2025 Local Election Guide

Election Day: November 4, 2025

This year’s election will shape the future of recreation, trails, and open space in Fort Collins. Several ballot measures directly impact the outdoor community and the future of mountain biking access. Overland Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) is here to help you understand what’s on the ballot and where we stand.

What’s on the Ballot?

  • Vote YES: Multi-Use Future for the Hughes Site

    Ballot Question 2H – Civic Assembly Recommendation

    This measure supports the City Council’s adopted plan for the Hughes property, which was developed through an inclusive Civic Assembly process. The plan creates a multi-use space that includes a large natural area, a wildlife education and rescue facility, and a community park with a bike park, trails, and gathering spaces.

    What 2H Does:

    • Maintains up to 60 acres of Natural Area

    • Creates up to 35 acres for a community park and bike park

    • Includes environmental education, wildlife rescue, and conservation facilities

    • Keeps public recreation like disc golf and sledding

    • Ensures long-term management in line with Public Open Lands zoning

    Why OMBA Recommends YES:
    The 2H plan reflects years of public feedback and provides the balance Fort Collins voters called for—protecting nature while creating space for recreation and community gathering. It keeps the Hughes site open, accessible, and welcoming to everyone.

  • Vote NO: Hughes 100% Natural Area Proposal

    Ballot Issue 303 – Citizen-Initiated Ordinance

    This measure would require that the entire 165-acre Hughes property be designated 100% as a City Natural Area, eliminating all recreation and community use.

    What 303 Does:

    • Cancels the City’s balanced 2H plan

    • Eliminates the community park, bike park, sledding hill, and disc golf course

    • Strains the Natural Areas budget with added acreage to manage

    • Ignores the extensive public process that shaped the current Hughes vision

    Why OMBA Recommends NO:
    The existing 2H plan already includes a large natural area along with space for recreation, trails, and community gathering. Turning Hughes entirely into a natural area would undo years of progress, overextend resources, and eliminate the opportunity for a community bike park.

    Voting NO on 303 protects balanced, thoughtful land use that serves both people and the environment.

  • Vote YES: $5 Million Allocated to the Fort Collins Community Bike Park

    Ballot Issue 2A – Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP) Tax Extension

    This measure extends the existing 0.25% city sales and use tax (25 cents on a $100 purchase) for another 10 years without raising taxes. The funds will go toward major community projects, including a new Community Bike Park with $5 million in funding, improved bike infrastructure, and expanded recreational trail systems.

    Why OMBA Recommends YES:
    This is a straightforward reinvestment in Fort Collins’ outdoor future. A yes vote keeps money flowing to projects that strengthen our community and expand access to biking, trails, and green spaces.

  • Vote YES: Protect and Sustain Our Natural Areas

    Ballot Issue 302 – Natural Areas Tax Extension

    This measure extends the existing 0.25% Natural Areas tax indefinitely, ensuring continued funding for land protection, wildlife habitat, and trail stewardship without raising taxes.

    What 302 Does:

    • Extends the Natural Areas tax permanently

    • Allows ongoing investment in land acquisition, restoration, and public access

    • Slightly adjusts future funding allocation (starting in 2061) to allow more for maintenance and ecological health

    • Keeps Fort Collins’ conservation legacy strong for generations to come

    Why OMBA Recommends YES:
    The Natural Areas program protects the wild spaces that connect our trails and enhance every outdoor experience. This extension ensures those lands remain healthy, accessible, and well cared for long into the future.

Why These Votes Matter

Fort Collins is at its best when recreation and conservation work hand in hand. These ballot measures will determine how we shape outdoor access, community gathering spaces, and the next generation of trails.

OMBA encourages you to vote:
✅ YES on 2A – Community Capital Improvement Program
✅ YES on 2H – Multi-Use Hughes Site Plan
✅ YES on 302 – Natural Areas Tax Extension
❌ NO on 303 – 100% Hughes Natural Area Proposal

Together, these votes ensure a future where trails, bike parks, and natural areas thrive side by side.

Make your voice heard on November 4.


Learn more, check your registration, and find polling details at fcgov.com/elections and see all ballot initatives at https://www.fcgov.com/elections/on-the-ballot

2025 Fort Collins Mayoral Election and Outdoor Recreation

Why the Mayor Matters for Recreation in Fort Collins

The mayor plays a critical role in shaping Fort Collins' future recreation. While the City Council makes many land-use and funding decisions, the mayor helps set the city’s priorities, influences budget allocations, and appoints key positions that determine how our trails, natural areas, and recreation spaces are developed and maintained.

A mayor who values outdoor recreation supports policies that:

  • Protect and expand access to trails and open spaces

  • Prioritize safe and connected cycling routes across the city

  • Encourage sustainable recreation growth alongside conservation goals

  • Foster collaboration between the city, nonprofits, and state parks

  • Recognize the economic and community value of outdoor recreation

As mountain bikers, trail stewards, and outdoor advocates, it’s important to understand where each candidate stands on these issues before casting your vote.

See all candidate information HERE

OMBA 2025 Fort Collins Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire

To help voters make an informed decision, Overland Mountain Bike Association sent each mayoral candidate a questionnaire focused on recreation, cycling, trails, and open space priorities.
Seven candidates were invited to participate, and their responses will be published here as we receive them.

Quick Reference Summary

A summary spreadsheet will be added here once all responses are in.
It will highlight each candidate’s stance on key topics such as:

  • Trail connectivity and safety

  • Support for recreation funding

  • Views on multi-use trail development

  • Outdoor recreation as part of Fort Collins’ economy

  • Description text goes here

  • Do you ever ride a mountain bike on our local trails? Have you or your family members ever been a member of OMBA or other non-profit bicycle organizations?

    I have leaned more towards the beers aspect of Fort Collins' identity, beers, bikes, and bands, and I haven't been on a mountain biking trail in well over a decade.

    How often do you recreate in any way on our local trails, and which is your favorite?

    I do occasionally go on hikes through our trail system, especially on days like this weekend and during fall, which is my favorite time of year. I'm one of those annoying people who stops to look at the changing leaves on the trails.

    How do you feel about the connectivity of our local trail system? Do you believe the city should prioritize connections from our urban areas to our most popular trail systems like Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Lory State Park, Coyote Ridge, etc, without having to ride along busy roadways? Why or why not?

    Even though I'm not a bike rider, I have always supported my mountain bike trails and extending our connectivity throughout our natural area. I think for those who choose to use the trails, it's an amazing asset to our community and provides us with more connection to our surrounding natural areas. I support having the trail system not parallel with the road system for biker and pedestrian safety. I also think that they are slightly less expensive to maintain, which is beneficial as we face a budget challenge in the coming years.

    The outdoor recreation industry accounted for $17.2 billion to Colorado’s economy in 2024. What impact do you think this brings to Fort Collins, and how do you see trails and cycling fitting into this value?

    I believe cycling is a valuable asset to our community and Fort Collins' economic stability. I support the ongoing development of bike lanes and trails that improve safety for our riders and enhance access throughout our community. Increasingly, it becomes more challenging to live here when affordability is an issue, but maintaining a healthy biking community for both commuting and recreation through the trails is essential for ensuring inclusivity. While we may not be able to allocate as much funding in the next couple of years for new trail development due to budget constraints, we should prioritize maintaining our existing trail system and, where possible, expanding into farther reaches of the county and beyond.

    What is your stance on Ballot #2H? How about Ballot #303?

    I support ballot 2H easily. The city and citizens have voted for it and express their wishes for the Hughes Stadium property to be used with a mild mixed-use aspect to encourage natural integration with the community's desire for access and mild recreational uses. I also believe that the individuals behind 303 have intentionally undereducated those who support the ballot by not explaining the fact that it would take millions of dollars to restore the land to a natural area. The truth is, we do not have that money due to budget constraints, which is a glaring issue that has not been addressed. I hope ballot measure 2H passes so we can continue to use the Hughes Stadium property as the vast majority of our residents prefer.

    What is your view of the Hughes Civic Assembly process and its recommendations for a multi-use Hughes space? And specifically, how do you feel about their recommendations for a bike park of up to 35 acres in this space? 

    I support the Civic assembly process. I think it was a great way to encourage engagement through purposeful discussion that was accessible and transparent. It also illustrated our city's desire to promote mixed-use development on the property. As I mentioned a few times, I am budget hesitant about spending more money on projects that may not have the most utilitarian use for the city as a whole; however, I believe if there can be a public-private partnership developed to build a bike park, I can figure out a mechanism that doesn't rely solely on the city to maintain it. I think it's a great idea to get our youth and everyone out enjoying recreational outdoors more.

    Do you have any additional comments or concerns about our trail system and/or mountain biking you would like to share with our membership? 

    I strongly support our entire biking community, even though I may not be the target audience or the perceived champion for biking. I believe there is a wonderful connection to nature and equity within our biking community that benefits their city and citizens far more than any negative impacts. I may be the inconvenient hiker on the trails, staring at the beautiful nature, which might be inconvenient for mountain bikers. I guess I would apologize for that.

    Candidate Summary

    This candidate supports the Hughes Civic Assembly process and agrees with its recommendations for a multi-use space, including a potential bike park up to 35 acres. While they express budget concerns about new city-funded projects, they are open to public-private partnerships to make the bike park viable without relying solely on city resources.

    They value outdoor recreation, support trail connectivity and bike safety, and recognize cycling’s economic and community benefits.

    Overall: Supportive of a Hughes bike park and multi-use development if funding can be shared. Aligned with OMBA priorities for access, recreation diversity, and sustainable partnerships.

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