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Boulder parks staff close Spruce Pool three weeks early to meet budget and staffing targets; users push back
Summary
Parks staff said closing Spruce Pool the third week of August will save about $25,000 and ease staffing pressures tied to a citywide hiring freeze, prompting several hours of public comment from users who said the small pool is essential for seniors and people rehabbing injuries.
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…
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