CENTENNIAL —Signs hanging in the halls of in Centennial tout recent improvements thanks to a voter-approved tax increase for .
Three projects were completed at Goodson over the past few months: duct work and ventilations upgrades, replacement of the deck in the indoor aquatics center, and the purchase of 20 new stationary bikes.
Each sign reads, “Funding provided by: South Suburban Parks and Recreation voter-approved tax for facility, parks and trials improvements.”
The message is clear: After one year of reaping extra revenues generated by a — roughly $4 per month on a house worth $300,000 — to help pay for deferred maintenance, the district wants users to know it is putting their money to good use.
“I think the district is really happy that voters had confidence in (it) to move forward on key projects that the residents want to see,” said district director of planning and development Brett Collins.
According to Collins, the property tax bump — by 53 percent of district voters in November 2014 — created $4.5 million in additional revenue last year.
That money helped fund 61 projects and equipment purchases large and small in 2015, including those at Goodson. Fifty-nine projects have been tagged for funding this year, ranging in scale from $1,400 for a fryer in the to $260,580 for new rubber flooring at the , Collins said. The mill levy increase expires after 2025.
Staff members at Goodson say user feedback on the tax-funded projects has been very positive.
That is especially true at the pool, which was closed for more than four months while the $365,813 deck replacement was done. The old deck was inlaid with pebbles that were uncomfortable to walk on and often resulted in loose pebbles in the water, users say.
“It was like walking on rocks,” said Goodson’s aquatics supervisor Austin Tasler. “Usually, when you come to swim, you don’t wear your shoes.”
Jocelyn Reed, who leads aqua aerobics classes at Goodson four times a week, called the new deck “wonderful.” It dries quicker, is less slick, stays warmer, and the new trench drain system is quieter, making it easier to teach her classes, she said.
Goodson offers 16 drop-in cycling classes every week, and those often fill up, said Kelsey Whisler, the center’s fitness coordinator. All the stress those classes put on the equipment made the 20 new stationary bikes Goodson got in late December an important addition, she said. Each one of the sleek, magnetic resistance cycles is worth $2,000, Whisler said, but the district was able to make the purchase for $33,700 after trading in its old bikes.
Whisler said the mill levy money has allowed rec centers across the district to add equipment to keep up with customer demands, such as extra weight sets to accommodate Goodson’s popular, high-intensity “body pump” workouts.
“It’s just an exciting time to be part of South Suburban seeing all of these improvements coming, and I think our users are equally excited,” Whisler said.
The district is home to about 140,000 people across parts of Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties, including in , Littleton and Sheridan.
Collins said the district is now seeking a consultant to help draft a master plan that will prioritize projects that should be funded by the remaining years of the tax. Residents will be invited to weigh in on that plan, he said.
Centennial resident Rossann Mosher took part in aqua aerobics at Goodson last week. She said for all that South Suburban provides in her neighborhood, she didn’t hesitate at the ballot box in 2014 and is pleased with the work done at Goodson with that money.
She added: “As much as I use all the nice facilities, parks and trails, I had to vote yes.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953, jrubino@denverpost.com or @RubinoJC
