Denver, Colorado, Referred Question 2O, Development of Park Hill Golf Course Measure (April 2023)

Denver Referred Question 2O
Election date April 4, 2023
Topic Local zoning, land use, and development
Status Defeated
Type Referral

Denver Referred Question 2O was on the ballot as a referral in Denver on April 4, 2023. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported lifting the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course that requires the land to be used primarily for golf-related purposes, thereby allowing commercial and residential development of the land into housing, and public park and trail space.

A "no" vote opposed lifting the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course, thereby continuing to require the land to be used primarily for golf-related purposes.

Election results

Denver Referred Question 2O
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		69,934	41.18%
No		99,905	58.82%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Referred Question 2O was as follows:

“

Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver authorize the release of the City-owned conservation easement on privately owned property known as the Park Hill Golf Course, which requires the land to be used primarily for golf-related purposes, and allow for commercial and residential development, including affordable housing, and public regional park, trail and open space?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Vote Yes on 2O- Yes for Parks & Homes led the campaign in support of the measure.

Supporters

• Westside Investment Partners
• Holleran Group

Arguments

• Vote Yes on 2O- Yes for Parks & Homes said, "The defunct Park Hill Golf Course in Northeast Denver closed in 2018 and is privately-owned land. Denver has a city-wide shortage of high-quality, affordable housing at nearly every price point. A YES vote will get over 2,500 new homes, and guarantees the creation of the 4th largest park in the city. The easement expressly forbids other land uses that limits the ability of a full golf course to exist on site. The only way to have new public parks and new housing is to lift the easement."

Opposition

No on 2O, Yes for Parks and Open Space led the campaign against the measure.

Opponents

• Former state senator and current City Council candidate Penfield Tate
• Denver mayoral candidate Lisa Calderon

Arguments

• Yes for Parks and Open Space said, "This all-volunteer group came together because of the shared sense of the importance of saving the last piece of significant Denver open space that could become a new park with the goal of having the City eventually purchase the PHGC land for a fabulous regional park. This part of Denver needs green space; it’s densely developed with negative public health effects and lots of infill development potential.

The City and citizens of Denver paid for the Conservation Easement to protect this land from development. Contrary to the claims of the City Administration and the developer (Westside Investment Partners), the PHGC land DOES NOT need to be operated as a golf course if the Conservation Easement is preserved. The City and Developer’s “community input” process has been a sham: Residents do NOT want this land developed."

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Colorado

The measure was referred to the ballot by the Denver City Council.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to vote in Colorado

Poll times

In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.

Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person.

Residency requirements

Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.

The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of August 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State.

“

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification: A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.) A valid U.S. passport. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S. A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector. A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector. Certified documentation of naturalization. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.. A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.

”

• Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local zoning, land use, and development on the ballot

Colorado

• Colorado 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Colorado
• Denver, Colorado

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas