary safety improvement after the Gardens at Table Mountain were built.
2023
School Time Changes
Jefferson County Public Schools change middle school end time.
2026
HB26-1318
The act redefines standard school zones to include all roadways within 1,000 feet of a school property boundary and requires explicit signage, including school zones established before August 2026. The legislation was inspired by the tragic death of 13-year-old Liam Stewart, who was struck and killed by a car while biking to his middle school in Littleton in 2023.
2026-2027 School Year
Children Directed into Traffic
Parents became aware that school staff and Jefferson County Sherriff’s staff are enforcing private property laws, blocking children from crossing the HOA’s detention pond grassy area and directing them to cross West 52nd Avenue west of the crosswalk—in heavy traffic.
Fairmount Developments in Progress with JeffCo
