With the passage of Ballot Question 2H, the City of Fort Collins has begun internal work to outline a plan for the future of the Hughes Stadium site. Ballot Question 2H establishes the site as a multiuse space that includes a community bike park. Ballot Question 2A, the tax extension that guarantees five million dollars in bike park funding, also passed. Ballot Question 303, which proposed dedicating the entire site as a natural area, did not pass.
In an email to YGR City Project and Policy Manager Ginny Sawyer outlined the immediate steps that are now underway.
“We are pulling together numerous meetings to work on sequencing and gathering information to put a plan in place. It is helpful that the tax renewal passed so we know we have some dedicated funding for a bike park. We know we want a comprehensive plan not one off implementation and we need to engage with our Indigenous folks,” Sawyer wrote in an email to YGR.
Sawyer said the City will begin work on a full site plan. “I anticipate outreach as we design a full site plan but not starting from scratch. Parks and Natural Areas will do some analysis to determine most valuable habitat and any site constraints. This is better done in spring but weather permitting maybe they can start sooner,” she said.
A project update on the City’s website outlined the following next steps:
• Continued engagement with Tribes, Indigenous community members, and the First People’s Community Center
• Detailed site analysis to determine the most valuable habitat, site constraints and features
• Real estate process and requirements for leases and partnerships including the existing cell tower
• Overall site plan creation and phasing
The City states that no immediate changes are planned at the site. Rules governing public use remain in effect and will continue to be administered by the Parks Department. The City will engage the public as timelines are finalized.
Sawyer noted that residents should not expect visible changes or many public updates until spring. She also said she has not heard of any actions from supporters of 303 following its failure.
These next steps follow a clear election outcome. Fort Collins voters supported Ballot Question 2H with 37,218 voting yes and 17,733 voting no. Voters rejected 303 with 25,148 yes votes and 29,331 no votes. Ballot Issue 2A passed with 43,080 yes votes and 12,373 no votes. County-wide turnout was very solid for a non-presidential, non-midterm election at 49 percent.
The plan designates up to 60 acres as Natural Area and up to 35 acres for a community park and bike park. It also includes environmental education and wildlife rescue facilities, along with recreation features like disc golf and sledding. The plan also requires indigenous peoples’ input.
Additional information is available on the City’s project page at ourcity.fcgov.com/future-of-hughes
If you enjoy this content and appreciate the hustle that goes into YGR please consider supporting the site.
