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An Update |
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March 18, 2010 |
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Crown Mountain
Park & Recreation 0020 Eagle County Drive, Suite F El Jebel, Colorado 81623 970-963-6030 crownmountain@sopris.net |
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Four years ago, a group of Mid Valley residents had a dream...a vision that their children, friends and neighbors could gather for fun and exercise at a nearby recreation center that no longer meant driving long distances to either end of the Roaring Fork Valley. That dream birthed the plans for a Mid Valley Recreation Center now before the Eagle County planners and commissioners. The friends who had this dream wanted to know what their fellow citizens thought about their idea. So they conducted two community surveys and hosted several public meetings with hundreds of local residents. The surveys revealed that an overwhelming majority favored a publicly-funded, indoor recreation facility. Cardio/weight training, fitness/aerobics/dance space and a swimming pool received the strongest support. Twenty-four Mid Valley locations were considered before choosing the proposed site, which was selected to minimize the impact to neighbors, preserve the view planes from the El Jebel/Highway 82 intersection and protect the Park's playing fields and green space. A huge advantage to this location is that the land is already leased to the District by Eagle County for $1/year, and thus requires no taxpayer dollars for purchase. Placing the center in the existing park provides for management efficiencies and convenience to the public available at no other location. The ultimate dream of the friends is based on the model of a highly successful recreation center – the one in Gypsum – WECMRD. The friends imagined a second phase that could include indoor tennis, ice skating, hockey, or other uses. The second phase would require separate funding through private donors and/or a public vote. Both the first and second phases are included in a land use application now before Eagle County. While the County Commissioners have expressed positive support for a recreation center, there are still many hurdles to overcome before receiving approval of the Master Plan Amendment which would allow the rec center. In order to give the Crown Mountain board the time needed to address issues raised by the County, the board decided to delay a public vote on funding for the rec center. They also determined that November was too soon in today's economic climate to ask voters for a tax increase. The Rec Center is envisioned as a true community gathering place for the approximately 7,000 residents of the middle Roaring Fork Valley. Mid Valley residents must now drive over 40 miles roundtrip to Aspen or Glenwood to access a facility that offers lap and leisure swimming along with complete fitness facilities. |
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