South Boulder Rec Center building is failing and nearing the end. Will the city replace it?

Update: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 16 to include additional comments from the city regarding a potential ballot measure.

The South Boulder Recreation Center, which opened in 1974, has been deteriorating for years and is nearing the end of its life, according to city officials. The pool is leaking, and the boiler that heats it failed in 2021, flooding the gym . The boiler still needs to be replaced, and if it fails again, the pool will permanently close. Issues with the sewer system could cause it to fail, preventing wastewater from leaving the building and forcing the immediate closure of the rec center.

Now, the city is deciding how — or if — to replace the aging South Boulder rec center. Replacement is estimated to cost at least $21 million, according to city planning documents , though it could be much more. This is money the city doesn’t have.

This financial dilemma has created uncertainty about one of the city’s three rec centers where people can swim laps, play tennis, lift weights and attend fitness classes. As the building continues to deteriorate, levels of service are expected to decline, leaving many South Boulder residents frustrated and in the dark. Some fear their local rec center is about to close, according to emails sent to city officials. One option is to expand services at the other two rec centers, though many believe this would inadequately replace their walkable rec center.

In response to community concerns, officials have offered little solace.

Last month, Ali Rhodes, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, told city council that while there are “no imminent plans” to close it, the center’s age and condition make major repairs and renovations “not feasible.” A 2016 assessment projected the center would reach the end of its life by 2026.

“The metaphor we’ve been using is how you don’t put a new engine in a very old car,” department spokesperson Jonathan Thornton told Boulder Reporting Lab.  He said the city plans to keep the center operational through routine maintenance until it becomes inoperable.

What is clear is that it won’t be around much longer. Before deciding whether to move programs or invest in a new building, the city has sought community input on which indoor activities are most important. Officials will use that feedback to estimate the cost of replacing those services at the North and East Boulder rec centers, or by developing a new South Boulder facility. One option to fund construction could be pursuing ballot measures in 2025 or 2026.

“It’s still early in the process for us to start putting together a ballot measure,” Thornton said. “One could be collaboratively drafted by the city and the community in the future, and be reviewed by city council. If this is the direction the community, PRAB [Parks and Recreation Advisory] and council want to go, then we will pursue that.”

Deferred maintenance reaches tens of millions, creating a much larger problem

The failing South Boulder rec center highlights a much larger conundrum: how to maintain the city’s aging buildings and infrastructure amid budget constraints caused by rising costs and flattening sales tax revenues.

According to the 2021 Facilities Plan Guiding Principles Assessment , the average building operated by the City of Boulder is 47 years old, and maintenance costs rise significantly after 25 to 30 years. In 2021, the deferred maintenance cost for all city facilities was $55 million, a figure projected to more than double by 2030.

“Costs to maintain this portfolio of buildings will soon spiral out of control,” the report states.

At nearly 50 years old, the South Boulder recreation center received a D rating in the 2021 facilities plan . Its low grade reflects the high cost to maintain it, its failure to meet accessibility goals, and its lack of alignment with sustainability plans. The rec center received its highest grade, a C,  for resilience, which refers to its ability to withstand  disasters like floods and wildfires that are increasing due to climate change.

The center’s maintenance issues date back years. Thornton noted that if the pool had been renovated 15 years ago,  the facility might not face closure or replacement today. However, the 2008 financial crisis prevented that renovation. And the money simply isn’t there.

The city allocates maintenance funding across all rec centers. Any project exceeding $100,000 must draw from the Capital Improvement Program, but currently, no funds are earmarked for the South Boulder rec center. If major repairs are needed, the Parks and Recreation and Facilities Departments will consult the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the city council on whether to proceed.

Public feedback on the Future of Recreation Centers project closed last month, and discussions on the South Boulder center’s future will go before city council in spring 2025 as part of a broader review of the city’s long-term financial strategy.

To stay informed about updates on the South Boulder facility and other city rec centers, officials recommend signing up for email notifications.

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