Rec Center renovation anniversary brings new triumphs, concerns to the $63.5 Million dollar project.

On Feburary 24th, 2011 the CU Student Government’s Legislative Council approved resolution 74LCB08. The resolution passed the fate of the two-year long concept of a renovated CU Recreation Center to the Spring 2011 ballot for Students to decide.

“Well I think if you look around you see that this project was needed. Compared to other Big 12 Schools we were far behind,” said former Recreation Board member and current student Tyler Goering.

The Recreation Board worked on approving designs and presenting the project to other campus leaders. The campus agreed with Tyler and the board and passed the project in a 72 to 28 percent vote that shattered voter turnout records.

According to Recreation Center Associate Director of Facilities Steve Najera, who has been working on the project since its inception, “The most pressing purpose for this project was that there was great deficiencies in Recreational activity space for the students of the University of Colorado compared to not only the Big 12, but nationally.”

However, the project did not come without its fair share of controversy. With tuition increases between 8.8 and 9.3 percent over the last few years, some students and parents opposed a project that would add up to $250 a year in expenses for students.

But according to Najera, the bonds used to fund the construction of the project came in almost 200 basis points below the 6.5% rate that was in the language in the referendum on the ballot used to characterize the cost per student per semester. Najera says with the savings the added fee should reduce the cost to students by upwards of $20 per semester.

On the construction side, issues are rising as the project moves closer to ground-breaking in May of this year.

“There is an area of concern and that is with the outdoor pool. It is an element of controversy, a lot of students want the outdoor pool, and a lot of students are not in favor of the outdoor pool because of the amount of usage it would get with the type of weather conditions we have and how long it is open in only a certain part of the year. That is something that is being talked about, how big of a pool, type of pool or whether the pool will be included at all,” said Najera.

Students like Goering believe in the viability of the outdoor pool though, “I really hope the future of the outdoor pool is one of a great social spot for students of this University.”

Ultimately, though Goering believes whatever decision is made on the pool the project will succeed because of the focus of its creators. “I have been lucky to have the opportunity to work with the Rec Board and many of the staff members here and I can honestly say that the number one priority is the students.”

There is no doubting that.