The Denver City Council unanimously approved the addition of Axton Ranch to Denver’s Mountain Park System during the council meeting Monday night.

With this approval, Axton Ranch – to be renamed Axton Ranch Mountain Park – is now the first new mountain park in Denver’s system since Conifer’s James Q. Newton Park in 1939.

“Denver’s century-long legacy of protection and stewardship of open space, nature and historic preservation continues through this donation,” said Kate Fritz with the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation Monday night.

Axton Ranch, consisting of 450 acres in Jefferson and Gilpin counties, was donated to Denver by the Axton family after four generations of operating the land as a cattle ranch since 1954.

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

The ranch, less than an hour from Denver, is adjacent to the Roosevelt National Forest and near the Arapahoe National Forest, Golden Gate Canyon State Park and Jefferson County Open Space.

It will add to more than 14,000 acres of adjoining public lands in the area, with conifer and aspen stands, meadows, ponds, a small creek and a trail constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The donation also includes a “right of first offer” on 38 acres adjacent to the ranch owned by the Axton family, meaning the city will have the first opportunity to acquire the land if the family decides to sell.

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“It’s never been more important to grow our parks and acquire additional land for trails and open space,” said Parks and Recreation Executive Director Happy Haynes when the park was first proposed.

Haynes said the park will be managed primarily as a conservation area focused on sustainability. Officials will now develop the park’s long-term vision, including environmental education and programming opportunities for adults and children.

Though the approval passed unanimously, the mountain park has faced opposition from some community members. During the public comment session prior to the council meeting, one resident called in to oppose the project.

The resident said she lives on a dead-end road that will be turned into the park entrance and expressed concern for the new mountain park, saying it will bring visitors and traffic to an area residents live in for seclusion.

However, Fritz argued that the park will benefit all Denver residents due to its potential for outdoor recreation, education, research and preservation.

“The Axton will provide a significant benefit to the citizens who live in the area it is located,” Fritz said. “There will certainly be a public process to gain community and public input on how the property is managed.”

As a designated mountain park, the land will be protected from future development and real estate transactions unless Denver voters choose to designate it.

The city of Denver will pay $80,000 to Starr Peak Holdings, LLC to cover the transaction costs of the donation.