The City of Denver is set to acquire a new mountain park for the first time in 80 years. Last week, Denver Parks and Recreation announced the Axton family was donating a 450-acre parcel. It is an hour’s drive west of Denver in Jefferson and Gilpin Counties. 

“We are excited to donate this beautiful ranch to Denver Mountain Parks. We feel they will steward and preserve it for future generations to love and enjoy as we have,” wrote the Axton family in a statement. 

The Axton family has owned the cattle ranch since 1954. The city plans to designate the new park as Axton Ranch Mountain Park after the City Council approves the acquisition. 

The addition of this new park will create 14,000 continuance acres of public lands when combined with Jefferson County Open Space, Golden Gate Canyon State Park and the Roosevelt National Forest. The parcel includes a trail constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a government agency established during the Great Depression to create jobs in conservation and natural resource management.      

The protection of these 450 acres of land ensures permanent conservation of the property preventing any potential future development. As a conservation area, the park protects existing ecosystems and waterways that have grown and developed over the last several decades. By creating a continuous stretch of open space, wildlife can safely move through the area unencumbered by humans. 

Recreators can celebrate a new place to hike and bike that is off the beaten trail. The park won’t open to the public until this time next year. In the meantime, Denver Parks and Recreation is developing a master plan for the area and identifying funding to build new trails and improve old ones. 

Denver Mountain Parks is a system of more than 22 parks owned by the City and County of Denver and held in perpetuity for conservation and recreation. These lands are located outside of the city limits but are owned and managed by the city. Denver Mountain Parks include the well-known Echo and Summit Lake Parks at the base and summit of Mt. Evans and Red Rocks Park, Lookout Mountain Park and Genesee Park closer to Denver. 

Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Executive Director of Denver Parks and Recreation said, “It’s never been more important to grow our parks and acquire additional land for trails and open space. This property will be managed primarily as a conservation area focused on sustainability and will also expand mountain park access for Denver residents and visitors.”  

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock said, “With beautiful vistas and trails, this is a new gem in our mountain parks for the residents of Denver to enjoy and adds to the 100-year legacy of the system.” 

The proposed acquisition of the land was approved on Feb. 16 by the City Council’s Finance and Governance Committee. Council members strongly supported the acquisition and expressed their excitement at the committee meeting. The entire council will vote on a resolution accepting the donation at a meeting in March. The city expects to close on the property transfer by the end of the year.