The future of Evergreen’s recreation facilities became clearer recently with some key decisions the Evergreen Park & Recreation District board made June 24.
The board voted to move ahead with a fieldhouse at Buchanan Park that will be separate — rather than attached to the current recreation center — a decision made based on estimates showing much higher costs to build an attached fieldhouse.
The board agreed to delay the fieldhouse’s construction by a year.
The board unanimously moved to hire Pinkard Construction for pre-construction services on the planned aquatics facility expansion at the Buchanan Recreation Center. That is the first of a two-part contract that is expected to also include later hiring them as the general contractor for the aquatics facility, also known as the natatorium.
Pre-construction services will include helping the board nail down final costs. Lakewood-based Pinkard, which has built several similar projects in other Colorado communities, built the original Buchanan Recreation Center in 2003.
Current plans show the natatorium opening in 2028, though Pinkard representatives said at this week’s meeting it could make it happen much sooner — in late 2026 or early 2027.
“Part of the reason we chose you was your timelines and your attitude about construction,” EPRD director Peter Eggers told the Pinkard representatives. “Keeping rec center open, not interfering with the traffic of daily visitors, we appreciate that.”
Additionally, the EPRD board agreed to prioritize the natatorium and Buchanan Park construction over the fieldhouse, which could delay the third project by a year. The fieldhouse is planned to include court space, a walking track, a recreation studio and offices.
“I’d rather push it back until we’re well on the way with the park and the pool,” EPRD director Don Rosenthal said, advocating for construction on the fieldhouse in 2026-27 instead of 2025. “The pool and the park are the bulk. We really need to get those under our belt.”
“The pool is the big driver,” agreed director Betsy Hays. “Let’s make sure we are really clear on how much this pool is going to cost us.”
Three major projects
EPRD has spent years planning the three major projects, which include the construction of a new pool and gymnasium at Buchanan Recreation Center and the renovation of adjacent Buchanan Park, all at a total cost of about $14 million.
Initial work on the 42-acre park — set to include a pavilion, adventure playground, skatepark, courts and play fields — is already underway. Grants are helping defray that project’s total cost.
“We feel we are on schedule to deliver this project by the end of 2028,” EPRD grants and strategy manager Liz Cohen said.
On its own, the proposed Buchanan Rec Center natatorium — the most expensive project on the list — will cost about $10 million.
While the board had originally planned to start construction on all three projects in 2025, directors now feel it would be best to wait on the fieldhouse. Among the decisions that could influence the cost of the natatorium are whether to build a seven- or eight-lane natatorium.
“We are working with our designers and construction teams to aim for eight lanes,” Hays said. “We need to stay in budget, but eight lanes is the goal.”
Sanctioned championship meets must have at least eight lanes, which local swim coaches are advocating for.
EPRD contracted with EVStudio to design the natatorium in February, with aquatics designers Counsilman-Hunsaker working as subcontractors with EVStudio.
Voters approved a property-tax extension in November 2023 that provides about $1.4 million a year to the district, which is investing the money to stretch it further. EPRD has reserved another $2 million of its funding to renovate Wulf Recreation Center after the Buchanan projects are done, and for other projects.
EPRD president Mary McGhee expressed frustration that the district doesn’t have more control over Wulf, which is on land owned by Jefferson County Schools. The district currently lacks adequate court space, and while courts are proposed in the planned fieldhouse, she suggested Wulf could also help fill that need.
“I wish we owned the land at Wulf,” she said. “It would make all these conversations so much easier. People on the south end (of the district) feel they’ve never been given services. Yet Wulf has two courts with high ceilings. If those could be refurbished, it’s perfect.”
The addition of court space there could enable EPRD to scale back the size of the proposed Buchanan Park fieldhouse from the current 20,000 square feet to 14,000 square feet.
“We want to make sure we know what we’re going to do with Wulf Rec Center first so we can be sure we’re doing what makes sense for the community,” Hays said.