NORTHGLENN —The city has begun a long-awaited renovation of the 40-year-old locker rooms at the Northglenn Recreation Center and plans to unveil the updated and improved facilities next spring.
While the main floor men’s and women’s locker rooms are demolished and rebuilt, rec center users will shower and store their belongings in temporary locker rooms that the city constructed on the outdoor pool deck.
Construction on the old locker rooms is expected to take about four months, and begins at the end of December.
“These temporary facilities will allow our visitors to make full use of our recreational facilities during construction so that there is no interruption in service,” said Dana Kester, parks project coordinator with the city.
Officials rented two portable trailers and began turning them into makeshift locker rooms last month. One trailer was converted into three private unisex rooms — each with a toilet and shower — and the other trailer has one open space for men with three showers and lockers, and one identical open space for women.
Rec center users get to the temporary units by walking through the pool room and out the patio doors.
The city is renting the trailers for approximately $31,000. Builders used plywood to create an enclosure around the trailers that will be insulated to shield people from external temperatures. City spokesperson Jason Rogers said that heating lamps will also be installed.
Once complete, the new locker rooms will have private showers (as opposed to the current, communal system), two new family locker rooms that did not exist before, and new plumbing and fixtures. The work will bring the facilities up to current health code standards and improve privacy and access substantially, Rogers said.
“Our guests enjoy a variety of activities at the recreation center and these new locker rooms will add to those amenities,” he said. “Their visits will be more comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable” once the new locker rooms are open.
The locker rooms have remained largely the same as they were when they were first constructed in 1974.
Right now, only the women’s locker rooms have direct access to the pool area. The old locker room design previously had men walking through the front lobby of the rec center to get to and from the pool room, which officials said guests have complained about in the past.
The total cost of the remodeling project is just under $790,000. Northglenn also received $320,000 in grant funding from Adams County Open Space for the work.
The city was slated to begin this project last year, but budget constraints delayed it until more money became available from the city.
“This project has been a long time coming,” said Amanda Peterson, parks and recreation director. “We are excited to be able to offer our residents updated facilities, including family locker rooms and access. We received a lot of letters of support for this project.”
A brand new recreation center has been on the minds of city officals for years. The current council is hoping that tax money generated from marijuana sales in the city for that down the road.
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Mmitchelldp
