APPLEWOOD GOLF COURSE INFORMATION
About Jeffco Open Space
Our mission is to PRESERVE open space and parklands, PROTECT park and natural resources and
PROVIDE healthy nature based experiences. The voters of Jefferson County founded our
organization in 1972 with the passage of a one-half cent sales tax. Approximately two-thirds of
the revenues from the Jeffco Open Space sales tax are used by Jeffco Open Space for
repayment of land acquisition debt, operation of 28 parks, 230 miles of trails and purchase of
additional Open Space land and easements. The balance of the funds are allocated to the cities
within the county for park and open space purposes based on a formula using motor vehicle
registrations. A Local Grants program provides supplemental funding for projects initiated by
the cities and recreation districts on public land.
Collaboration with Cities and Park Districts
Several years ago, Jeffco Open Space and the cities and districts defined our respective roles in
providing different types of outdoor experiences. The cities and districts provide developed
parks and facilities such as sports fields, golf courses and playgrounds within their jurisdictions.
Jeffco Open Space provides open space managed for “nature-based” outdoor experiences such
as hiking, riding a mountain bike or a horse. Jeffco Open Space works closely with cities and
districts and provides funding for developed parks and facilities through our Local Park and
Recreation Grant Program and by providing technical assistance for land conservation.
Applewood Golf Course Proposed Development
The potential sale of Applewood Golf Course for development has prompted several inquiries
to Jeffco Open Space for possible open space protection and acquisition. We understand that a
developer, Carlson Associates, Inc. (Carlson), holds an option to purchase Applewood Golf
Course, the 141-acre property currently owned by the Molson Coors Company located at
14001 W. 32nd Avenue. Carlson has submitted a pre-application rezoning request to Jefferson
County Planning and Zoning and held community meetings in early March and April. The
rezoning plan presented at the first community meeting identifies 454 single-family residential
units on this site. It is unclear if Carlson will choose to exercise their option to purchase the
property and move forward with their development plans, or choose to forego the option to
acquire Applewood Golf Course and Molson Coors would look to another buyer for the
property.
Recently, Jeffco Open Space has been asked if we have a desire to acquire the Applewood Golf
Course for park or open space purposes. While we do not have an interest in acquiring this
property as a Jeffco Open Space Park, we recognize that there may be local interest in
preserving the Applewood Golf Course for community use.
Community Need, Desire and Support
Since the Applewood Golf Course is a developed park or facility, within a city or park district,
Jeffco Open Space relies on local agencies, such as the Prospect Recreation and Park District
(Prospect) to take the lead in gauging community interest, needs and in identifying most of the
financial resources to achieve the desired outcome. If Prospect and its residents wish to
acquire the Applewood Golf Course for park and open space purposes, and can commit most of
the funds needed, other supplemental sources of funding could be available from Jeffco Open
Space, Great Outdoors Colorado and others. Like most grants all of these funding opportunities
include a competitive application process.
Jeffco Open Space Involvement
Currently, we are working closely with Prospect to provide technical assistance and other
planning resources as needed. If the District pursues the purchase of the golf course and
generates most of the funds to do so, they would be eligible to apply for supplemental funding
through our Local Park and Recreation Grant Program. Any such request would need to be
consistent with Jeffco Open Space guidelines and requirements, be recommended by the Jeffco
Open Space Advisory Committee and approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
For More Information
Please contact Thea Rock, Communications Manager at trock@jeffco.us or 303-271-5902
REV 5.5.15