Victory for Park County

The votes have been counted and the results are in. Referendum 1 was defeated yesterday by a decisive margin. The Park County growth policy has been saved!

The message from voters was clear: Park County needs a growth policy and local people want to have a say in how our county grows.

On behalf of all of us at PCEC, we would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly on the campaign to preserve our existing growth policy. The No on Ref 1 campaign would have been nothing without the volunteers, supporters, and community members like you that empowered it. You donated, showed up, you put up signs, you talked to your friends and neighbors, you phone banked, you thoughtfully responded to misinformation and so much more. We kept calm and kind in the face of anger and divisiveness. It was a hard campaign and I am deeply proud of how we pulled together as a community to win it.

This was a huge success at the ballot box and we should take a moment to celebrate. 

Now that we have saved the existing growth policy, we can turn our focus on the work ahead. The county commission has already initiated the process to update the growth policy and this is our opportunity to make the new policy even better. At PCEC we are committed to the process, making sure to keep the community updated on how to get engaged and when to show up. 

Our current growth policy was informed by over 800 comments from residents from all walks of life. Neighbors were willing to show up and share their perspectives. Not every point was agreed upon, but we all saw the importance and need for a robust growth policy. The update will need the same if not more input from residents to accurately reflect the changes the county has seen in the seven years since the current growth policy was adopted. 

Turns out, people in Park County have a lot of shared values. Most people want to protect the river, wildlife, working lands, and the ability to have a voice in shaping Park County’s future. The growth policy is a necessary document to help our community work together with a shared vision in the face of rapid growth and change. Stay tuned for ways you can engage in the process!

Once again we would like to thank everyone who helped support the campaign.