The Community Recreation Center Feasibility Study Presentation was given during a public workshop on June 14, 2022, which followed a series of focus groups earlier in the day. A statistically valid survey was conducted in February 2022 by professors from Colorado Mesa University. This indicated support for a CRC. The survey, described in the above presentation, is now driving the evolving plan. The focus groups and workshops are also critical to informing and strengthening the CRC plan.

In this presentation, there were three site options to consider.

Video presentation given at the July 19, 2022 public workshop.

Community Recreation Center Public Workshop - July 19, 2022
The City invites you to attend a Public Workshop on Tuesday, July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Barn. This Public Workshop will focus the discussion on evaluating specific building programs and amenities.

Concept Design: Facility Layout, Funding Opportunities
Building Program: Pool Options, Gymnasium, Walking Track, Fitness Equipment

The Community Recreation Center (CRC) planning process is divided into three distinct phases or work sessions. Phase 1 focused on site location, Phase 2 focused on funding and building program, and Phase 3 is focusing on a complete preliminary plan. 

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) is included in analyzing the public information received along with numerous other data points and public engagement. This process is being driven by the community so the resultant plan is the community’s plan. After Phase 1, and after reviewing all the public input, PRAB made a unanimous recommendation to City Council to pursue Matchett Park as the location for the potential Community Recreation Center (CRC). City Council then approved Matchett Park as the potential location. 

For Phase 2, the Community Recreation Center Funding Presentation was provided to City Council and at various work sessions to the PRAB and community on July 18 and 19. Discussion surrounded funding and two building programs, one with a total project cost of $55M at approximately 65,000 square feet in size and the other with a total project cost of $70M at approximately 83,000 square feet in size. Cannabis tax revenue devoted to parks and recreation was approved by voters in April 2021. While substantial, this funding source alone will not cover the cost to build a CRC in Grand Junction and a second funding source is needed. A survey conducted by professors from Colorado Mesa University in early 2022 revealed majority support for any one of three potential second funding sources:

Given this, the second Public Workshop focused on drilling further down on this result. The workshop also described the two possible different building programs include the highest needs based on the CRC survey. The primary difference is the size and extent of each component. For example, both have leisure pools, fitness/weights and gym space. The larger version would have larger visions of these and additional components.  

The $55M option could be funded in one of three ways:

The $70M option could be funded in one of three ways:

Comments submitted via GJSpeaks will be shared with PRAB to assist in formulating their recommendation to City Council.

Phase 3 work sessions will be held on September 19 and 20. This portion of the planning will focus on the presentation of a Preliminary Community Recreation Center Plan.

The third Public Workshop will be held on September 20 at 6 p.m. at Faith Heights Church, 600 28 1/4 Road. Community members are invited to attend and provide feedback on the Plan. Thank you for your engagement!

In Phase 3, the Preliminary Concept Design presentation was shown during various focus group meetings, to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB), and to the community on September 19 and 20. This presentation merged all elements from the previous phases including location and funding sources to offer a complete "picture" of the proposed Community Recreation Center concept design. The Concept Design includes renderings and images so community members can understand and visualize themselves and their families in a possible Grand Junction CRC. The building concept incorporates design threads taken directly from public input from previous work sessions. It also includes operations components such as staffing, cost recovery, fees for admission, and hours of operation, among other elements. Community members are encouraged to view the entire presentation to fully understand the current plan and to then provide comments on GJspeaks to be included in the final plan report coming in November. These comments with be shared with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to inform these deliberations on the near-complete plan. Providing comments also ensures the community continues to drive the plan for what would be the community’s Recreation Center.