HUGHES UPDATES
As recommended by the Fort Collins Civic Assembly and supported by City Council in a 6-1 vote, the Hughes Multi-Use Plan is on the November ballot as issue #2H.
Multi-use 2H is supported by Hughes for Everyone which supports:
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Shared Space – Hughes should welcome and be accessible to everyone, from hikers, runners, and birders to bikers, families, school kids, and land stewards. It should be a place for gathering and connection with the land and within our community.
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Indigenous Engagement — A place to help honor the original land stewards through messaging, interpretation, land stewardship, and community gathering.
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Connectivity – Hughes should connect with and expand trails, natural areas, recreation opportunities, and wildlife habitat and corridors.
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Accessibility and Inclusivity – All members of our community should have the ability to access, explore, learn, and enjoy the Hughes site in ways that are meaningful to them.
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Exploration and Learning – Hughes offers a unique opportunity to create a community-centered approach towards environmental education, wildlife conservation, and cultural celebration, inspiring current and future generations of land stewards.
This includes:
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Restored Natural Areas (~40% of the property; 60 acres) – connects to existing natural areas.
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Wildlife Conservation & Rescue Center (~20%; up to 30 acres with 5 built acres)
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Community Recreation (~20%; up to 35 acres) – Preserve the disc golf course and sledding hill, while adding a family-friendly bike park and all-purpose trails
Learn more and get involved at HughesForEveryone.com
NO ON #303 - 100% Natural Area
This is a citizen ballot initiative by a small group of neighbors that directly undermines the voters' original decision in 2021 where voters approved the use of the site as “…parks, recreation, open lands, natural areas, wildlife rescue and restoration”, and bypasses the Civic Assembly’s balanced community recommendations. If #303 passes, there will be no multi-use at Hughes, the wishes of the community, which includes NO COMMUNITY BIKE PARK.
YES ON #2A - Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP) Tax
Voting yes on continuing this existing tax, which supports important and diverse city capital projects over the next decade, is a vote yes for securing $5M in funding for a bike park.
The Future of Hughes Civic Assembly has concluded. After reviewing feedback from the whole community and receiving information from many additional sources, including experts, community groups, city staff, and others, the delegates have made their recommendations for the 164 acre Hughes property.
Concept and Major Use recommendations of note:
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Indigenous use (100% support)
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Minimize light pollution (100% support)
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Indigenous groups should be consulted in each step of the development of the entire property. (95% support)
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Creation and use of outdoor community spaces (95% support)
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Multi-use (89% support): Combination of bike park, open spaces, natural area, trails and conservation/education features.
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Restorative natural habitats features (89% support): [...] help restore the site to its natural state. Can be tied to educational or conservation site features.
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Outdoor Education Facility (89% support): Free interpretive signage and trails that include information on the history and use of the land, native species, and restoration
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Restoration & rehabilitation of the land (89% support): Supported by the Bird Conservancy, RMRP, High Plains Environmental Center, and other environmental groups
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Multi-use center for public gatherings, wildlife rehabilitation, learning and education, and Indigenous cultural representation (79% support
More details can be found in the final report.
A "Natural Area" refers to a designation of the land within the city's Natural Areas program.
The assembly supported an appropriate portion of the site designated as a natural area. However, designating the entire property as a natural area did not receive enough support from the delegates representing our community-wide interests:
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Single-use natural area (16% support-Did Not Reach Supermajority): Restore site as deemed by the Natural Areas Department. Includes features for restorative natural habitats.
⚠️ Despite the lack of community-wide support, a group is collecting signatures to overturn the Civic Assembly recommendations and designate the whole site a natural area ⚠️. If this were to occur:
It will limit the use of the property, including existing uses
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The majority of recommendations by the civic assembly would not be allowed due to specific Natural Areas policies & requirements
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The existing disc golf course and the sledding hill uses would not be permitted per existing Fort Collins Natural Areas city code
The entire cost of the property would have to come out of the Natural Areas Department budget, severely impacting the program as a whole for years to come
The property was purchased for $12M, with $2M coming out of the general fund, and $2M out of the Natural Areas fund. This does not include financing and is a temporary arrangement set up until the final acreage designations are determined.
As conservationists and outdoor recreators, we LOVE our natural areas and support the program for all the benefits it provides. If the entire cost were to be borne by the Natural Areas funds, it would impact the ability for the program to conserve critical & larger-scale properties that would provide greater community benefit. The Natural Areas Department has not identified Hughes or its general area for acquisition for many of the same reasons that the Civic Assembly did not make this recommendation.