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Burns Road Community Center and aquatic complex show increased participation; sports tourism now estimated at $24 million in impact
Summary
City staff reported high summer usage at the new Burns Road Community Center (opened June 2, 2025), growth in camp capacity and senior programming, a junior lifeguard feeder program and an aquatic complex tracking more than 41,000 visits; staff also said city sports tourism now generates an estimated $24 million annually.
City staff gave the council a mid‑summer update on recreational operations centered on the recently opened Burns Road Community Center and the city's aquatic complex, and reported on the city's growing sports‑tourism economy.
Deputy Leisure Services Administrator Daniel Prieto said the Burns Road Community Center opened on 06/02/2025 and increased summer camp capacity from about 250 to roughly 380 children per week, allowing the city to restore concurrent senior programming; staff estimated more than 1,100 total senior participations this summer. Prieto also highlighted the new playground (designed for shade and accessibility), expanded program spaces and a junior lifeguard program that grew to 95 campers from a prior typical enrollment of about 30.
On aquatics, staff reported an active season: Prieto said roughly 118 aquatic staff were engaged this year (about 89 lifeguards), 313 Red Cross certifications were tracked, nearly 4,500 training hours were logged, and the facility was tracking more than 41,000 gate entries for the season to date with over 1,100 participants in learn‑to‑swim programs.
Tim Ford, sports and special facilities director, briefed the council on sports tourism, saying city‑owned facilities now produce an estimated $24,000,000 in annual economic impact (up from about $15 million pre‑COVID). Ford highlighted extended stays by high‑profile teams (including a three‑week Real Madrid training camp), a strategy of hosting multi‑week high‑level organizations to reduce turf wear and staff burdens, and the forthcoming Gardens Field House, which staff said is designed to serve resident programming while also accommodating sport‑tourism opportunities.
Councilmembers praised staff for the facilities and the programs and asked staff to continue marketing and capturing images that show concurrent recreational activity across venues.
