After giving Denver residents their first glimpse at plans for the Central Denver Recreation Center, the city is one step closer to its newest recreation center and could break ground as early as spring 2015 with the goal of opening sometime in 2017.
The city has hired the Barker Rinker Seacat firm as the architect on the site at East Colfax Avenue and Josephine Street. The structure will likely be three or four stories, with a pool, locker rooms, workout areas and basketball courts.
There is also a plan for a rooftop area with city and mountain views to the west and East High School to the east.
“It really is the first urban rec center in modern times,” said Gordon Robertson, director of Park Planning for Denver Parks and Recreation.
Residents who saw plans for the site at an Oct. 21 meeting at East High School seemed excited overall but had some questions about parking and the ability to safely cross Colfax. The city is working with Denver Public Schools on sharing the teacher parking lot with East High School.
Dave Wahlstrom, executive director of Colfax on the Hill and the Bluebird Business Improvement District, said the plan looks to be moving in the right direction and fits in with area plans for redevelopment.
“So far, so good,” he said.
Others hoped to see an indoor turf field in the plans. Craig Bouck, an architect with Barker Rinker Seacat, said the firm would gladly add that to the plans, but it would cost an additional $5 million.
Robertson said the construction costs will total around $18.3 million.
The without having to incur debt. Funding for the land acquisition and planning process was approved with the passage of the 2007 Better Denver Bond Program. .
“Out of all the incredible projects in District 8, the Central Denver Rec Center is the creme de la creme,” Councilman Albus Brooks said.
According to Councilwoman Jeanne Robb, who represents the area on the south side of Colfax, the money for construction will come from the sale of Market Street Station, which closed May 11 and is now owned and maintained by the city of Denver. The .
Robertson said Parks and Recreation had previously assumed it would be five to 10 years before construction for funding became avaiable.
“We’re extremely excited — this came out of thin air,” he said.
The city demolished the Church in the City site on the property in 2009 and the Sun Mart gas station was recently razed.
Public Works project manager Brett Hahnenkamp said a popular dog park at the site would remain open as long as possible and the city is looking for a new site for a dog park nearby.
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or
