November 7, 2025, by By Hollie Russon Gilman and Sarah Jacob | New America The future of a 165-acre piece of public land in Fort Collins has become a national example of local democracy in action. In 2021, voters approved rezoning a former stadium site as “Public Open Lands,” suitable for “parks, recreation and open lands, […]
The People’s Plan for Hughes Read More »
November 5th, 2025, by Dillon Thomas and Christa Swanson | CBS News Fort Collins voters approved a bike park at the former Hughes Stadium site on Tuesday. Residents in the Northern Colorado city overwhelmingly voted to block the former Hughes Stadium property from being developed into housing in 2021. Hughes Stadium has been gone for a while,
October 9, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan Key Points: Campaign signs are going up, urging Fort Collins residents to vote one way or another on Ballot Question 303, “a 100% Hughes natural area for all,” and Ballot Question 2H, which calls for a “Hughes for everyone.” Those signs are, of course, a
Why is Fort Collins voting on the Hughes Stadium land, anyway? How we got here Read More »
Denver7’s Maggy Wolanske headed to Fort Collins to understand how the city got to this point, what the two different ballot measures are, and what people should keep in mind before casting a vote. October 10th, 2025, by Maggy Wolanske | Denver 7 FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Fort Collins voters will have a say on
The future of the former Hughes Stadium site is now in the hands of Fort Collins voters Read More »
Faced with yearslong polarization, the city turned to a Civic Assembly where residents forged common ground in two weekends June 12th, 2025, by Rahmin Sarabi | The Colorado Sun Across the country, Americans increasingly agree on at least one thing: our democracy isn’t delivering for ordinary people. Trust is collapsing, polarization is deepening, and too many public decisions seem driven
Opinion: Fort Collins tried a new kind of democracy — and it worked Read More »
August 23rd, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan Key Points: Writing this story about the latest step in determining the future of the former Hughes Stadium site feels a little bit like answering the question: “Are we there yet?” The answer is no. But it’s a good time to explain exactly what’s ahead.
May 5th, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan A civic assembly formed to help determine the future of the former Hughes Stadium land in Fort Collins has landed on a vision that includes multiple uses, with an emphasis on providing space and opportunities for Indigenous groups. The assembly wrapped up 30 hours of deliberation on
A civic assembly is done with its work on Hughes land. Here’s what it recommended Read More »
April 25th, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been corrected to reflect that the city is not required to own the former Hughes Stadium land. A proposed ballot measure would require the city to retain ownership and not lease or convey the property to another party. In the
Here are 5 proposals for the old Hughes Stadium that a civic assembly is exploring Read More »
April 15th, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Forft Collins Coloradoan The clock is now ticking on two petitions proposing the former Hughes Stadium land become a natural area, just as a panel of 20 residents specifically created to explore all the options is getting started. A citizen group wants voters to weigh in on whether
April 13, 2025, by Adria Iraheta | Denver 7 A panel of 20 Fort Collins residents is working with experts and community members to develop recommendations on the most beneficial uses of the former Hughes Stadium site, which is zoned for public open land use. FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A panel of 20 Fort Collins
Panel of Fort Collins residents to decide future of former Hughes Stadium site Read More »
April 9th, 2025, by Blaine Howerton | North Forty News A diverse panel of residents begins deliberations on the former stadium’s fate FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A bold new chapter in community engagement is unfolding in Fort Collins as the City hosts its first-ever Civic Assembly, an innovative approach to public decision-making aimed at determining the future
Fort Collins Launches Civic Assembly to Shape Future of Hughes Site Read More »
April 8th, 2025 by Ian Harper | Hoodline The City of Fort Collins is setting the stage for community involvement with its inaugural Civic Assembly, aimed at determining the best use for the long-contested Hughes Stadium site. This assembly, a collective of 20 residents chosen by a democratic lottery to mirror the city’s demographics, is
Fort Collins Launches Civic Assembly to Determine Future of Hughes Stadium Site Read More »
April 9, 2025 by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan “Informed by the diverse needs of our community, what use of the Hughes site will contribute most effectively to Fort Collins’ long-term vitality and meet the requirements outlined in the 2021 ballot measure?” That is the question that a “civic jury” made up of Fort
How to watch Fort Collins civic assembly on the former Hughes Stadium land Read More »
Jan. 16, 2025 – Dana Taylor | USA Today Citizen assemblies involve ordinary people participating in crafting policy solutions to community problems and have been around for over fifty years. Is this potentially a solution to restoring faith in our democratic institutions and reinvigorating healthy debate? Linn Davis, a program director at Healthy Democracy, a
Our faith in democracy is at an all-time low. Can citizen assemblies help? Read More »
Rebecca Powell, Fort Collins Coloradoan | Published 5:02 a.m. MT Jan. 31st, 2025 If you live in Fort Collins, you might receive a postcard inviting you to help figure out the future of the former Hughes Stadium site. Colorado State University’s football team played its last game at the nearly 50-year-old Hughes Stadium eight years
16 Dec 2024 Aided by communities of interest, City of Fort Collins staff, and others, the Civic Assembly Delegates will engage in a learning phase in which they become informed on a wide range of community perspectives and land use possibilities. Through a series of collaborative discussions, input from community members, and internal deliberation on
Community Guides: Invitation to Participate Read More »
22 Aug 2024 At the City Council Regular Meeting on August 20, 2024, Fort Collins City Council approved, with a 3-2 vote, the use of a Civic Assembly process to help determine future plans for the former Hughes Stadium site. Click here to view the August 20 City Council meeting agenda, minutes and video.(External link) While
Council Approves New Engagement Tactic for Hughes Read More »
Rebecca Powell, Fort Collins Coloradoan | Published 5:01 a.m. MT July 23rd, 2024 | Updated 7:54 p.m. MT Aug. 20, 2024 UPDATE: Fort Collins City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to use a “civic assembly” process to help determine what the former Hughes Stadium land should be used for. Council member Kelly Ohlson and
