Highlands Ranch kids can cast free lines at Fly’n B Park fishing day

Free summer outings can be hard to find, and Fly’n B Park gave Highlands Ranch families one with a clear payoff: a stocked pond, local angling help and no admission cost. Kids’ Fishing Day ran June 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2910 Plaza Dr. in Highlands Ranch, with advance registration required because spots were limited.

The Highlands Ranch Metro District set the event up for children ages 6 to 14, a range that makes the outing useful both for first-time anglers and for kids ready to practice basic skills with a little coaching. Local angling experts were on hand to guide the day, and the pond was stocked with bass, trout, catfish and bluegill, giving young fishermen and fisherwomen a better chance of bringing something home from the experience.

That structure matters for families looking for low-cost recreation close to home. A guided program at a stocked pond is far less intimidating than sending a child out to learn on a rougher waterway or paying for a more elaborate outing, and the Metro District’s setup made the day feel built for beginners. Parents could also reach the district at 303-791-2710 or recreationinfo@highlandsranch.org with questions.

Fly’n B Park itself helped make the event work. The 10.3-acre site sits in the northwest part of Highlands Ranch along Plaza Drive, about one mile west of Lucent Boulevard, next to the Wind Crest retirement community. The park includes a fishing pond with a pier and fishing dock, plus trails, a large shelter, restrooms, parking, picnic tables and barbecue grills.

The district’s community-events calendar places Kids’ Fishing Day alongside other volunteer-supported summer gatherings such as KidFest and the Ice Cream Social, underscoring how Highlands Ranch uses public space to keep family programming accessible. Fly’n B Park also carries a deeper local history: the property includes a house built in 1906 by Mathew Plews, was conveyed to the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District in 2006 and became Fly’n B Park in 2010. The district says the park was originally dedicated in 2011.

For Douglas County families, the appeal is straightforward. Kids’ Fishing Day turned a neighborhood pond into an easy, inexpensive way to spend a summer morning, while also showing why small, well-run recreation programs remain a strong draw in Highlands Ranch.