Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What if we told you the Fort Collins you love today didn’t just “happen”? Decades ago, locals gathered in rooms across town to decide what this city should become — and their choices still shape your daily life. There’s a free talk tomorrow night that pulls back the curtain on it all.

Tomorrow (Monday, February 23) at 6:30pm, head to the Old Town Library Community Room (201 Peterson St.) for a free Fort Collins Historical Society presentation: “Designing Tomorrow Today.”

Back in the 1970s, Fort Collins was growing fast. Instead of letting development run wild, hundreds of residents came together to ask one big question:

“What kind of city do we want to become?”

Through public forums and community collaboration, they created a voter-approved sales tax program that funded some of the places we now consider core to FoCo life — including:

• The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

• Mulberry Pool

• Library and museum expansions

• The Poudre River Trail

• Open space preservation across the city

• Housing and infrastructure improvements
  
  

This wasn’t just a city council decision — it was a community-driven blueprint. The results? Bike trails, cultural spaces, river access, and preserved land that define Fort Collins today.

You’ll hear from:

• Sarah Frahm, Vice-President of the Fort Collins Historical Society, sharing the story behind the Designing Tomorrow Today initiative

• Clay Frickey, Planning Manager for the City of Fort Collins, discussing how those 1970s decisions still influence city planning today
  
  

📅 Monday, February 23

🕡 6:30pm

📍 Old Town Library – Community Room

💲 Free & open to all

If you’ve ever biked the trail, caught a show at The Lincoln Center, or enjoyed preserved open space — this is the backstory.

Monday, February 23

Tuesday, February 24

Part-time

Full-time

Dreaming of a new address? Each week, we’re spotlighting a standout home in town — from charming bungalows to modern builds and everything in between.

Fort Collins dates hit that sweet spot between charming and adventurous. Wander Old Town Fort Collins for coffee, shops, and easy people-watching, or keep it classic with a picnic at City Park. Craft beer lovers can settle in at New Belgium Brewing, while outdoorsy pairs can chase sunset views at Horsetooth Reservoir.

👉 Vote and we’ll share the top picks—chosen by locals—in an upcoming issue. 💌