Voters in Boulder may be tasked next year with determining the future of a popular recreation center that is currently in need of an upgrade.
Located at 1360 Gillaspie Drive, the 30,000-square-foot South Boulder Recreation Center has been used and enjoyed by several generations of local residents dating to its opening in 1974.
The structure, located within the boundaries of the just over 50-acre Harlow Platts Community Park, has through the years housed a variety of amenities including two volleyball courts, a racquetball court, and basketball court.
The spacious exterior of the building features a disc golf course, four tennis courts, and a sand volleyball court.
While public input meetings and online questionnaires have reaffirmed resident support for the facility, Boulder officials have become increasingly concerned about the condition of the building.
According to the local Boulder Reporting Lab newspaper, the center has been “deteriorating for years and is nearing the end of its life.”
Among the issues with the building: a leaking swimming pool, sewer system problems, and a faulty, aged boiler.
While doubts have been raised regarding the cost effectiveness of upgrading the center, a study completed three years ago called the Boulder Facilities Master Plan said that it would cost just under $21 million to replace the building.
Boulder officials now say a question could be put on a ballot in either 2025 or 2026 asking for voter approval to build an entirely new facility. The proposed ballot would first have to be given a green light by members of the Boulder City Council.
November 1, 2024
By Garry Boulard
Photo Courtesy of City of Boulder
