An indoor pool tops residents' wants for a SE Fort Collins community center, but will they get it?

Ask a southeast Fort Collins resident what they want in a long-planned recreation center in their neck of the woods, and chances are they'll tell you an indoor pool tops the list.

At least that's what we learned from last week's Coloradoan Conversation starter regarding plans for a facility that's been awaited since city voters approved a 2015 sales tax to fund the center and various other projects. Now, our reader comments in no way constitute a statistically valid poll, but they captured clear sentiment that an indoor aquatics facility should be prioritized for a new southeast community center.

The catch? Plans for the $14 million community center, as envisioned by the city, call for an outdoor pool and community recreation center. Inclusion of an indoor pool would require a partnership with Poudre School District and push project costs up toward $40 million or $55 million to include a Poudre River Public Library District branch to replace Council Tree Library.

With city leaders pledging to break ground on the project by early 2024 at the latest, there's still a lot of work to do before anyone recreates at a new southeast city facility. In the meantime, here's some reader sentiment for our public officials and residents alike to chew on.

Last week's conversation:Fort Collins doesn't have one homeless problem, but many questions

Top wants address desires for year-round water recreation and lap swim space

Of the 40 comments posted on reporter Molly Bohannon's update on the southeast community center project and our follow-up conversation starter, 16 advocated for an indoor pool as a top priority for the planned center. Five commenters advocated for the city to stick to its initial vision for the center, while three specifically cited a need for a recreation center/gym. Two advocated directly for the library branch.

One reason repeatedly cited to pursue an indoor aquatics facility centered on overcrowding concerns regarding EPIC, the city's existing indoor pool and ice center, and potential pressures on the facility brought by the addition of two new PSD high schools opening this fall.

"An indoor pool facility with a lap pool is a need in Fort Collins. Former city council members wanted to pass the pool space issue onto PSD to be included in their bond, but we know a pool was not part of the bond," subscriber Megan W. said. "Now we have six high schools in town with swim teams, two competitive clubs, masters swim teams, swimming lessons, kayaking groups, diving teams, scuba groups, lap swimmers, recreational swimmers, fitness groups, etc., all trying to utilize limited indoor space at EPIC. We need the city and PSD to work together to find a long-term solution to meet the aquatic needs of of our growing population."

It's important to note that the city also operates indoor aquatics facilities at its Mulberry Pool and senior center, but point taken. EPIC is typically bustling with activity, especially during the school year.

Another point that multiple readers made: Although we might have forgotten this in recent weeks, it tends to get cold in Colorado. It might even snow at some point.

"This is Colorado! It is dark and cold for way too much of the year," Travis T. said. "We need more indoor swimming options! Its great for physical and mental health and our outdoor recreation options get very slim in some of the winter months.

Join us:Here's how to participate in Coloradoan Conversations, the Coloradoan's new opinion forum

Stick to the basics, some say

Now we get to the part of the conversation on scope and costs. The city has collected $14 million for the southeast community center — enough to build a meaningful facility, but a fraction of the potential $55 million cost of the combined city/PSD/library district option favored by some residents.

The sentiment of some readers is that the city should stick with what won favor with voters in the first place. Neighborhood pools can fill the need for outdoor aquatics in the summer, some argue, and Council Tree Library is a sufficient facility for southeast Fort Collins.

"Take the money you were given by the voters and spend it on a pool," subscriber Wm._R said. "Then you can figure out how to squeeze more tax dollars for a fancier facility later."

Does southeast Fort Collins really need a new library?

A number of commenters brought up the center's potential location — either at Fossil Creek Park or near Fossil Ridge High School — and its proximity to Council Tree Library in Front Range Village. While one or two readers seemed surprised to learn that there's a library branch tucked into the Harmony Road shopping center, others questioned the need for an additional library in southeast Fort Collins.

Enter Poudre River Public Library District Executive Director Diane Lapierre with some clarifying remarks:

"Just wanted to clarify that if we had the opportunity to build a joint library-recreation/aquatics center at the proposed location, it would replace Council Tree, not be in addition to Council Tree, as it is only about .5 miles away. Council Tree is our smallest facility and doesn't have the space to offer the programs, collections, and services for the surrounding community."

With that mystery out of the way, there was plenty of disagreement on the adequacy of Council Tree to stimulate more discussion about the need for a future branch.

"Council Tree is tiny and does not offer very many services and events due to its limited size," Anna K. said. "The selection of books/movies/etc. is also pretty limited because of how small it is. And it’s so tucked away! I think a library that is more accessible would get much more use and traffic — letting the kids and teens hang out there while the adults exercise in the lap pool, for example."

That's a good point about the potential multigenerational appeal of a combined aquatics/recreation/library facility. Now for a counterpoint:

"The Council Tree branch has never felt small to me or with too little meeting capacity. However, I don't use it much. Is this a common sentiment?" asked Matthew P.

Let's ask Rowan F.: "I feel like the Council Tree Library accommodates the needs of our southeast residents fairly well and although it may not be just down the street it isn't that far out of the way for most people."

Weigh in:If you could, would you change Fort Collins' U+2 rental occupancy policy?

So, when does this get sorted out?

That's the $14 million — or $55 million — question. For the city's part, City Recreation Director LeAnn Williams said her department is planning to bring more information to City Council during a work session later this month. With Williams hoping the facility will be open by late 2024 or early 2025, we have a long way to go, but many decisions to follow.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Indoor pool tops wants for southeast Fort Collins community center