The city has no plans to close the SBRC and has affirmed our commitment to supporting indoor recreation in South Boulder.

We have acknowledged that the building is at the end of its useful life and will ultimately need replacement. In the short term, in 2025 the city invested more than $2 million to help ensure the SBRC remains operational while we plan for what recreation will look like in South Boulder in the long-term.

Given the building’s condition, site constraints and accessibility concerns, it would cost significantly more to renovate the existing structure and bring up to current code than to construct a new facility. And, that costly renovation would not resolve accessibility or functionality issues.

No site plan or facility design has been completed for SBRC.

From the Recreation Center Futures Needs Assessment, we know:

  • We do not want to reduce service levels for the majority of amenity offerings across the system.
  • There are opportunities to add amenities where community needs are not currently being met.

Work to date has been done at a systems level and to inform the funded renovation at EBCC. There are no designs for SBRC or NBRC at this time. Any future planning for SBRC will require additional community engagement to determine funding levels and to identify desired services and amenities.

NBRC: Investments in the building envelope and some building systems are needed in the next 1-2 years to ensure the building continues to function as intended. Staff intend to request funds to begin this work as soon as 2027. The discussions ahead in 2026 about facility funding will help inform what happens at the location in the next 50 years.

SBRC: The city recently invested in major maintenance of the SBRC to help ensure it can continue serving the community until long-term plans are made. These investments have greatly reduced any potential the building may experience service reductions while the work to plan the next 50-years of recreation services continues. The discussions ahead in 2026 about facility funding will help inform what happens at the location in the next 50 years.

EBCC: EBCC was identified in 2021 as an ideal location to focus efforts to improve the city’s energy efficiency and improve recreation services. In 2021 EBCC was listed as a possible project when the CCRS tax was renewed. In 2023 a project for a building remodel and energy improvements in the amount of $53M was included for consideration in the 2024 budget and approved by City Council.

It is important to note that the EBCC project was originally described in 2021 as a “deep energy retrofit and renovation”. Since that time, the city’s building and energy codes have been updated such that the EBCC project is meeting the new stringent Boulder energy codes. Staff expect that the first phase of construction at the EBCC will start in 2027 and focus on aspects of the building that are already failing. The second phase of construction to bring the remainder of the building up to code as well as address the infrastructure issues that will not be addressed in the first phase currently has a funding gap to keep the same level of service.

A new building could adjust the location of certain park amenities. However:

  • There is no plan to reduce existing park amenities.
  • There is no plan to “cover” open park space and then charge the community to access it.
  • Open, free park space will remain a priority.

Any potential changes would go through a public planning and engagement process.

No.

There are no plans to enclose the existing soccer field or to reduce public access to park amenities.

There has been some confusion about the term “fieldhouse.” A fieldhouse is an indoor facility designed to support field-based sports and activities. It would not mean enclosing the existing soccer field. If a fieldhouse is ever considered, it would be in addition to existing park amenities, not instead of them.

Currently, there are no plans or designs for a fieldhouse at any recreation center. A fieldhouse was identified in the needs assessment as a potential amenity to explore in Boulder because it is not currently offered in the system.

Staff are not advising that the city redesignate EBCC funding to SBRC for several reasons:

  • The 2021 CCRS tax extension referenced EBCC as a planned project. While not legally restricted to that use, redirecting funds would go against the community’s stated intent at the time.
  • EBCC is at a critical inflection point. Investing now will significantly extend the life of the building and its systems. Delaying or canceling this work would lead to greater deterioration, higher long-term costs, and disruptions in service levels to the community.
  • Recognizing that the SBRC requires a total replacement, addressing EBCC first ensures it can help support community access while an SBRC project is underway.
  • Key building envelope and core systems at EBCC are already failing. For the first phase of construction to address urgent infrastructure issues as well as code compliance issues on the Age Well side is estimated at $10 million. The second phase of construction to bring the remainder of the building up to code as well as address the infrastructure issues that will not be addressed in the first phase currently has a funding gap to keep the same level of service.
  • The funds would not be enough to build a new recreation center. Repurposing funds would leave EBCC under-invested and would not provide sufficient funding to deliver a fully programmed SBRC replacement.

Following through on the EBCC renovation is the most responsible way to retain and improve system-wide service levels while maintaining access to recreation for the community.

No.

Decisions about services and amenities at each recreation center will be based on community engagement, system-wide needs, site considerations and available funding. An amenity included at EBCC does not mean it won’t be included at SBRC.

No.

Decisions about services and amenities at each recreation center will be based on community engagement, system-wide needs, site considerations, and available funding. An amenity not included at EBCC does not guarantee it will be included at SBRC.

The city and Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) have a decades long partnership in serving the community. Where there is mutual benefit, our agencies strive to work together.

Each school in the district is required to have 3 possible reunification points. Out of convenience, the SBRC is a reunification point for both SHMS and FHS. This is not mandatory and many BVSD schools have reunification plans that do not include a recreation center.

Use for BVSD athletics across the parks and recreation system is guided by a Joint Use Agreement. In recognition of the partnership, that agreement prioritizes BVSD use at various city fields and pools. It is convenient that FHS has close proximity to the SBRC pool. The school district has let us know that the timing is not appropriate for BVSD to participate as a partner in funding facility renovations at this time. Over the coming year, their resources and focus will need to remain on addressing declining enrollment and the decisions that will come out of that process.

Recreation fees are set each year in line with the Parks and Recreation Fee Policy. The policy balances the costs to provide a service with the community benefit that service provides. Programs such as financial aid and scholarship options are available to support access for all. Feedback about program pricing, including classes such as pickleball lessons, is part of ongoing evaluation.

Based on historical data, the North Boulder Recreation Center (NBRC) serves close to 215,000 visitors annually, the EBCC 150,000 visitors annually and the SBRC serves 90,000 visitors annually. Facility size, amenities, services, location and accessibility via public transportation are all contributing factors to visitation.

The timing of recent city investments is guided by adopted plans, building conditions, and opportunities to reduce long-term costs.

  • EBCC: Both the 2021 Facilities Plan and the 2022 Parks & Recreation Plan identified the East Boulder Community Center as a priority project because the building was approaching a critical inflection point. Key building systems and the building envelope are nearing the end of their useful life, making EBCC an ideal and time-sensitive candidate for renovation. Investing now helps extend the life of the facility, maintain service levels, and avoid significantly higher costs in the future.
  • Western City Campus: The Western City Campus was identified as a strategic opportunity to consolidate city offices and services into a single location. This consolidation is more cost-effective over time, reduces ongoing operational expenses, and allows the city to deconstruct or sell buildings that are no longer needed or that are located in high-hazard floodplain areas. The larger Alpine-Balsam site will be developed for affordable housing, which is priority for the community.
  • Civic Area: Investments in the Civic Area are guided by long-standing planning efforts and voter-approved funding, with a focus on public safety and aging assets while also driving economic vitality in the heart of downtown.

Together, these projects address urgent facility needs, improve efficiency, and reduce long-term risk and cost to the community. Planning for the future of the SBRC is still a priority and will follow a robust community engagement process to determine timing, funding, and the appropriate level of services and amenities for south Boulder.

Community engagement opportunities will be announced as part of the city’s Fund Our Future process. Residents are encouraged to:

  • Attend public meetings
  • Participate in surveys
  • Share feedback directly with Parks and Recreation staff
  • Follow project updates on the city’s website or sign up for the newsletter

Your input helps shape the future of recreation in Boulder.