For years, the fate of the Hughes Stadium land in Fort Collins has been a topic of debate and uncertainty. Since the city acquired the 164-acre parcel in 2021 following a ballot measure, discussions on its future have been varied and, at times, contentious. Should it be used for open space, recreation, or something else entirely?
Now, the City of Fort Collins City Council as taken the path of a Civic Assembly process, to formulate a potential solution. The initiative aims to bring transparency, inclusivity, and community-driven decision-making to this critical issue, and after years of ambiguity, it looks like answers are on the horizon.
How Did We Get Here?
Hughes Stadium, the former home of Colorado State University’s football team, was demolished in 2018, leaving a prime stretch of land on the west side of Fort Collins. The city’s acquisition of the site in 2021 was seen as a victory for residents who wanted a say in how the land would be used. However, determining that use has been anything but straightforward.
Over the years, various groups have voiced competing priorities. Some residents have advocated for preserving the area as open space or using it for a large-scale recreation facility and so many ideas in between. There are certain rules and regulations we must follow. Here is the exact ballot language from 2021:
“Shall the City enact an ordinance requiring the City Council of the City of Fort Collins to immediately rezone upon passage of the ordinance a 164.56-acre parcel of real property formerly home to the Hughes Stadium from the Transition District to the Public Open Lands District, and requiring the City to acquire the property at fair market value to use said property for parks, recreation, and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and restoration, and further prohibiting the City from de-annexing, ceasing acquisition efforts or subsequently rezoning the property without voter approval of a separate initiative referred to the voters by City Council, and granting legal standing to any registered elector in the City to seek injunctive and/or declaratory relief in the courts related to City noncompliance with said ordinance?”
So there are rules that the city and what they vote on to be built or maintained there must be used for “parks, recreation, and open lands, natural areas, and wildlife rescue and restoration”.
The Civic Assembly Process: A True Community Effort
To ensure that the final decision is rooted in public consensus, Fort Collins has embarked on a Civic Assembly process. This approach, supported by the nonprofit organization Healthy Democracy, engages a randomly selected but demographically representative panel of residents.
How It Works
- Recruitment and Selection
- 8,000–12,000 randomly selected households will receive invitations in February 2025.
- Participants who opt in will be chosen through a lottery system to create a diverse panel representing different age groups, geographic areas, income levels, and other demographic factors.
- Deliberation and Decision-Making
- The selected panel will meet over two weekends in April and May 2025.
- The assembly will hear presentations, review information, and discuss possible land uses before making a formal recommendation.
- Final Steps
- The panel’s recommendation will be submitted to city staff and ultimately reviewed by the Fort Collins City Council in June 2025.
- The council will then decide on the final Hughes Site Master Plan based on the assembly’s findings and other relevant inputs.
This process is designed to be both transparent and fair, ensuring that a broad cross-section of Fort Collins has a voice in what happens to the Hughes land.
Looking Ahead: A Defining Moment for Fort Collins
By summer 2025, we should finally have a clear path forward for the Hughes Stadium land. While it has taken years to get to this point, the city’s commitment to public engagement means the final plan will have a strong foundation of community support.
This process also represents a broader shift in how Fort Collins approaches civic decision-making. Rather than top-down mandates, the Civic Assembly is allowing for a bottom-up, citizen-driven solution. If successful, it could set a precedent for how future contentious land use debates are handled.
For Fort Collins residents, the upcoming months will be pivotal. Whether you were among those selected for the assembly or not, staying informed and engaged is crucial. The Hughes site represents not just a piece of land but an opportunity to shape the future of our community in a way that aligns with our shared values.
What’s Next?
- The first Civic Assembly meeting: April 12-13, 2025
- The second Civic Assembly meeting: May 2-4, 2025
- City Council receives the recommendation: June 2025
As we await the final outcome, one thing is clear: the future of Hughes Stadium land is finally taking shape, and Fort Collins residents are leading the way.
