Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District may ask voters to support new activity center, outdoor pools
May 10—The Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District may ask voters in November to support a $73 million bond question to fund a new activity center and outdoor aquatics as well as work on its existing recreation center in Frederick.
The proposed new facility includes an indoor field, a leisure pool with water slides, a lap pool, an interactive splash pad, a gymnasium, a cardio and weight room area, netted batting and golf cages, a lounge, a multipurpose room and locker rooms.
Dean Rummel, Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District executive director said Friday that the district's current recreation center was built 20 years ago, and although it's still a "great facility" with many more years of life in it, the growth of the Carbon Valley has made the need for an additional recreation facility all the more apparent.
"The community, since that rec center was built, has grown 180 percent, which is putting pressure on everything we do," Rummel said.
The district's board of directors hopes to certify the specific ballot language no later than August. However, the board still needs to figure out exactly where the new facility would be built. The district is in discussions to enter into an agreement with Firestone where the town would transfer up to 15 acres from Central Park for the new facility should the bond measure move forward and ultimately be approved by voters.
"Since 2021, the town has included a new rec center and/or pool in our Central Park planning," A.J. Krieger, Firestone town manager, said in an email Friday.
The Firestone Board of Trustees expressed a general inclination to continue working with the Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District on the potential project during its regular meeting Wednesday. A final decision, though, has not been reached.
Firestone acquired the 252-acre Central Park site in 2005, and town officials — with input from residents — are trying to determine how best to develop the land.
Rummel acknowledged the tax expense of a $73 million bond question but wants voters to understand both the potential costs and the potential benefits.
The owner of a $500,000 property within the district would pay an additional $12.75 a month in taxes ($153.07 annually) should the bond question pass.
"I don't want to play that down that ($153 extra) a year in taxes isn't that much, because it could be a lot for some people. I'm well aware of that," Rummel said. "But, it could be a huge value to a lot of other people."
The district previously went to voters with bond measures in 2022 and 2021, both of which failed. However, it hopes that with this November's election being a presidential one that it will lead to greater voter turnout.
