Boulder council amends and approves $400M recreation and safety bond; adds promise of a lap pool for South Boulder

Boulder City Council voted to place a proposed $400 million recreation and safety general obligation bond on the Nov. 3 ballot and amended the bond language to explicitly include a lap pool for the South Boulder Recreation Center.

Councilmember Nicole (motion) moved the ordinance (87‑58), and Councilmember Tara Weiner successfully proposed an amendment replacing the term "aquatic amenities" with a reference to a lap pool for South Boulder. Staff and Parks & Recreation officials supported including a pool reference while noting that specific design details and final features would be developed through community engagement and project design. The amended motion passed unanimously, 8–0.

The bond is intended to address a backlog of facilities needs identified in the city's long‑term facilities plan, including replacement or renovation of South Boulder Recreation Center, renovation and expansion of North Boulder Recreation Center, upgrades to fire stations, and consolidation of some city services. Michelle Crane, deputy director of Facilities and Fleet, said South Boulder is a clear priority: "South Boulder Rec is a priority project." City staff said final design decisions (e.g., exact lane counts and ancillary features) will be guided by future public engagement as part of project implementation.

Residents and user groups had spent months pressing the council for enforceable language to guarantee that any rebuilt South Boulder facility would retain core amenities. Yvonne Castillo, a South Boulder resident, asked council to "include in the ballot measure a clear commitment that if South Boulder Rec Center is demolished and rebuilt, it will be rebuilt with the core amenities our community depends on." The council's amendment substituted a specific pool reference to respond to those community concerns while preserving staff authority to complete design work through an engagement process.