Natural area or multiuse space? Fort Collins voters will decide future of Hughes — again

By Bailey Borkowski
The Ramspondents

Fort Collins is gearing up for their next election and what to do with the Hughes Stadium property is on the ballot not just once, but twice. These two ballot measures have caused confusion within the community on what the differences between the two ballots are.

Ballot Measure 303, also known as Yes for Hughes, is run and funded by Friends of Hughes Natural Area who are in favor of keeping the Hughes Stadium property a natural area. If passed this ballot measure ensures that 100% of the property becomes a natural area.

Ballot Measure 2H, also known as Hughes for Everyone, is a ballot measure that supports turning the Hughes Stadium property into a multiuse space. This ballot measure outlines specific uses that the property could have including a bike park, natural area, and wildlife conservation center.

In 2021, Fort Collins passed a ballot measure that required the city to zone and acquire the Hughes Stadium property. In the ballot text it states that it requires 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.”

This ballot measure was interpreted differently by two groups of people, leading to the multiple measures that appear on this year's ballot.

“It was a conservation-focused ballot measure. So it was to protect Hughes for wildlife that come in and out of the city through the foothills to plains…,” said Elena Lopez, a supporter of ballot measure 303. “It was to allow all members of the community of all socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, physical abilities, to have access to that space as a community space that being Hughes.”

This interpretation leads ballot measure 303 to the natural area, however that does not mean that the disc course or the sledding hill will be disappearing. According to Melissa Rosas, a Friends of Hughes Natural Area Organizer, “In 2021 when we were out there speaking to the community, it was important for them to keep the sled hill and the disc golf course and so in doing so, that's that's why we have those words that deal with Park and Recreation,” Rosas said, “It was meant specifically for those activities, those low-impact activities.”

On the other side, the people behind ballot measure 2H interpreted the ballot measure to mean that “the initial language did have and did delineate the uses of open space, natural area, parks and recreation, wildlife rescue and restoration. So the initiative then continues with what the city invested in the civic assembly,” said Carin Avilla, a member of the Hughes for Everyone Committee. “So this is reinforcing not only the 2021 ballot, but also the Civic assembly delegates’ findings and recommendations that they utilize the space to be a multi-use space for all of those things, with also the voice and and communication.”

Those in support of ballot measure 2H believe that the 2021 ballot language refers not just to a natural area, but a more expansive recreation and conservation center.

In 2024, city council members realized the complexity of making a decision on what to do with this property when there are so many differing opinions across the city. Because of this, they decided to create a Civic Assembly, a group of randomly selected Fort Collins residents to listen to people’s opinions and decide how to best use the property.

After the civic assembly released their recommendations, the city council supported a resolution based on their recommendations, then put it up for the city’s opinion, which is now known as ballot measure 2H.

“The Civic assembly process was very democratic, and we, all of us, came from different backgrounds and walks of life and our own,” said Lucy Lee,a member of the civic assembly. “You know, we had our own ties or no information about the site, but we all came together with this vision that reaffirms what people voted on.”

In June of 2025, Friends of Hughes Natural Area began their ballot initiative in order to get measure 303 on this year's ballot. 

To get on the ballot they needed to reach 5,070 signatures. Friends of Hughes Natural Area successfully got over 6,000 signatures, allowing their measure to make Hughes a Natural Area on the ballot.

In ballot measure 2H, it states that if passed there will be up to 60 acres of a Natural area.

Lopez said she is nervous that because of the wording in the ballot that there won't be much, if any, natural area. 

“If they really, truly intended for there to be any natural area there, they would have said at least 60 or a minimum of some sort of number,” Lopez said.

When asked about this ballot language, Carin Avilla noted that it wasn’t because there won't be a natural area, it is the natural areas department’s decision.

“I think that really comes down to the natural areas department as to what they feel is the best use of their financial dollars to be able to support that land,” Avila said. "Once the ballot measure is approved, then I think the department has to discuss, well, how much can they manage, and what financials do they have, and the what is the best portion, sections of land that would be utilized by the natural city of Fort Collins natural areas department.”

Both ballot measures have a threshold of 50 percent. That means that to pass, both ballot measures must get 50 percent or more of the votes.

If they both pass then the ballot measure with the highest number of votes will be put into effect. This is why on many of the signs supporting each ballot measure you will often see a “vote NO” for the opposing ballot measure. 

However, if they both fail then ballot measure 2H will be put into effect. This is because 2H is the civic assembly’s recommendations and has already been passed by city council.

The Fort Collins election is on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Bailey Borkowski is the station manager at CTV 11 and a journalism student at Colorado State University who focuses on reporting the full and accurate truth and keeping the Fort Collins community informed. 

The full digest of stories we’re covering as part of the 2025 election are listed below with links to those stories. 

Ranked-choice voting and how it works

What’s all on the ballot for this election season? 

Analysis: What the candidates are saying about affordable housing (coming soon)