This is our moment to decide what Wheat Ridge looks like for the next 50 years. Over the last four years, I have heard clearly from residents about the kind of community we want to be. Through neighborhood meetings, surveys, and the work that shaped our comprehensive plan, the message has been consistent: we want a connected, well-maintained community with strong public spaces, safe streets, and facilities we can take pride in.
At our recent city council workshop, we spent a full day focused on one central question: can we fund that vision, and if so, how? The answer is yes, but only if we choose to act. And some of the decisions in front of us are time-sensitive in ways that will not come around again.
One of the most urgent opportunities is land. The Lutheran Legacy Campus represents a once-in-a-generation chance to shape a large, centrally located property in a way that serves the entire community. I see the potential to consolidate city services, build a modern police facility, and create a civic gathering space that reflects where Wheat Ridge is headed.
The same urgency applies to the former Kullerstrand and Wilmore-Davis elementary school sites. The green spaces connected to those properties have been part of neighborhood life for decades. If they are sold before we can act, those spaces are likely gone for good.
At the same time, Anderson Pool is nearing the end of its life. At 47 years old, it is failing in ways that cannot be patched. Without a replacement plan, we are looking at closure within the next few years. For many families, that pool represents summer, and losing it would be a real loss for our community.
All of this is happening while our general fund faces real pressure. Sales tax accounts for more than half of our revenue and fluctuates with the economy. One-time funding sources are going away, and core costs, including public safety, continue to rise. Our current capital investment level is enough to maintain basic infrastructure but not enough to address long-term needs or seize these opportunities.
The priority projects we discussed carry a combined cost in the hundreds of millions, along with ongoing annual needs. Those are significant numbers, and they deserve an honest conversation.
Under state law, any new revenue measure must go to voters. No decisions have been made, and nothing has been referred to the ballot. What we are committing to is continued engagement, through polling, community meetings, and direct conversations with residents.
We are exploring options such as a dedicated sales tax increase or a property tax measure. For context, Wheat Ridge’s current tax rates are in line with or below neighboring communities, and a portion of any sales tax increase would be paid by visitors and businesses.
These projects are about more than infrastructure. They are about the kind of community we want to be. A modern police facility strengthens public safety. Preserved open space protects neighborhood character. Investments in streets, trails, and public spaces improve quality of life.
The values are clear. The question is whether we are willing to invest in them.
City Staff Highlight
Name: Alex Rose
Explain your job: As the Public Information Officer, my job is to make sure Wheat Ridge residents are well informed. From urgent police activity to community-building initiatives, I believe giving residents simple, transparent information helps us build relationships with the people we serve. I manage the Wheat Ridge Police Department’s social media, work with the media on timely news stories and do my best to be entrenched in the community to answer questions and help solve problems on a hyper local level.
How long have you worked for the city? Two and a half years
Favorite pastime: When I’m not in Wheat Ridge, I am in the mountains. My wife and I love to backpack, hike, trail run, ski and explore everything this beautiful state has to offer with our black lab, Layla.
What is your walkout song?: Industry Baby, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow
Favorite superhero: As a former journalist, Peter Parker and Clark Kent
If you had your own talk show, who would be your first guest?: Tom Brady (don’t hate me, I grew up outside of Boston).
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 albums would you want to have with you?: Led Zeppelin: IV, Fleetwood Mac: Rumours, Debí Tirar: Más Fotos
