At the City Council Workshop on Feb. 2, City Council discussed two topics that have generated strong community interest: the CMU-proposed football facility at the Lincoln Park Sports Complex and the future of the Orchard Mesa Pool. 

Orchard Mesa Pool 

Council reviewed the 2023 Orchard Mesa Pool Study, which concluded the pool is at the end of its systems’ useful life. Following a presentation and historical overview from Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou, Council discussed four options for the pool’s future: 

Option A: Continue to operate the Orchard Mesa Pool, even after the Community Recreation Center (CRC) opens.
Option B: Close the Orchard Mesa Pool when the CRC opens.
Option C: Release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to seek a public-private partnership for operation of the pool and potentially add new assets to the site.
Option D: Ask voters whether they approve or disapprove forming a Title 32 special district in the Orchard Mesa portion of the City to take over ownership, operations, and maintenance of the Orchard Mesa Pool. 

As part of the discussion, Council reviewed estimated capital and operating expenses and cost recovery for the options, which ranges from approximately 24% to 80%, depending on the approach. 

City staff noted that once the CRC opens, the subsidy per visit at Orchard Mesa Pool is projected to be around $30. For context, continuing current operations (Option A) is estimated to require an annual subsidy of approximately $400,000 and would serve about 14,400 visits per year. For comparison, subsidy per visit at Lincoln Park Pool is $8.60, and at the Community Recreation Center is estimated at $3.12. 

Following discussion, Council directed staff to move forward with Option C by looking into first steps for an RFP to seek a public-private partnership for operation of the pool and potential new amenities at the site. Council also asked staff to gather additional information on Option D, including the requirements and implications of a Title 32 special district, or other such examples, so Council can better evaluate both options moving forward. 

Staff will also speak with Mesa County Valley School District 51, who owns the land and the building, before bringing back answers to Council at a workshop next month. 

CMU-Proposed Football Facility 

Council discussed next steps on the CMU-proposed football facility at the Lincoln Park Sports Complex. Staff will continue developing the proposal and return it to City Council for consideration at a future regular meeting (date to be determined).

The City would continue to own the Lincoln Park Sports Complex. The plan under discussion includes a lease limited to the football facility project site, while preserving traditional stadium uses by D51 and other partners, keeping public access to the track, and adding enhanced amenities funded by CMU. It would also include an estimated $7 million CMU investment in improvements to City-owned property. CMU would take on additional long-term operations and maintenance responsibilities, including turf repair and replacement at Stoker Stadium, and would make a $300,000 annual lease/operations payment to cover operating costs currently paid by the City. This work would also address the Lincoln Park Barn, including how it would be preserved and used as part of the project, and how most current bookings would transition to the Community Recreation Center once it opens, as planned.

Watch the Workshop 

To view the full workshop, visit: gjcity.org/Agendas