The Steamboat Springs City Council has agreed to move forward with negotiations to buy the Whistler Park property from the Steamboat Springs School District, marking a key step toward preserving one of the city’s beloved green spaces while supporting the district’s teacher housing goals.

Council’s decision at its regular meeting on Tuesday follows last week’s unanimous school board vote authorizing the sale of the 9.2-acre parcel for its full appraised value of $3.6 million. 

While the resolution approved unanimously by the board did not name a specific buyer, the board generally indicated its preference for the property to be sold to the city due to its commitment to maintaining the park as public open space. 

Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreation Director Angela Cosby began Tuesday’s discussion by thanking the district for its cooperative approach.

“We’ve been in conversations with the school district regarding the Whistler Park property and their desire to sell the property to help fund their teacher housing projects towards the Sleeping Giant area,” she said, referring to the 22-unit workforce housing development in the works at the district-owned Sleeping Giant parcel.

The city’s 2026 budget — the first reading of which was approved later that evening — already sets aside $500,000 toward the Whistler purchase as both an initial down payment and potential grant match. 

Cosby noted that grant opportunities typically available for the city’s land acquisitions are limited because the city is seeking to acquire it as active parkland, versus as open space or a conservation easement. 

“To replace that, we’re looking for community or neighborhood donations of $1.8 million … a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant of $250,000, a Gates Family Foundation grant of $100,000, and a (Great Outdoors Colorado) Land Acquisition grant for $550,000,” she said. 

“Then, we’ll continue looking for additional grants or coming back to City Council in the 2027 budget process and looking for $400,000 of accommodations tax funds to equal that $3.6 million,” Cosby added. 

Under the proposed terms, the city would place $100,000 in escrow in January 2026, with a targeted closing date of July 2027, mirroring the two-year structure used for the Slate Creek land acquisition.

“The school district has indicated they’re not willing to sell for below ($3.6 million),” said Cosby, “and the city cannot buy it for more than the appraised value. So with both parties having that clear distinction, staff recommends that $3.6 million appraised value.”

Councilor Dakotah McGinlay questioned whether any portion of the land could carry a conservation easement, which might restore access to additional grant sources. 

Cosby replied that while possible, an easement would restrict the recreational uses at the park. 

“Whistler Park is a programmed community park meant for active recreation — ball sports, playgrounds,” she said. “The two uses wouldn’t fit together so nicely. It would be utilized in a different way than it has been historically.” 

McGinlay also floated the idea of partnering with the Yampa Valley Housing Authority or another partner to create a mixed-use or partially residential component to “meet broader community needs.”

Cosby clarified that parkland acquisition funds are limited to recreation use, but City Attorney Dan Foote noted other funding sources could allow for flexible uses. 

“If you were to use accommodations tax funds, for example, then that would be a restriction on the uses to which the city could put the property,” said Foote, “but if you use general funds, it would be unrestricted.”

Cosby said that according to the city’s parkland studies, Steamboat is actually overserved in parkland per capita —with the exception of West Steamboat and the Whistler neighborhood.

“That was actually identified as a need while taking into account the lease we have with the school district,” said Cosby. “So if we lose that 9.2 acres, that problem is magnified.”

Although no public comment was offered — a fact several councilors attributed to the 4 p.m. start time of the meeting rather than a lack of interest — councilors said they’ve consistently heard broad community support for preserving Whistler. 

“We all care about affordable housing, and we also care about open space, and this is a great opportunity, as the school district has identified another area for them to build affordable housing,” said council member Amy Dickson. “I think we need to capitalize and move on purchasing this land, only for the use of open space and parkland.”

“Let’s give a little credit to the school district, also,” said Councilor Joella West. “They could very easily have directed (Superintendent Celine) Wicks to take the highest bidder and they did not do that.”

“They have essentially walked away from some amount of money — who knows how much — in order to make sure that if there’s any chance that the city can buy it, it will happen,” she added.

McGinlay, who lives in the Whistler neighborhood, expressed support for the purchase but reiterated her desire to maintain some long-term flexibility for meeting other community needs, such as housing. 

“I love Whistler. I see the impact that it has for so many people,” she said, “and I also see that there’s other needs in our community.”

The motion to direct city staff to move forward with negotiations passed unanimously, with Councilor Bryan Swintek absent. 

If all goes smoothly, the city aims to finalize the acquisition by summer 2027, ensuring Whistler Park remains a community gathering space while helping the school district advance long-term workforce housing goals.