Douglas County conveys Wildcat Regional Park to Highlands Ranch Community Association and approves $3.5 million for construction

Douglas County commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 14 to convey 202 acres of Wildcat Regional Park to the Highlands Ranch Community Association and to approve a $3.5 million funding agreement to build a passive trail network and related park improvements.

The transfer uses a quitclaim deed that, according to county planning staff, requires the property to be used for park and recreational purposes and to be developed for public use within three years of transfer. Planning Services staff said the parcel was conveyed to the county as part of planned-development commitments and that the conveyance back to HRCA requires the board to find that "the governmental use or purpose of the land will be furthered by disposal of it." Commissioners made that finding before approving the conveyance (project file MI2025-015).

Highlands Ranch Community Association representatives said HRCA will add roughly 150 acres of adjacent land to the county parcel, creating a combined area of about 352 acres. HRCA's conceptual plan calls for about five miles of natural-surface family/accessible trails, five to six miles of single-use directional mountain-bike trails, and a 3-to-4-acre bike skills area with features such as bridges, berms and pump tracks. HRCA also expects to design a parking area in the 50-to-120 space range and to coordinate trail connections with the Douglas County East-West Trail and other regional routes.

"The quitclaim deed . . . includes requirements that the property be used for park and recreational purposes and that it be developed for public use within 3 years of the transfer," Planning Services staff member Steve Koster told the board. HRCA presenter Mike Bailey said the association has reduced its original funding request and contributed land: "We came back, obviously, with a 3.5 [million] request, substantially reducing. In addition to that, we have brought forward the 150 acres of HRCA land to almost double the size of this regional park."

County staff summarized the site's history: the open-space and conservation agreements date back to 1988, with the specific site identified in a 1996 agreement and final plan approvals around 2000–2001. Staff said those agreements anticipated that any partner could develop the land, and because the parcel is in a planned unit development the board must find that disposal to HRCA furthers a governmental purpose. Staff also noted engineering has requested additional right-of-way for Griggs Road and that HRCA is working with county engineering on that issue.

The board also approved a Parks, Trails, Historic Resources and Open Space funding agreement that will allocate $3,500,000 from the county's sales tax account to construct the trail network and trailhead on approximately 352 acres. Dan Dirts, presenting for staff, told commissioners that the original HRCA request was $5.4 million but that HRCA and staff worked to reduce the ask; the County Open Space Advisory Committee (COSAC) recommended $3.5 million. Dirts said the Trails and Open Space account balance is approximately $24.3 million and that the sales-tax resolution requires COSAC review and a board decision for such grants.

Dirts summarized the recommended use: connections to the county trail network, surface trails intended for families and seniors, directional bike trails for skill development, and a designated bike skills area. He also noted staff's expectation that the three-year development requirement in the deed would be observed and monitored.

Board members asked for and received legal clarification that the county has no legal limitation on conveying the parcel back to HRCA provided it remains used for the same public purpose. The county attorney's office and planning staff explained that the deed contains reverter language allowing the county to reclaim the land if HRCA does not complete required development within the time frame.

The board took three formal votes related to the project: a motion finding that the governmental use or purpose would be furthered by disposal to HRCA, a motion approving the conveyance (project file MI2025-015), and a motion approving the parks and open space funding agreement in the amount of $3,500,000. All motions passed unanimously.

County staff said HRCA's portion of operations for the backcountry base camp will be funded by HRCA and that the county funds will be directed solely to the regional park improvements described in the funding agreement. Staff also said HRCA and county staff will coordinate final design, right-of-way needs, and parking plans.

The county did not receive public comment on either the conveyance or the funding item during the hearing. Commissioners and HRCA leaders characterized the approval as a regional partnership to expand trail access and preserve passive open space.

Next steps: the county will execute the quitclaim deed and the funding agreement, HRCA will finalize design and permitting, and staff will monitor compliance with the deed's three-year development requirement and the funding agreement's scope.