Golden – A land trade between Jefferson County and the school district will result in more room for Chatfield High School improvements and more park space for the public.
“This is good government all around,” said Ralph Schell, director of Jefferson County Open Space. “Everyone ought to be happy.”
Under the agreement revealed Wednesday, the school district will swap 8.7 acres of land at West 20th Avenue and Denver West Parkway for 7.89 acres of county open space land north of Chatfield High and adjacent to West Meadows Golf Course.
Jefferson County Schools proposed the project to the county in April 2004, and began looking for surplus properties suitable for a swap.
The school property is currently managed as Tanglewood Park by the Prospect Recreation & Park District. The county plans to expand Tanglewood Park for ballfields, park and open space uses with the parcel managed by the recreation and park district through a county lease.
Chatfield High School will develop tennis courts and playing fields on the land currently owned by the county. The work is part of a school district plan to relocate and expand recreational facilities to accommodate growing enrollment with classroom and facility improvements.
“People in the south part of the county want to see that school improved, and this will help,” said County Commissioner Dave Auburn, who represents the area.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
