In warmer months, lots of Colorado towns and cities host monthly art walks. If you’ve ever been on one, you know what a fun, active way it is to explore the local art scene.

But, we say, why wait for spring? Grab your tennies, a thermos of hot cocoa, and an art-loving friend and go check out Parker’s outdoor arts.

Each year, Douglas County sponsors a temporary public art program called Art Encounters, a year-long outdoor exhibit that showcases a wide variety of sculptures throughout Parker, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock. Parker’s 2013-2014 pieces of art are on display through May. If you plan to see all seven pieces, your art walk will take you to O’Brien Park, H2O’Brien Park, and Mainstreet in front of the PACE Center.

For a more extensive outing, take a tour of Parker’s 24 pieces of permanent public art. Print out this map and explore Parker while enjoying fine art pieces — many inspired by local history —  and learn a bit about the roots of a town that began as a stagecoach stop twenty miles from Denver City.