Parks and Recreation Director Ali (last name not provided) told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that Spruce Pool will close for the season the week beginning Aug. 17, a move staff say will save roughly $25,000 and ease staffing gaps caused by a citywide hiring freeze. The announcement drew more than a dozen public speakers who said Spruce is a unique, lower‑intensity facility used by older adults, people rehabbing injuries and families with young children.

The closure was framed by staff as a cost‑saving and staffing decision tied to a city directive to reduce expenses by about 5% across departments. “City decided to reduce expenses and asked every department to cut back on expenses here in 2025 by about 5%, which for our department equates to a little over $2,000,000,” Deputy Director Scott Schuttenberger said. He added, “By closing Spruce Pool about 3 weeks early, we're able to save about $25,000 this year. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of money, but we're looking at anywhere we can find additional resources.”

Users at the meeting described Spruce as small, quiet and vital for therapeutic exercise. “I have spent every single summer day that I've been in town over the past 30 years at Spruce,” said Lynn Stein, a Boulder resident. “I was dismayed to hear that it is closing early on August 17.” Jennifer Purnell, who described multiple serious health problems and long rehabilitation, said Spruce has been “fantastic” for her therapy and praised the lifeguards and staff who assist people with equipment.

Staff acknowledged the loss of Spruce’s particular atmosphere but said other facilities will be used to keep services available. Scott said staffing shortages (noting many aquatic staff are high‑school students who return to school in mid‑August) and duplicated services across pools made the decision possible without eliminating swim access citywide: “We looked across our system and said, where do we have duplication of service? Where do we have an alternative that people can go and still have the ability to swim?” He also said staff will move employees to other pools where possible and will review quiet‑hour lane availability at Scott Carpenter Pool: “When you look at that pool schedule for Scott starting Monday, August 18, you'll see times from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. where all 20 lanes are open to the community.”

Board members and staff committed to expanding communications about the change. Recreation Manager Meghan Lohman and communications staff will post updates online and on social media, and staff said they will send targeted notices to the membership lists. Director Ali said the department does not plan to keep Spruce closed in 2026 and intends to operate all facilities next year unless funding changes: “That's not something we're considering at this time. And so, we fully intend to operate all of our facilities next year.”

The board also noted a longer public conversation this fall about levels of parks and recreation service and funding, and the department plans an aquatics review at the board’s September meeting. For now, staff said the Spruce closure is a near‑term, fiscally driven step to protect higher‑priority subsidy lines and services for people with low incomes and disabilities.