Friends of City Park seek landmark designation, funding to renovate historic bathhouse

Friends of City Park representatives presented a proposal Monday to renovate the historic City Park Bathhouse, asked council to reintroduce a local historic‑landmark ordinance and sought selection as the city’s partner to complete the project.

George Concilia, speaking for Friends of City Park, told the council the group submitted a response to an earlier city RFP but received a May rejection citing four reasons: the group’s stated intent to pursue historic‑landmark designation, noncompliance with restroom‑fixture requirements, lack of financial guarantees and proposed delegation of day‑to‑day restroom maintenance. Concilia said the group believes the landmark designation is critical because it would allow them to apply to the State Historic Fund and History Colorado for grant funding; he cited the potential to apply in both annual rounds and said those grants do not use city general‑fund dollars.

Architect Gary Trujillo described a three‑phase plan: (1) selective demolition and structural stabilization (including helical piers and…