Possible the supporters either were not here or do not remember who Golden was dying economically in the 1980s. Many downtown stores were vacant, the streets, utilities and parks were deteriorating and no new businesses were moving into town. Today, the downtown rebirth is evident, and new companies are coming to town. A strong business tax base means more tax dollars to improve the community. This renewed economic vitality would not have taken place without an increase of new homeowners to support those businesses.
New homes contribute financially and aesthetically to the town in very direct ways.
When most of Golden was developed before the 1970s there were no requirements to dedicate park or school land or to make drainage improvements. As a result, historic Golden lacked these basic features which are taken for granted today. Since the 1970s new residential developments have added significant park, trail and open space land to the city system for the use and enjoyment of everyone, and drainage improvements to reduce flooding through town. Heritage Dells park, parkland in the Canyon Point community, and major open space areas in Mesa Meadows and Eagle Ridge have been contributed to the city as part of these development plans. Similarly, public use trails along the drainage ways of Tucker Gulch, Cressmans Gulch and Kenny Run were required as parts of these developments.