© 2024 Aspen Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New amenities? A change in fees? Aspen Rec. Center presents business plan

aspenpitkin.com

Staffers at the city-owned Aspen Recreation Center are updating their business plan in an effort to save taxpayers money. As Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports, the facility is heavily subsidized.

Taxpayers pitch in to pay for community recreation centers around the country. Tim Anderson is Director for the Aspen Recreation Center that has a $4 million annual budget. He says the facility raises more than half of that. The rest is subsidized by city government.

"We’re seeing more revenues come through when town does well. We’ve got lots of skiers, lots of people in the summer visit the ARC and our facilities," Anderson says.

The rec. center raises money through things like entry fees. About 200,000 people come through the door each year. Anderson says the goal of the business plan is to find additional ways to make money.

"We’re going to look at whether we need to increase the fees, is the service level appropriate, do we need to cut back on the expenditures for the price we’re charging."

They’re also examining projects that would add additional workout space indoors and possibly a water feature outside.

"That’s similar to the fountain in town. The kids love running through it," says Anderson.

At an open house Wednesday, Nick Nicholson chatted with a local citizen about ways to improve the recreation department’s website. He’s the Internet/Technology Manager for Parks and Rec.

"People who have burning questions or burning issues usually show up, not usually casual observers. We come here to be receptive."

The recreation department has gathered feedback about the business plan for two years. Area resident Toni Kronberg outlines improvements she’d like to see at the rec. center.

"It’s a beautiful facility but we’re definitely lacking some things, like a basketball court, a running track, an exercise room, an outdoor swimming pool. One of my goals has been to have a warm water therapy pool," she says.

The goal is to increase by 10 to 15 percent the amount of money the Aspen Recreation Center generates. Whether that’s done by building new amenities, changing fees or more marketing is still a question. The rec. center staff will go before city council in May with next steps. 

Related Content