Locals Form Issues Committee to Protect Parks and Open Space

Our Parks Our Open Space to promote “YES on 1. NO on 2” in March election

ASPEN, Colo…A group of locals has formed a new issues committee, “Our Parks Our Open Space” to campaign for greater protections for Aspen’s parks and open space.

The committee, which now includes former Aspen Mayor Bill Stirling and former Aspen City Councilman Terry Paulson, will actively work to convince Aspen voters to support Referendum 1 and defeat Referendum 2 in the upcoming municipal election.

Referendum 1 would raise the level of voter support required to sell or radically repurpose any of Aspen’s 32 public parks and 37 open space properties scattered throughout the city from 50% to 60%.

“Undeveloped land in Aspen is scarce and every one of these properties is precious,” says committee treasurer, Sue Atkinson. “They are the places we play and gather, and are a big part of what makes Aspen, Aspen.”

Referendum 2 seeks to undermine the intent of Referendum 1, at least as far as Marolt Open Space is concerned. It would grant the Colorado Department of Transportation blanket authority to build a four-lane highway across Marolt Open Space without a future vote on the final plan.

“The backers of Referendum 2 realize that their plan to build a new highway across Marolt Open Space will never have broad public support because it does nothing to solve Aspen’s traffic woes,” Atkinson says. “They are trying to sneak this bad idea past the electorate now because they are afraid Referendum 1 will pass.”

Yes on 1

Our Parks Our Open Space believes that Aspen’s parks and open spaces are at risk of development for highways and parking structures, and that the city charter should raise the bar for the approval needed to transfer parkland to 60%.

The group emphasizes that the 60% threshold would apply to the number of votes actually cast in an election involving parks and open space. Voter turnout in Aspen is about 45% in a typical city election, so 60% of that is still less than a quarter of the electorate.

”It’s scary to think we could permanently lose parks or open space with such thin community support,” Atkinson said.

There has been no shortage of proposals to radically repurpose existing parks and open space over the last 30 years. They include multiple proposals to convert Wagner Park to an underground parking garage. Public housing was proposed for a pocket park in the center of town. And for decades CDOT has planned to convert a large portion of the Marolt Open Space into a four-lane highway with two bus-only lanes and two general traffic lanes.

In 2019, the divisive Gorsuch Haus/Lift One Lodge proposal to repurpose Lift One and Willoughby Parks for commercial uses and rezone conservation land on Aspen Mountain sharply divided the community, which approved that referendum by just 26 votes.

“The government and private developers should be required to come up with excellent plans that gain support from a firm majority of voters before they can convert our parks and open spaces into radically different uses,” says Atkinson. “That did not happen with the Gorsuch proposal, and this ballot initiative will ensure it never happens again.”

No on 2

Our Parks Our Open Space is also asking Aspenites to vote “NO on Referendum 2”.

The group maintains Referendum 2 is so vaguely written that voters have no way to understand the size and location of the future highway across the open space. And it takes away the right of Aspen voters to have the final say.

“Referendum 2 takes away our community’s ability to negotiate with CDOT over the final highway location on one of our signature open spaces,” Atkinson says. “Referendum 1 strengthens it — for all of our parks and open spaces.”

Our Parks Our Open Space will lead community outreach and education messaging “YES on 1. NO on 2.” Locals can learn more about the campaign, add their names to the supporters list, and sign up for updates at ourparksouropenspace.org.

“We are grateful to have so many great names on the committee so far and are confident our friends and neighbors will rally to support our “YES on 1” and “NO on 2” campaign when they understand that this is about protecting Aspen’s small-town character,” says Atkinson.

Our Parks Our Open Space Issues Committee Members:

Bill Stirling
Terry Paulson
Howie Mallory
Blanca & Cavanaugh O'Leary
Helen Palmer
Ruth Harrison
Neil & Elizabeth Siegel
Jeff Grinspoon & Jon Foley
John & Jeannie Seybold
Alex Palmaz
Laurel Catto
Carol Bloomquist
Ginger Kennington
Jane Carey
Catherine Hagen
David Elgart