At the December 21, 2022 meeting, the Grand Junction City Council voted to refer the Community Recreation Center (CRC) question to the April City ballot. The question will be decided in the April 4, 2023 election along with seats on City Council.
In 2021, City Council adopted The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan. The PROS plan established the CRC as the #1 priority and identified revenue from cannabis sales as the #1 method for funding. Voters legalized cannabis in Grand Junction in April 2021 and devoted tax revenues from sales on cannabis to complete the highest priorities in the PROS plan. Although substantial, revenue from cannabis alone is not sufficient to fund a CRC. A secondary funding source is required.
Professors from Colorado Mesa University facilitated a statistically valid survey in February of 2020. The survey affirmed strong support for a CRC and revealed strong support to fund it with a variety secondary funding sources. Through the 2022 CRC feasibility study planning process that was led by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB), a 0.14% sales tax increase with a sunset clause was selected to fill the gap in funding to build an 83,000-square-foot facility at Matchett Park.
The full Council adopted 2022 CRC plan as well as the 2021 PROS plan is available at www.gjparksandrec.org. For additional questions regarding the Community Recreation Center and ballot proposal, contact Grand Junction Parks and Recreation by calling 970.254.3866.