Future Recreation Center
On July 14, 2026, the Longmont City Council directed City staff to move forward with the purchase of the YMCA of Northern Colorado property located at 950 Lashley Street.
If the purchase is finalized, the City will develop the YMCA facility as a second full-service recreation center serving the Longmont and surrounding communities. This addition will help meet the growing local demand for indoor recreation, wellness, fitness, aquatics and community programming.
Please check back to this webpage for project updates.
FAQs
The City hopes to finalize the purchase in August or September of 2026.
There are considerable repairs and improvements that need to be made before the recreation center will be ready to reopen. The renovation will not include the expansion or alteration to the current facility footprint or the interior layout.
The following are some of the improvements that are needed:
- HVAC, electrical and mechanical upgrades,
- pool area updates, including structural roof repairs,
- ADA compliance corrections,
- interior usability and aesthetic enhancements,
- exterior signage, drainage and parking lot improvements.
The City expects the renovation will be completed and the recreation center ready to reopen in early 2028.
The City will purchase the land, the 60,000-square-foot building, and many existing building systems and equipment for $4.5 million.
Renovation costs are estimated at $8 million over ten years, with roughly $4 million invested before the facility opens.
The combined purchase and renovation costs will be significantly less than purchasing land and building a new, comparable facility. Both the purchase and renovation will be primarily paid for by the Recreation Impact Fee Fund. This Fund is financed through fees charged to residential developers and was created in 2016 to address the City’s growing recreational needs.
This new facility will nearly double the City’s full-service recreation center capacity for all ages. Community surveys and recreation master planning have consistently identified the need for additional indoor recreation space. The Longmont Recreation Center regularly experiences high demand for fitness areas, gym space, aquatic programs and fitness classes.
Purchasing this facility will preserve a familiar and valued community gathering place while expanding recreation opportunities faster and cheaper than building a new recreation center from scratch.
The future recreation center will offer:
- Eight-lane indoor lap pool
- Two-court gymnasium
- Two large fitness and weight training areas
- Group fitness studios
- Indoor walking/running track
- Large licensed childcare center
- Outdoor synthetic turf field
- Covered outdoor pavilion
- Space for camps, leagues, private parties and community programs
While the YMCA primarily operated through memberships, the City offers more options and greater flexibility through the use of annual passes, punch passes and daily admission fees. City recreation pass-holders can enjoy access to all City recreation facilities including multiple pools, fitness centers, gyms, tracks, classes and amenities. Additionally, the City’s combined programming, shared staffing, coordinated operations, and system-wide passes create efficiencies that were not available to the YMCA.
After the purchase is finalized, the City will explore options to continue childcare services during and after the transition. The City recognizes the importance of the current childcare services provided at the YMCA facility and will work to minimize disruption to families.
