Park Hill Golf Course is on its method to changing into a public park this summer season after two Denver Metropolis Council committees forwarded plans for a land-swap deal and zoning adjustments to the total council on Tuesday.
Beneath the swap settlement, Denver would commerce a 145-acre, city-owned property close to Denver Worldwide Airport to Westside Funding Companions in change for the 155 acres of open area in North Park Hill that Westside owns.
The committee votes set the council’s gears in movement greater than three months after metropolis leaders first unveiled the plan.
“This was a really difficult deal to get executed,” mentioned Jolon Clark, the manager director of town’s Division of Parks and Recreation.
The committees authorized the commerce deal and a needed rezoning of the land, however the full council nonetheless wants to think about each earlier than the brand new park might open. These votes are set to occur in Might and June.
Park Hill Golf Course is valued at $12.76 million and the open area by the airport, situated in Adams County off East 56th Avenue, is valued at $12.75 million, based on metropolis paperwork.
Mayor Mike Johnston introduced the deal in January. That is the primary time it has been formally thought-about by council members since then.
Voters in 2023 rejected a plan to show the land into a significant mixed-use improvement that doubtlessly would have included 1000’s of items of housing and acreage for open area. It has been closed since then.
As a part of the deal, a conservation easement on the property that requires it for use as a golf course will dissolve, metropolis officers say.
Parks and Recreation is asking for enter from the general public on what to do with the area. A metropolis survey is offered on-line till Might 18.
In 2026, town will start designing and developing facilities for the park. Within the meantime, officers plan to wash the world up and construct low-cost facilities, together with picnic tables and a attainable canine park or disc golf course, for rapid use.
The council’s Finance and Governance Committee preliminarily authorized the property change on Tuesday. Its Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee forwarded a zoning change that will permit the land for use as a public park.
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