To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation
Title
Presentation: Indoor Recreation Facility Feasibility Study Update
Body
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Executive Summary
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide Town Council with an update on the planning efforts of the next indoor recreation facility.
Over the past year, the Parks and Recreation Department and architectural design consultant, Barker Rinker Seacat (BRS) have studied the feasibility and potential timing for Castle Rock’s next indoor recreation facility. The study indicated that given the funding mechanisms in place for parks and recreation in Castle Rock, an additional facility is feasible and that construction could begin as early as 2024. The availability of existing and suitable Town-owned properties, however, is limited.
Staff recommends that given the minimum availability of existing town-owned property as potential sites, it would be worthwhile to distribute an RFP to gauge interest in potential public-private partnerships. The RFP would allow staff to not only provide a more comprehensive assessment of options for a future facility, but would also allow the Town to potentially leverage funding availability, accelerated implementation and other project support.
Once the community has responded to the RFP for a public-private partnership, staff will bring this agenda item back to Town Council for discussion and direction in early 2022.
Background Information
The Castle Rock community supports Town-operated indoor recreation and has for over 30 years. The first project, the Castle Rock Community Recreation Center, was initially developed in 1988 (population 10,000) through a voter-supported bond initiative.
Impact fees were later adopted to provide new community recreation facilities, funding the expansion of the Castle Rock Community Center in 2006 and establishing the Miller Activity Complex in 2014. Town Council reaffirmed growth-funded community recreation and parks through the adoption of an increased 2020 impact fee rate to ensure new development would adequately cover the cost of new parks and indoor recreation facilities. Impact fees can only be used for this purpose.
The existing Castle Rock Community Recreation Center is an 80,000 square-foot facility with a 25-yard pool, leisure pool, single gymnasium, two racquetball courts, indoor track, free weight area, strength circuit equipment, cardio equipment, spin studio, four locker rooms, group fitness rooms, senior center, child care rooms, pottery studio, meeting rooms and a kitchen. The facility is popular with seniors and provides a venue for family-oriented and developmental recreation activities.
The Miller Activity Complex is a 60,000 square-foot center that includes a leisure pool with four lap lanes, locker rooms, two party rooms, an indoor playground, trampoline zone, lounge, functional fitness area, golf simulator, two dashered athletic fields and batting cages. The facility is youth focused both in terms of team sports and for the play elements offered.
The proposed third recreation facility is envisioned to meet the need for competitive youth and active adults, primarily through the addition of the first new public indoor gymnasium and competitive pool since the Castle Rock Recreation Center was constructed in 1988. A joint facility pass could be offered for all three facilities, expanding access for all ages and abilities.
The scope of the indoor recreation facility feasibility study encompassed three primary areas of interest:
• Program development / needs assessment - engagement, community partners, recreation trends
• Financial assessment - capital investment, operational expense, programming revenues and expenses, partnership outreach
• Visioning - amenities, space requirements
The study established the following framework for potential programs, budget and scale. The actual programs/facility amenities will be determined during the design development process, which will include community and Town Council input.
Potential Initial Phase (for feasibility study purposes):
• Competitive Natatorium: 25-meter pool with a minimum of 10, 25-meter lanes, dedicated spectator areas, locker rooms and a warmup pool
• Multi-Court Gymnasium: a double gymnasium with planned additional courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, wrestling and other court sports
• Adventure Track: an indoor track offering flat and sloped areas and variation and viewing throughout the proposed facility
• Fitness Area: a fitness area focused on group activities, sports and team training, in addition to a cardio/strength-and-conditioning area with a spin studio
• Meeting Rooms: general rooms to meet demand for Town-wide space deficiency for meetings and public gatherings
Potential Future Additions:
• Ice or multi-use fieldhouse with indoor fields or additional indoor courts
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
Barker Rinker Seacat hosted a visioning session with the Parks and Recreation Commission at their regularly-scheduled December 2020 meeting. The Commission provided feedback on preferred amenities, which was then incorporated within the study.